http://msnblog.msn.com/default.aspx This is the new MSN Blog. http://msnblog.msn.com/blogpost.aspx?post=3c4fe0b4-eead-492b-9809-27a350201c9c 100 Day Countdown to London Olympic Games Starts Now Wed, 16 May 2012 00:36:19 -0700 MSN Team 00000065-07bc-0000-0000-000000000000 3c4fe0b4-eead-492b-9809-27a350201c9c BlogArticle 86A6E242F7F7E1F1 4 4 2012-04-18T17:34:23.367 The lighting of the Olympic torch in London this summer is 100 days away. To mark the occasion, MSN and FOXSports.com are launching a special section (http://msn.foxsport ​ s.com/olympics) devoted to coverage of the London Games.    The section will feature articles, current and former Olympian profiles, videos and photo galleries.  FOXSports.com award-winning contributors including Jason Whitlock, Mark Kriegel, Jen Floyd Engel, and Bill Reiter will be updating the site from London for the entirety of the Games.   In addition, U.S. Olympic heroes Maurice Greene (track & field), Amy Van Dyken (swimming), Dominique Dawes (gymnastics) and Christian Laettner (basketball) have been recruited to bring their unique perspective with special video features.   To kick things off, Maurice Greene, two-time Olympic gold medalist and former world record holder in the 100-meter dash, shares “Train like a Champion” a video series in which he’ll explore the dedication it takes to be an Olympian.  Amy Van Dyken, a six-time Olympic gold medalist provides her take from with interviews with stars of swimming.  Olympic gymnast and gold medalist in the 1996 Atlanta Games, Dominique Dawes, offers “up close” interviews featuring various sports.  Christian Laettner, member of the 1992 Barcelona Games “Dream Team,” reports and analyzes USA Basketball’s hope to repeat as Olympic champions. We are thrilled to partner with FoxSports.com to offer comprehensive coverage of the upcoming Olympics on MSN.  We hope our hundreds of millions of customers will enjoy commentary and coverage from notable experts and past Olympic heroes, as well as breaking news and trend coverage on the MSN homepage and our new msnNOW site.   - Rob Bennett, Executive Producer MSN Awaiting the start of the Olympic, Coming! BlogArticle http://msnblog.msn.com/blogpost.aspx?post=4b3dc1d8-61f1-46da-bd7f-94b0ff8eaa88 Watch exclusive interview footage, download exclusive tour wallpaper and enter for an exclusive chance to meet Florence in person Wed, 09 May 2012 06:39:39 -0700 MSN Team 00000065-07bc-0000-0000-000000000000 4b3dc1d8-61f1-46da-bd7f-94b0ff8eaa88 BlogArticle 86A6E242F7F7E1F1 1 1 2012-04-10T18:59:52.317 Following the critically acclaimed November release of Ceremonials, Florence + the Machine is kicking off the US leg of the tour in Santa Barbara, California this Saturday. As our goal is to “keep you in the know” about what’s happening in your world of music, supporting the tour is a natural fit.  To help celebrate, we are rolling out exclusive content and the chance for one lucky fan and friend to meet Florence in person. Win a Chance for You and a Friend to Meet Florence in Las Vegas Starting at 12 p.m. PT today, we will be tweeting a Florence related tweet from the @MSN twitter handle.  Those of you who retweet will be entered into a sweepstakes (one entry per handle) for you and friend to see Florence + the Machine in Las Vegas.  The grand prize includes airfare for two to Las Vegas, two nights' accommodations, tickets to the Florence + the Machine concert including the after party where you can meet Florence in person.  For contest details please click here.   Watch Exclusive Behind-the-Scenes Footage   Check out exclusive behind-the-scenes footage of Florence + The Machine at music.msn.com/Floren ​ ce.   Download Wallpaper and Screensaver Personalize your desktop, with Florence + The Machine wallpaper and screensaver pack.   Click here to download the pack and see Florence Welch in high definition. Check Out and Share Florence + The Machine Posters on Facebook.com/MSN As a part of the tour, MSN has commissioned both famous and up-and-coming artists to create 7 original posters based on Florence +the Machine lyrics.  Starting next week, each of the unique posters, will be featured exclusively on the MSN Facebook page.  You can visit the page, judge the posters and share your favorites with friends.   -          Erika Sommer, MSN -          Ingrid  Comacho, MSN Love Florence and The Machine! Hope its a serious success BlogArticle http://msnblog.msn.com/blogpost.aspx?post=f4d6b4c2-f575-43a8-9de2-857991469833 Listen to full songs of your favorite artists while you browse Wed, 11 Apr 2012 09:12:23 -0700 MSN Team 00000065-07bc-0000-0000-000000000000 f4d6b4c2-f575-43a8-9de2-857991469833 BlogArticle 86A6E242F7F7E1F1 0 1 2012-04-11T16:16:20.33 Today, Spotify unveiled the Spotify Play Button which allows you to launch and listen to songs from any website that has a Spotify Play Button.   