You would get a SocketError exception from getaddrinfo because HTTParty (which uses Net::HTTP) can't lookup the hostname. If the hostname is already resolved, you'd get a Errno::EHOSTUNREACH exception from connect because there is no route to Google's servers.
Comments
how does the gem failover if the machine it is being used on isn't connected to the internet?
You would get a SocketError exception from getaddrinfo because HTTParty (which uses Net::HTTP) can't lookup the hostname. If the hostname is already resolved, you'd get a Errno::EHOSTUNREACH exception from connect because there is no route to Google's servers.
Leaky abstraction
http://www.joelonsoftware.com/articles/LeakyAbstractions.htm...
Hey, I didn't say it was awesome, I was just reporting what actually happens. :)
In other words, "poorly".