Two new annoyances in one day

1. Microsoft OWA that we use (2003) apparently uses Microsoft Word (or at least some component of MS Office) as an ActiveX control to create email messages. I noticed this when trying to send a quick email to the team from my in-laws (who don't have Office installed), and it kept popping up the "preparing to install Microsoft Office" dialog box. I cancelled the installation (since they don't have media or a license), and it fell back to a plain textbox for the message body, but the email I was responding to wasn't quoted.
2. Outlook apparently requires IE in order to respond to meeting requests...
   
1. Open Internet Explorer
2. Go to the File menu, and choose "Work Offline"
3. Exit IE
4. Outlook will still be online, will still get email, etc.
5. But if you try to respond to a meeting invitation, it will say that you're "Working Offline". Even though Outlook is online.

Sheesh.