MSN and BermanBraun Interactive are pleased to be a part of the experience with Wonderwall ( www.wonderwall.com) serving as the official entertainment and celebrity launch destination for the button. Now when you visit Wonderwall, you will be able to listen to entire songs while viewing galleries.  If you are a Spotify user, you simply click the play button to go dive into the full artist experience. If you don't have Spotify installed, you will be invited to download and try the free experience.   Check it out and let us know what you think.   -       James Fitch, MSN Entertainment and Sports Today, Spotify unveiled the Spotify Play Button which allows you to launch and listen to songs from any website that has a Spotify Play Button.   MSN and BermanBraun Interactive are pleased to be a part of the experience with Wonderwall ( www.wonderwall.com) serving as the official entertainment and celebrity launch destination for the button. Now when you visit Wonderwall, you will be able to listen to entire songs while viewing galleries.  If you are a Spotify user, you simply click the play button to go dive into the full artist experience. If you don't have Spotify installed, you will be invited to download and try the free experience.   Check it out and let us know what you think.   -       James Fitch, MSN Entertainment and Sports BlogArticle http://msnblog.msn.com/blogpost.aspx?post=39f212c9-aee8-4eb4-8320-47e52c88c1a1 Watch the exclusive trailers to these instant classics today Thu, 03 May 2012 05:05:02 -0700 MSN Team 00000065-07bc-0000-0000-000000000000 39f212c9-aee8-4eb4-8320-47e52c88c1a1 BlogArticle 86A6E242F7F7E1F1 5 3 2012-04-01T12:51:35.717 Starting today, MSN will host the exclusive, worldwide premiere of four cutting edge independent films on MSN Movies.  With the intent of driving the theater experience onto the web, MSN has partnered with some of the world’s leading independent film auteurs to bring these very special films to audiences worldwide.  From the depths of suburban horror, to one man’s journey to be with the woman he loves, MSN hopes these films will enlighten, entertain and even inspire.   Swim for Love Based on ‘actual’ events and starring Anthony Ervin, an Olympic Gold Medalist must choose to swim in the Summer Games or swim across the Atlantic Ocean in order to be reunited with his true love.  Trailer Link   I Will Never Close My Eyes A terrifying tale about a mother whose sanity is tested by a haunted, relentless force. Trailer Link   Wranglers of Death In a last-ditch effort to save their family, a group of cowboys drive a dangerous herd to Hollywood. Trailer Link   As yet untitled A terrifying force is slaughtering a once-peaceful American town. Trailer Link   To watch the trailers, click here.   -         - The MSN Movies and Multimedia Team grrrr BlogArticle http://msnblog.msn.com/blogpost.aspx?post=4112e465-be63-4fae-95a1-e7aa504f784e See what people are saying about your stocks in real-time Mon, 26 Mar 2012 17:36:10 -0700 MSN Team 00000065-07bc-0000-0000-000000000000 4112e465-be63-4fae-95a1-e7aa504f784e BlogArticle 86A6E242F7F7E1F1 0 1 2012-03-27T22:16:04.96 Today, we are rolling out StockTwit streams on MSN Money.  Now when you visit ticker pages on MSN Moeny you can see the real-time conversation about that stock alongside the financial highlights. The StockTwits stream includes real time ticker specific trade ideas, links and commentary from a wide range of investors, traders and financial professionals - as well as official updates from public companies. Head over to MSN Money and check it out.   -          The MSN Money Team Today, we are rolling out StockTwit streams on MSN Money.  Now when you visit ticker pages on MSN Moeny you can see the real-time conversation about that stock alongside the financial highlights. The StockTwits stream includes real time ticker specific trade ideas, links and commentary from a wide range of investors, traders and financial professionals - as well as official updates from public companies. Head over to MSN Money and check it out.   -          The MSN Money Team BlogArticle http://msnblog.msn.com/blogpost.aspx?post=0938f8e4-b6e4-4fef-bdb9-36ece34f647d Join us on Twitter: Thursday, March 22nd, from 12-1 pm PT Wed, 04 Apr 2012 20:41:41 -0700 MSN Team 00000065-07bc-0000-0000-000000000000 0938f8e4-b6e4-4fef-bdb9-36ece34f647d BlogArticle 86A6E242F7F7E1F1 0 1 2012-03-20T18:16:25.873 Keeping up with the latest news (be it the Kardashians, Lindsay Lohan or March Madness) can be challenging, especially with more than 2.7 billion ‘likes’ and comments shared on Facebook and 864,000 hours of video uploaded to YouTube each day. To help you keep up with the latest and greatest, this Thursday, social media maven  and TV personality Kinsey Schofield  will share her tips and tricks for cutting through the clutter and filtering the overwhelming amount of information on the internet to find what you want to know. Find out the best ways to keep up with your friends on Facebook, follow tweets on Twitter, and see breaking news all in one place so that you can be the first to know. In this digital world, sometimes knowing what happened an hour ago is too late – you need to know right now!  Kinsey Schofield was recently recognized as #25 in The 100 Greatest Women in Social Media so she knows a thing or two about how to filter the overwhelming amount of information out there on the web. A pop culture maven, nationally recognized writer, social media strategist, and TV personality, Kinsey is currently a host for Young Hollywood, and has been seen on several TV outlets including E! News, MTV, and Fox News. We know that your hands are often full and you’re mostly seen running with wet-hair to preschool drops, afterschool activities, the grocery store, daycare and all the million places in between. You simply don’t have time to filter through a stack of magazines or watch the nightly news for an hour (you’re making dinner!) to stay up on the latest trends – and ensure you can still hold an adult conversation beyond who’s having a good sale on diapers. Join us on Thursday, March 22nd, from 12-1pm PT, to hear how to stay up with the latest while also talking celebrities, your favorite YouTube sensations and more. To join the fun, follow @msnNOW, @MomCentral and @KinseySchofield, and tweet out your questions and commentary with the hashtag #msnNOW. As an added bonus, two lucky participants will win a fifty dollar visa gift card. - The msnNOW team Keeping up with the latest news (be it the Kardashians, Lindsay Lohan or March Madness) can be challenging, especially with more than 2.7 billion ‘likes’ and comments shared on Facebook and 864,000 hours of video uploaded to YouTube each day. To help you keep up with the latest and greatest, this Thursday, social media maven  and TV personality Kinsey Schofield  will share her tips and tricks for cutting through the clutter and filtering the overwhelming amount of information on the internet to find what you want to know. Find out the best ways to keep up with your friends on Facebook, follow tweets on Twitter, and see breaking news all in one place so that you can be the first to know. In this digital world, sometimes knowing what happened an hour ago is too late – you need to know right now!  Kinsey Schofield was recently recognized as #25 in The 100 Greatest Women in Social Media so she knows a thing or two about how to filter the overwhelming amount of information out there on the web. A pop culture maven, nationally recognized writer, social media strategist, and TV personality, Kinsey is currently a host for Young Hollywood, and has been seen on several TV outlets including E! News, MTV, and Fox News. We know that your hands are often full and you’re mostly seen running with wet-hair to preschool drops, afterschool activities, the grocery store, daycare and all the million places in between. You simply don’t have time to filter through a stack of magazines or watch the nightly news for an hour (you’re making dinner!) to stay up on the latest trends – and ensure you can still hold an adult conversation beyond who’s having a good sale on diapers. Join us on Thursday, March 22nd, from 12-1pm PT, to hear how to stay up with the latest while also talking celebrities, your favorite YouTube sensations and more. To join the fun, follow @msnNOW, @MomCentral and @KinseySchofield, and tweet out your questions and commentary with the hashtag #msnNOW. As an added bonus, two lucky participants will win a fifty dollar visa gift card. - The msnNOW team BlogArticle http://msnblog.msn.com/blogpost.aspx?post=225b5c83-56c4-4aba-9104-003412ca1bd8 New single debuts exclusively on music.msn.com/Florence Tue, 06 Mar 2012 15:55:46 -0800 MSN Team 00000065-07bc-0000-0000-000000000000 225b5c83-56c4-4aba-9104-003412ca1bd8 BlogArticle 86A6E242F7F7E1F1 0 1 2012-03-07T16:00:18.387 Following the critically acclaimed November release of Ceremonials, Florence + the Machine will be embarking on a 15 city tour presented by MSN.  