function getHTTPObject() {
  var xhr = false;
  if (window.XMLHttpRequest)   {
    xhr = new XMLHttpRequest();
  }
  else if (window.ActiveXObject) {
         try {
           xhr = new XMLHttpRequest();
         }
         catch(e) {
           try {
             xhr = new ActiveXObject("Microsoft.XMLHTTP");
           }
           catch(e) {
             xhr = false;
           }
         }
       }
  return xhr;
}