gistfile1.rb

def handle_notification(notification)
  message = JSON.parse(notification)['doc']
  Fiber.new {
    result = despatch(message) # non-blocking
    @db.save_doc(message.merge(status: "forwarded", result: result))  # blocking
  }.resume
end

def despatch(message)
  http = http_request({id: message['_id'], broadcast: message['text']})
  http.response_header.status == 200 ? "success" : "failed"
end

def http_request(data = {})
  f = Fiber.current
  http = EventMachine::HttpRequest.new(TARGET_URL).post :body => data
  http.callback { f.resume(http) }
  http.errback  { f.resume(http) }
  return Fiber.yield
end