As our goal is to “keep you in the know” about what’s happening in your world of music, supporting the tour is a natural fit. For those of you who can’t make to the shows in person, we’re pleased to bring you exclusive access to the debut of Florence + the Machine’s latest music video “ Never Let Me Go,” as well as a behind-the-scenes look at the production and other videos and photos featuring the band and its charismatic front woman. Starting on April 14th at the Santa Barbara Bowl with stops at The Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival (April 15 and 22) and one show at New York’s Radio City Music Hall (May 8), Florence + the Machine’s U.S. tour stops are as follows. Go to http://music.msn.com ​ /florence for the latest updates. Check out the video and let us know what you think.   -  Sam Sutherland, Senior Editor, MSN Music Following the critically acclaimed November release of Ceremonials, Florence + the Machine will be embarking on a 15 city tour presented by MSN.  As our goal is to “keep you in the know” about what’s happening in your world of music, supporting the tour is a natural fit. For those of you who can’t make to the shows in person, we’re pleased to bring you exclusive access to the debut of Florence + the Machine’s latest music video “ Never Let Me Go,” as well as a behind-the-scenes look at the production and other videos and photos featuring the band and its charismatic front woman. Starting on April 14th at the Santa Barbara Bowl with stops at The Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival (April 15 and 22) and one show at New York’s Radio City Music Hall (May 8), Florence + the Machine’s U.S. tour stops are as follows. Go to http://music.msn.com ​ /florence for the latest updates. Check out the video and let us know what you think.   -  Sam Sutherland, Senior Editor, MSN Music BlogArticle http://msnblog.msn.com/blogpost.aspx?post=57342879-d45d-4c17-bc5a-a0ce11a31a04 In step with Super Tuesday, MSN launches new section looking at intersection of money and politics Tue, 06 Mar 2012 09:59:10 -0800 MSN Team 00000065-07bc-0000-0000-000000000000 57342879-d45d-4c17-bc5a-a0ce11a31a04 BlogArticle 86A6E242F7F7E1F1 0 1 2012-03-06T17:59:10.387 Just in time for Super Tuesday, MSN Money is launching a new politics section today. Visit  MSN Money & Politics to find daily political news updates, great election-related features and timely video.   Today, we have feature articles on the  spending spree by Super PACs, Obama’s  problem with rising gas prices, and the  two political issues that could bring down the U.S. economy. Of course, we also have up-to-the minute coverage of the Super Tuesday races. Be sure to take our poll and check out our curated feed of some of the most thought-provoking headlines on Twitter. Why a section dedicated to money and politics? As election 2012 approaches, we’ve found readers are clamoring to learn more about how campaign proposals could affect their own personal finances. Will income tax rates rise? Will the U.S. budget deficit spark higher interest rates? Will the economy slow if the government cuts back on Federal stimulus?   The stock market has rallied so far this year in anticipation of a stronger U.S. economy, but many forecasters remain doubtful that robust growth is ahead. The actions of the upcoming election season could dictate if the US economy continues on a pace of recovery or starts slowing once again.   To stay on top of all these developments – and track the progress of candidates -- check out MSN Money & Politics daily. You can also follow us on Twitter @money_politics.   -      -  Amey Stone, MSN Money Just in time for Super Tuesday, MSN Money is launching a new politics section today. Visit  MSN Money & Politics to find daily political news updates, great election-related features and timely video.   Today, we have feature articles on the  spending spree by Super PACs, Obama’s  problem with rising gas prices, and the  two political issues that could bring down the U.S. economy. Of course, we also have up-to-the minute coverage of the Super Tuesday races. Be sure to take our poll and check out our curated feed of some of the most thought-provoking headlines on Twitter. Why a section dedicated to money and politics? As election 2012 approaches, we’ve found readers are clamoring to learn more about how campaign proposals could affect their own personal finances. Will income tax rates rise? Will the U.S. budget deficit spark higher interest rates? Will the economy slow if the government cuts back on Federal stimulus?   