diff --git a/stitchcode/threads.js b/stitchcode/threads.js
index bd4b6f97..6ecea455 100644
--- a/stitchcode/threads.js
+++ b/stitchcode/threads.js
@@ -53,6 +53,41 @@ Process.prototype.reportPi = function (min, max) {
     return Math.PI;
 };
 
+// Process URI retrieval (interpolated)
+
+Process.prototype.reportURL = function (url) {
+    var response;
+    if (!this.httpRequest) {
+        // use the location protocol unless the user specifies otherwise
+        if (url.indexOf('//') < 0 || url.indexOf('//') > 8) {
+            if (location.protocol === 'file:') {
+                // allow requests from locally loaded sources
+                url = 'https://' + url;
+            } else {
+                url = location.protocol + '//' + url;
+            }
+        }
+        this.httpRequest = new XMLHttpRequest();
+        this.httpRequest.open("GET", url, true);
+        // cache-control, commented out for now
+        // added for Snap4Arduino but has issues with local robot servers
+        // this.httpRequest.setRequestHeader('Cache-Control', 'max-age=0');
+        this.httpRequest.send(null);
+        if (this.context.isCustomCommand) {
+            // special case when ignoring the result, e.g. when
+            // communicating with a robot to control its motors
+            this.httpRequest = null;
+            return null;
+        }
+    } else if (this.httpRequest.readyState === 4) {
+        response = this.httpRequest.responseText;
+        this.httpRequest = null;
+        return response;
+    }
+    this.pushContext('doYield');
+    this.pushContext();
+};
+
 Process.prototype.reportProxiedURL = function (url) {
     return this.reportURL(this.proxy + '/' + url);
 };
@@ -61,7 +96,7 @@ Process.prototype.origReportDistanceTo = Process.prototype.reportDistanceTo;
 Process.prototype.reportDistanceTo = function (name) {
 	var thisObj = this.blockReceiver();
 	if (thisObj && this.inputOption(name) === 'mouse-pointer') {
-		return new Point(thisObj.xPosition(), thisObj.yPosition()).distanceTo(new Point(this.reportMouseX(), this.reportMouseY()));		
+		return new Point(thisObj.xPosition(), thisObj.yPosition()).distanceTo(new Point(this.reportMouseX(), this.reportMouseY()));
 	} else {
 		return this.origReportDistanceTo(name);
   }
@@ -71,9 +106,9 @@ Process.prototype.origDoGotoObject = Process.prototype.doGotoObject;
 Process.prototype.doGotoObject = function (name) {
 	var thisObj = this.blockReceiver(),
 			stage;
-	
+
 	if (thisObj && this.inputOption(name) === 'random position') {
-		stage = thisObj.parentThatIsA(StageMorph);	
+		stage = thisObj.parentThatIsA(StageMorph);
 		if (stage) {
 			thisObj.gotoXY(
         this.reportBasicRandom(stage.reportX(stage.left()), stage.reportX(stage.right())),
@@ -88,11 +123,11 @@ Process.prototype.doGotoObject = function (name) {
 Process.prototype.reportRandomPosition = function () {
 	var thisObj = this.blockReceiver(),
 			stage;
-	
+
 	if (thisObj) {
 	  stage = thisObj.parentThatIsA(StageMorph);
 	  return new List([this.reportBasicRandom(stage.reportX(stage.left()), stage.reportX(stage.right())),
-                   this.reportBasicRandom(stage.reportY(stage.top()), stage.reportY(stage.bottom()))]); 
+                   this.reportBasicRandom(stage.reportY(stage.top()), stage.reportY(stage.bottom()))]);
   }
-		
+
 };