I got an unusual message this morning when I logged in. MSN Messenger* couldn't sign on because Internet Explorer was in Offline mode. I was idly wondering why Messenger cared. Or even knew.

But it gets worse. The Offline setting I had changed in Windows Media Player**, not IE. So why does changing it in WMP actually alter IE and why does Messenger rely on it? No, that's a rhetorical question. (Come to think of it, I could have half-expected it to also complain because my default mail program wasn't Outlook.)

See, this is why I dislike (having to) use Microsoft software. I'd file a bug if I thought they'd even consider it a bug. Which they won't.

Wade.

* Don't ask why I run it. Just don't. It wasn't my idea.

** Get this: the only way for WMP to know the name of the CD you're playing is if it asks its own name lookup service. You can't even enter the names yourself! Why not, Microsoft? Can't you trust your users to do it properly?