var http_request = false;
  
  function make_request(url,type) {

    http_request = false;

    if (window.XMLHttpRequest) { // Mozilla, Safari,...
        http_request = new XMLHttpRequest();
        if (http_request.overrideMimeType) {
            http_request.overrideMimeType('text/xml');
            // zu dieser Zeile siehe weiter unten
        }
    } else if (window.ActiveXObject) { // IE
        try {
            http_request = new ActiveXObject("Msxml2.XMLHTTP");
        } catch (e) {
            try {
                http_request = new ActiveXObject("Microsoft.XMLHTTP");
            } catch (e) {}
        }
    }

    if (!http_request) {
        alert('Cannot create XMLHTTP-Instance! Please contact info@global-flat.com!');
        return false;
    }
    
	if (type == "rate_setup") {
	http_request.onreadystatechange = refresh_rate_setup;
	}
	
    http_request.open('GET', url, true);
    http_request.send(null);

}