         let requestURL = getBluemixBaseRequestURL() + "/" + kPingEndPoint
 
         let request = Request(url: requestURL, method: HttpMethod.GET)
+
+        request.timeout = kDefaultTimeOut
 
         request.sendWithCompletionHandler { (response, error) -> Void in
             callback(response: response, error: error)

        }
    }

    /// photos that were taken during this app session
    var imagesTakenDuringAppSessionById = [String : UIImage]()

    //array that stores all the images currently being uploaded. This is used to show the images currently posting on the feed

            body.appendData(imageEndEncoding)
            body.appendData(boundaryEnd)

            request.timeout = kDefaultTimeOut

            request.sendData(body, completionHandler: { (response, error) -> Void in

                //failure
