// method that sets up a cross-browser XMLHttpRequest object
function getHTTPObject() {
	
	var http_object;
	
	if (window.XMLHttpRequest)
	{// if Mozilla, Safari etc
		http_object = new XMLHttpRequest()
	}
	else if (window.ActiveXObject){ // if IE
	try {
		http_object = new ActiveXObject("Msxml2.XMLHTTP")
	} 
	catch (e){
	try{
		http_object = new ActiveXObject("Microsoft.XMLHTTP")
	}
	catch (e){
		http_object = false;
		}
	}
	}
	else
		http_object = false;
		
	return http_object;
}