Index: README.txt
===================================================================
RCS file: /cvs/drupal-contrib/contributions/modules/feeds/README.txt,v
retrieving revision 1.34.2.1
diff -u -p -r1.34.2.1 README.txt
--- README.txt	28 Sep 2010 21:45:38 -0000	1.34.2.1
+++ README.txt	23 Oct 2010 16:02:57 -0000
@@ -198,6 +198,11 @@ Name:        http_request_timeout
 Default:     15
 Description: Timeout in seconds to wait for an HTTP get request to finish.
 
+Name:        feeds_never_use_curl
+Default:     FALSE
+Description: Flag to stop feeds from using its cURL for http requests. See
+             http_request_use_curl().
+
 Glossary
 ========
 
Index: libraries/http_request.inc
===================================================================
RCS file: /cvs/drupal-contrib/contributions/modules/feeds/libraries/http_request.inc,v
retrieving revision 1.8
diff -u -p -r1.8 http_request.inc
--- libraries/http_request.inc	8 Sep 2010 14:54:36 -0000	1.8
+++ libraries/http_request.inc	23 Oct 2010 16:02:58 -0000
@@ -218,6 +218,12 @@ function http_request_get($url, $usernam
  *   TRUE if curl is available, FALSE otherwise.
  */
 function http_request_use_curl() {
+  // Allow site administrators to choose to not use cURL.
+  if (variable_get('feeds_never_use_curl', FALSE)) {
+    return FALSE;
+  }
+
+  // Check availability of cURL on the system.
   $basedir = ini_get("open_basedir");
   return function_exists('curl_init') && !ini_get('safe_mode') && empty($basedir);
 }