function newXMLHttpRequest() {
   var request = false;
   if (window.XMLHttpRequest) {
     request = new XMLHttpRequest();
   } else if (window.ActiveXObject) {
     try {
       // Try to create XMLHttpRequest in later versions of Internet Explorer
       request = new ActiveXObject("MSXML2.XMLHTTP.3.0");
       //request = new ActiveXObject("Msxml2.XMLHTTP");
     } catch (e1) {
       // Failed to create required ActiveXObject
       try {
         // Try version supported by older versions of Internet Explorer
         request = new ActiveXObject("Microsoft.XMLHTTP");
       } catch (e2) {
         // Unable to create an XMLHttpRequest with ActiveX
         alert("Error initializing XMLHttpRequest!");
       }
     }
   }
   return request;
}

// This function opens a popup window
function popWin (url) {
  window.open(url,"pron_window","toolbar=no,scrollbars=yes,status=no,resizable=yes,menubar=no,width=650,height=300");
}

// This functions opens the Promo window for Merriam-Webster Unabridged.
function promoWin (promo_url) {
  aWindow=window.open(promo_url,"promo_window","toolbar=yes,scrollbars=yes,status=yes,resizable=yes,menubar=yes,width=635,height=450");
}

function opWin(w,h,url) {
   specs = "toolbar=no,location=no,directories=no,status=no,menubar=no,resizable=yes,copyhistory=no,scrollbars=yes" + ",width=" + w + ",height=" + h
   window.open(url,'',specs)
}

function todayStr() {
  var today=new Date()
  return today.getMonth()+1+"-"+today.getDate()+"-"+(today.getYear() + 1900)
}
/***********************************************
* Cool DHTML tooltip script II- ?Dynamic Drive DHTML code library (www.dynamicdrive.com)
* This notice MUST stay intact for legal use
* Visit Dynamic Drive at http://www.dynamicdrive.com/ for full source code
***********************************************/