way OT: question regarding Internet explorer

[metaltim]

well i feel i can ask you guys anything, so that's why im doin it here..

when i surf the net, i like to have my status bar on, so I can the see address of links before i click em, (useful tip) and so I know when I actually click a link by seeing if the little status meter bars are moving on the right side..

well, for some reason, the last couple of days, i've noticed a very random pattern.
sometimes when I'm in IE, the status bar isn't there. I have to go to view-status bar to bring it back.
now I can get in IE by 3 ways:
click the IE link from my desktop, or
click a link in an existing window and another one pops up (like on the DUC):
While in IE, hit ctrl-N to open a new IE window.
sometimes the status bar is there, sometimes it isn't

this randomness happens on all of 3 methods of opening IE.
anyone know what the deal is, or how I can make the status bar always be there.

thanks
tim