The stock market has rallied so far this year in anticipation of a stronger U.S. economy, but many forecasters remain doubtful that robust growth is ahead. The actions of the upcoming election season could dictate if the US economy continues on a pace of recovery or starts slowing once again.   To stay on top of all these developments – and track the progress of candidates -- check out MSN Money & Politics daily. You can also follow us on Twitter @money_politics.   -      -  Amey Stone, MSN Money BlogArticle http://msnblog.msn.com/blogpost.aspx?post=af765640-b71d-486e-9ac6-8bf030bed4be The Spotify House presented by MSN will host free, live music with unexpected guests Fri, 13 Apr 2012 22:46:24 -0700 MSN Team 00000065-07bc-0000-0000-000000000000 af765640-b71d-486e-9ac6-8bf030bed4be BlogArticle 86A6E242F7F7E1F1 1 1 2012-03-05T19:10:27.21 As people from around the world converge on Austin to attend the famous music conference this week, we are pleased to offer folks a refuge – introducing The Spotify House Presented by MSN.  Spotify will be setting up home for a week-long series of artist sessions including an extra special  live show housed at a secret location on Thursday 15th March.   We’re delighted to join Spotify in Austin at the Spotify House presented by MSN. MSN’s global community is passionate about music and we’re excited to align with Spotify to keep you in the know on music. Visitors to the house will enjoy ‘up close and personal’ acoustic ‘Spotify Sessions’ from hot emerging acts, or simply kick back with a Bloody Mary and refuel at the taco truck. Spotify demo pods will offer the opportunity to trial the leading digital music service and enjoy, explore and share its millions of tracks.   On the evening of Thursday 15th March, Spotify will be hosting a secret show which will take place in a unique location in the heart of Austin, promising a killer line-up which is guaranteed to bring the city to a standstill.   The lineup of artists performing at the Spotify events will be revealed daily via SMS. Simply text ‘Spotify’ to 894546* any time to receive daily notifications about artist line-ups at The Spotify House presented by MSN and to be the first to find out details of the secret show. In addition, register on the RSVP Page for entry to the house and follow @SpotifySouth on Twitter.   Check out msnNOW, a new service from MSN, will help you stay in the know on music and connected to the action. msnNOW is the first service to surface the latest buzz from across Facebook, Twitter, Bing and BreakingNews.com, all in one place. Visit www.msnnow.com.   -          Eric Hadley, General Manager for Marketing for Bing and MSN you can download msn plus here http://xn--msnplus-z ​ ywth9b2o.blogspot.co ​ m BlogArticle http://msnblog.msn.com/blogpost.aspx?post=9a11ceb5-ad04-4ab5-b045-2d65dcbadc3b Customize the MSN homepage to show you more news, sports or entertainment stories Fri, 02 Mar 2012 17:01:17 -0800 MSN Team 00000065-07bc-0000-0000-000000000000 9a11ceb5-ad04-4ab5-b045-2d65dcbadc3b BlogArticle 86A6E242F7F7E1F1 3 2 2012-03-01T16:17:14.66 Do you want more of your favorite content on the MSN homepage? MSN has always provided up-to-the-minute news, sports, entertainment and other information to keep you in the know. But you may be more interested in one category. You may come to get caught up on the latest news, others may come to see the latest sports headlines, while still others are looking for the hottest celebrity gossip or other topics. That's why we've created MSN Editions: new customized homepages that give you an extra dose of the topic you're most interested in. It’s the same great homepage you know, but with even more of the stories and videos you want. How to Choose Your Page There are three new Editions of the MSN homepage to choose from: Entertainment, News and Sports. You can switch back to our standard homepage at any time by choosing Default.   Select your MSN Edition from the "Content Options" link, located in the upper-right corner of the page. When you move your mouse over "Content Options," you'll see a menu where you can change your Edition or get back to the default page.   So, what changes once you select an Edition? Simply put, your homepage will feature more of the topic you picked.   You'll still get the full MSN experience, with content on a wide variety of subjects, just with an extra focus on what you're looking for.     