gistfile1.js

function retryCall(numTimes, thisArg, callback) {
  var theArgs = arguments;
  // grab the callback function, assuming (err, data) as the callback                                                         
  var lastArg = arguments[arguments.length-1];
  values = Array.prototype.slice.call(arguments, 3, arguments.length-1);

  values.push(function(err, data) {
    if (err) {
      console.log("an error occurred, but trying again");
      console.log(err);
      var newNumTimes = theArgs[0] - 1;
      if (newNumTimes > 0) {
	theArgs[0] = newNumTimes;
	retryCall.apply(thisArg, Array.prototype.slice.call(theArgs));
      }
    } else {
      lastArg(null, data);
    }
  });

  // console.log("attempting to call", callback, "with", values);                                                             

  callback.apply(thisArg, values);
}