function encode_json($data)
 {
     // Use PEAR's Services_JSON encoder
     $json = new SEServices_JSON();
     return $json->encode($data);
 }
function json_request($url)
{
    $response = wp_remote_get($url);
    if (is_wp_error($response) || $response['response']['code'] != 200) {
        return false;
    }
    $json = new SEServices_JSON();
    return $json->decode($response['body']);
}