Your Edition is noted below the MSN butterfly logo and the homepage will automatically open to your chosen topic. Thanks for checking out MSN Editions! Now go pick your Edition and start enjoying more of your favorite content. Click one of these links to try an Edition:   News | Sports | Entertainment   Let us know what you think.    - Don Sena, MSN Play free online games <a href="http://gameblr ​ .com">Free Online games</a> asdddddddddddddddddd ​ dddddddddddddddddddd ​ dddddddddddddddddddd ​ dddddddddddddddddddd ​ dddddd BlogArticle http://msnblog.msn.com/blogpost.aspx?post=1a106d89-6658-4705-840e-794354133811 60 percent of people say they will be betting on the NCAA Tournament this year Wed, 29 Feb 2012 16:01:37 -0800 MSN Team 00000065-07bc-0000-0000-000000000000 1a106d89-6658-4705-840e-794354133811 BlogArticle 86A6E242F7F7E1F1 0 1 2012-03-01T16:45:15.487 March Madness is nearly upon us, and nearly 60 percent of people who answered a recent MSN online survey said they will be filling out a bracket for the tournament this year. While not everyone will be placing bets on which team will win it all, the majority of the people said they will play, and nearly a third of the respondents admitted to filling out multiple brackets. If you’re planning to fill out a bracket, visit msn.foxsports.com and enter the Fox Sports Bracket Challenge for the chance to win $1 million dollars. More than 50 million Americans participate in March Madness office pools, leading to estimated annual losses of $2 billion when employee productivity losses are factored into the equation.  The MSN survey underscores the issue, with only 14 percent of the respondents saying they don’t follow the tournament to any extent during work hours.  The other 86 percent confessed to taking time out to follow the tournament: Reading, watching and checking stats online (57 percent); talking to co-workers about their brackets (52 percent); and checking scores on their mobile phone (43 percent).   The popularity of the annual 68-team, one-loss-and-your-se ​ ason-is-over tourney is indisputable.  Only four percent of survey respondents said the statement “I don’t see the big deal; I won’t be viewing/participatin ​ g” best described their attitude towards March Madness.  Meanwhile, 35 percent put themselves in the “I eat, breathe and sleep March Madness” category, and 61 percent admitted to being involved simply for the socializing that comes with watching games and being part of a bracket pool.   Economic realities have had an effect on survey respondents, as well.  This year 68 percent said they would spend nothing or up to only $10 in a bracket pool.  That’s twice as many as last year, in which 34 percent said they would limit themselves to $10 if they paid into a money pool at all.  Meanwhile, while 8 percent of respondents said they’ll spend more than $100 on bracket pools, a whopping 42 percent said they wouldn’t spend even a dime.     Other interesting findings: In 2011, more than half of survey respondents (58 percent) said they will enter two or more betting pools. This year, only 31 percent said they would do the same. Another sign of the tough economic times? A third of people believe their March Madness bet will offer a better return than their 401(k)! Don’t expect to hear from your colleagues or boss in a timely manner when the games are on, as more than half (56 percent) plan to dedicate at least one hour of work during the first two full days of the tourney watching games or following scores, with 11 percent saying they will do the same for at least five hours and 6 percent saying they take the first two days of the tourney off of work. Kentucky fan Ashley Judd is, for the second straight year, the most desired courtside companion when respondents are given a choice of sitting with celebrity March Madness fans Matthew McConaughey, Condoleezza Rice, Paul Rudd, Barack and Michelle Obama, Ashton Kutcher, and Judd.  The majority of respondents (42 percent) stated a preference for Judd, with the Obamas a distant second at 23 percent. Furthermore, men and women disagree on the best game-day buddy, with men preferring Judd (47 percent), and women favoring the President and First Lady (28 percent) over McConaughey (22 percent).  Kutcher got the lowest votes total at six percent. Good luck!   - Mike Grady,  MSN Sports March Madness is nearly upon us, and nearly 60 percent of people who answered a recent MSN online survey said they will be filling out a bracket for the tournament this year. While not everyone will be placing bets on which team will win it all, the majority of the people said they will play, and nearly a third of the respondents admitted to filling out multiple brackets. If you’re planning to fill out a bracket, visit msn.foxsports.com and enter the Fox Sports Bracket Challenge for the chance to win $1 million dollars. More than 50 million Americans participate in March Madness office pools, leading to estimated annual losses of $2 billion when employee productivity losses are factored into the equation.  