function sendRequest(url, handlerFunctionName) {
  try {
    request = new XMLHttpRequest();
  } catch (trymicrosoft) {
    try {
      request = new ActiveXObject("Msxml2.XMLHTTP");
    } catch (othermicrosoft) {
      try {
        request = new ActiveXObject("Microsoft.XMLHTTP");
      } catch (failed) {
        request = false;
      }
    }
  }
  
  request.open("POST", url, true);
  request.onreadystatechange = handlerFunctionName;
  request.setRequestHeader('Content-Type','application/x-www-form-urlencoded');    
  request.send(null);
}