function getHTTPObject() {
  var xmlhttp;
  if (!xmlhttp && typeof XMLHttpRequest != 'undefined') {
    try {
      xmlhttp = new XMLHttpRequest();
    } catch (e) {
      xmlhttp = false;
    }
  }
  return xmlhttp;
}

var http = getHTTPObject(); 

function launchUrl( url ) {
	// alert(url);
	http.open( "GET", url, false );
	http.send( null );
}