BTW, the original dilbert strip only had two monitors.  That is so…two years ago.

When I first started using 2003, I saw this feature and it was a little annoying.  There was dialog that popped up and you could add an exclusion.  That was slightly annoying, but eventually I turned the feature off.  You had to go to add/remove programs, add/remove windows components, and unselect “Internet Explorer Enhanced Security Configuration”.  Done.

With Windows Server 2008 R2, there is no option to add an exclusion and there is no option to uninstall the “feature” so you are stuck with it.  It is difficult to figure out how to add an exclusion.  So by default, IE if extremely limited.  I could understand this for your average Server that will be deployed and facing the Internet.  This is completely annoying for internal servers.  I finally found the “work around” for this!

1. Launch “Server Manager”
2. Select the “Server Manager” node on the left and scroll on the right to the “Security Information” Section.
   
3. Click on “Configure IE ESC”
   
4. Change the settings for either Administrators or Users.

Realistically, it is nicer that you can turn it off only for administrators.  However, it was not the easiest setting to find.  I am documenting here so that I don’t have to find it again (for the third time)!  I found this on one of my servers.  A month later, I wanted to set it but couldn’t remember the magic location.  I went to the original server and IE conveniently told me how to re-enable it (and hence were to disable it on the new server).

I was running bulk call simulations that would generate 20-30 calls/sec and our logging would generate gigabytes of logs.  So I got another 1TB disk to store all of this data and any other logs that I would look at for different support scenarios.

I brought the disk over to the new machine and forgot about it since I wasn’t running those simulations anymore.  I realized today that the drive was not showing up.  The IT guy was in the office looking at another problem (actually my previous PC failed to boot after I rebooted the day I switched machines!).

We looked at the disk management node under computer management.  I saw a disk, but it had a yellow exclamation next to it.  That can’t be good!

I heard him exclaim, “who setup the disk as a Dynamic Partition?!?!”  I sheepishly ask why that mattered.  It turns out that “Dynamic” means that it can only be used on the original PC that it was created on (which will no longer boot).  Maybe a name other than “Dynamic” should have been used to describe this type of partition.  Heavy Sigh…

Note to self: Don’t use dynamic partitions (if I want the data to be portable).

I finally spent the time to figure out how to stop this behavior.  Windows will use the email client setup in Internet Explorer’s programs configuration, which defaults to Outlook Express.

I used Process Monitor to watch for registry access.  First I selected only to monitor registry changes.  Then I included iexplore.exe and then excluded all the registry operations that I was not interested in.  When I launched the options dialog in IE, I saw that it was enumerating the [HKLM\SOFTWARE\Clients\Mail] registry path.  I went to that path and saw that the default value was “Outlook Express” just like it is displayed in the options dialog.

I cleared the default value and went back to IE and verified that the “E-Mail” program entry was cleared.  I hit the email button and…nothing!  Just what I wanted!  Now I have to remember this so that I can clear this setting when I connect to a new server (hence the reason for this post)!

Two little lines I heard one day, Traveling along life’s busy way;
Bringing conviction to my heart, And from my mind would not depart;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, yes only one, Soon will its fleeting hours be done;
Then, in ‘that day’ my Lord to meet, And stand before His Judgment seat;
Only one life,’ twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, the still small voice, Gently pleads for a better choice
Bidding me selfish aims to leave, And to God’s holy will to cleave;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, a few brief years, Each with its burdens, hopes, and fears;
Each with its clays I must fulfill, living for self or in His will;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

When this bright world would tempt me sore, When Satan would a victory score;
When self would seek to have its way, Then help me Lord with joy to say;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Give me Father, a purpose deep, In joy or sorrow Thy word to keep;
Faithful and true what e’er the strife, Pleasing Thee in my daily life;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Oh let my love with fervor burn, And from the world now let me turn;
Living for Thee, and Thee alone, Bringing Thee pleasure on Thy throne;
Only one life, “twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, yes only one, Now let me say, “Thy will be done”;
And when at last I’ll hear the call, I know I’ll say ’twas worth it all”;
Only one life,’ twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Our one year old has really taken to eating table food, much quicker than our other three did.  Often we can barely get it on her tray before she is already going to town on dinner. 

Being a one year old, she doesn’t get everything to her mouth and we have some really nice pocket bibs that catch the food.  When we take the tray off, she squeals a little as she finds the remains that didn’t make it to her mouth and gets another portion.  My wife has coined this as ‘Happiness in a Bib.’

Tonight we had pizza casserole and she really liked it.  My wife couldn’t get a bite before her tray was empty and was signing for more.  When we took the tray off this time, the pocket was pretty full and her big brother said, “That’s Happiness!”

Last Tuesday at 6 am, I was putting my laptop into my backpack and getting ready for work when all of a sudden I had extreme pain coming from my back.  I could barely make it to the couch.  Once I was on the couch, it was difficult to roll over.  It felt like my hips were pinned down.

After a while, I called my dad to ask for prayer.  He reminded my that the previous week he had had some bad back pain and gone to a friend of the family, Ryan Van Matre, who was now a Chiropractor with offices in Delphi (our hometown) and Carmel.  I had recently re-connected with his older brother Graeme Van Matre who is also a Chiropractor in Westfield and was a classmate of mine in high school.

I decided to give him a call to see what he could do.  I called pretty early just expecting to get his voicemail to find out his hours, but he answered and got me an appointment for that morning.  I was in so much pain, that I had to have Michelle go to CVS and get me crutches.  I still wonder how I managed to get to out to the van due to the pain.

I arrived at his office and hobbled inside and he lead me back to his room.  He explained to me about the Active Release Technique that he uses and started working on me (well, more like working me over).  It wasn’t pleasant at first, but afterwards I was able to walk out without needing the crutches!

I have been back four times and I am getting to the point were I actually forget that I had back pain.  He has given me exercises to do and I got a GymnastikBall to use at work.  Each day is getting better.  The worse is when I use a chair for extended periods of time (especially the chair at home). but even that is getting better.

I really appreciate how much you have helped me this past week.  Thanks Doc Graeme!

I have been listening to Grace to You Radio for a while via their Daily Radio Podcast.  I really like the way he lays out the scriptures and preaches for change.

One thing that has always bugged me a little bit is that the radio broadcast, due to time constraints, doesn’t play a whole series.  If you want to listen to the who series, then you have to either buy the CDs or MP3 downloads.  I understand that they are trying to cover the costs of making them available and to spreading their ministry.  It just seemed to me that the broadcast was just a teaser to get you to buy the audio and seemed too much like a sales job at the end of the message. 

I have often wanted to write to them to encourage them to make it available for free and allow God to provide what they need.  Well, I heard last night (well, whichever sermon I was listening to which is about a week old), that they have decided to offer them for free. 

If you listen and are encouraged in your faith by these message, I would encourage you to start supporting their ministry.  This has been the step to encourage me to become a regular supporter.

God, harden me against myself, the coward with pathetic voice who craves for ease and rest and joy.  Myself, arch traitor to myself, my hollowest friend, my deadliest foe, my clog whatever road I go.

From time to time, I complain to myself and sometimes to others about my lack of progress in the faith.  Why is it that I still struggle with some sins and don’t gain victory over them?  Yes, it the Spirit that works within us, but we have our part and it takes effort to be effective.  If only I took the same approach to spiritual matters that I do my with my passion for software and technology?