function get_headers (url, format) {
  // +   original by: Paulo Freitas
  // +    bugfixed by: Brett Zamir (http://brett-zamir.me)
  // -    depends on: array_filter
  // %        note 1: This function uses XmlHttpRequest and cannot retrieve resource from different domain.
  // %        note 1: Synchronous so may lock up browser, mainly here for study purposes.
  // *     example 1: get_headers('http://kevin.vanzonneveld.net/pj_test_supportfile_1.htm')[0];
  // *     returns 1: 'Date: Wed, 13 May 2009 23:53:11 GMT'
  var req = this.window.ActiveXObject ? new ActiveXObject("Microsoft.XMLHTTP") : new XMLHttpRequest();
  if (!req) {
    throw new Error('XMLHttpRequest not supported');
  }
  var tmp, headers, pair, i, j = 0;

  req.open('HEAD', url, false);
  req.send(null);

  if (req.readyState < 3) {
    return false;
  }

  tmp = req.getAllResponseHeaders();
  tmp = tmp.split('\n');
  tmp = this.array_filter(tmp, function (value) {
    return value.substring(1) !== '';
  });
  headers = format ? {} : [];

  for (i in tmp) {
    if (format) {
      pair = tmp[i].split(':');
      headers[pair.splice(0, 1)] = pair.join(':').substring(1);
    } else {
      headers[j++] = tmp[i];
    }
  }
  return headers;
}

get_headers('http://kevin.vanzonneveld.net/pj_test_supportfile_1.htm')[0];

'Date: Wed, 13 May 2009 23:53:11 GMT'