testhttp.py

#! /usr/bin/env python
import httplib
import sys

if len(sys.argv) < 3:
    print "Usage: %s SERVER HOSTNAME[/REQUEST] [body?]" % sys.argv[0]
    sys.exit(1)
else:
    server = sys.argv[1]
    host = sys.argv[2]
    hc = httplib.HTTPConnection(server)
    hc.request("GET", sys.argv[2])
    resp = hc.getresponse()
    hc.close()
    if resp:
        print "%d (%s) Response received over HTTP/%1.1f from %s:%d" % (resp.status, resp.reason, resp.version*0.1, hc.host, hc.port)
        print "\n--Headers follow--"
        for (hh,hv) in resp.getheaders():
            print "%s => %s" % (hh,hv)
        if(len(sys.argv) > 3):
            print "\n--Body follows--"
            print resp.read()

Connects to a specified HTTP server (SERVER) and then makes a request, bypassing DNS so you don't have to munge your /etc/hosts file.