The MSN survey underscores the issue, with only 14 percent of the respondents saying they don’t follow the tournament to any extent during work hours.  The other 86 percent confessed to taking time out to follow the tournament: Reading, watching and checking stats online (57 percent); talking to co-workers about their brackets (52 percent); and checking scores on their mobile phone (43 percent).   The popularity of the annual 68-team, one-loss-and-your-se ​ ason-is-over tourney is indisputable.  Only four percent of survey respondents said the statement “I don’t see the big deal; I won’t be viewing/participatin ​ g” best described their attitude towards March Madness.  Meanwhile, 35 percent put themselves in the “I eat, breathe and sleep March Madness” category, and 61 percent admitted to being involved simply for the socializing that comes with watching games and being part of a bracket pool.   Economic realities have had an effect on survey respondents, as well.  This year 68 percent said they would spend nothing or up to only $10 in a bracket pool.  That’s twice as many as last year, in which 34 percent said they would limit themselves to $10 if they paid into a money pool at all.  Meanwhile, while 8 percent of respondents said they’ll spend more than $100 on bracket pools, a whopping 42 percent said they wouldn’t spend even a dime.     Other interesting findings: In 2011, more than half of survey respondents (58 percent) said they will enter two or more betting pools. This year, only 31 percent said they would do the same. Another sign of the tough economic times? A third of people believe their March Madness bet will offer a better return than their 401(k)! Don’t expect to hear from your colleagues or boss in a timely manner when the games are on, as more than half (56 percent) plan to dedicate at least one hour of work during the first two full days of the tourney watching games or following scores, with 11 percent saying they will do the same for at least five hours and 6 percent saying they take the first two days of the tourney off of work. Kentucky fan Ashley Judd is, for the second straight year, the most desired courtside companion when respondents are given a choice of sitting with celebrity March Madness fans Matthew McConaughey, Condoleezza Rice, Paul Rudd, Barack and Michelle Obama, Ashton Kutcher, and Judd.  The majority of respondents (42 percent) stated a preference for Judd, with the Obamas a distant second at 23 percent. Furthermore, men and women disagree on the best game-day buddy, with men preferring Judd (47 percent), and women favoring the President and First Lady (28 percent) over McConaughey (22 percent).  Kutcher got the lowest votes total at six percent. Good luck!   - Mike Grady,  MSN Sports BlogArticle http://msnblog.msn.com/blogpost.aspx?post=d4161580-3135-4b2e-aa81-45edbc508a66 Keep up on the latest buzz on Facebook, Twitter, Bing and breaking trends from across the Web at now.msn.com Fri, 24 Feb 2012 09:49:08 -0800 MSN Team 00000065-07bc-0000-0000-000000000000 d4161580-3135-4b2e-aa81-45edbc508a66 BlogArticle 86A6E242F7F7E1F1 1 2 2012-02-16T05:02:25.1 Today we’re launching msnNOW, MSN’s new service focused on keeping you in the know. msnNOW, available at now.msn.com, makes it easy to stay up to date on the things people are talking about, searching for and sharing the most. We scour the most interesting trends from real-time sources like Facebook, Twitter, Bing, and BreakingNews.com, so you'll always know what's happening and get the jump on what everyone is talking about. When we see a hot social conversation or emerging trend, our expert editors provide key insights on why it’s trending, if it's true, what people are saying about it and where to find out more.         With msnNOW you'll be the most informed of your friends about what’s happening across the Web – whether it’s celebrities, a sporting event, the latest tech news, or a political race. msnNOW In a hundred words or less, we summarize trends, arming you with what you need to know about the topics you want to talk about with your friends. On msnNOW, you will see icons from Facebook, Twitter, Bing and BreakingNews, which indicate where each topic is trending. To see a quick snapshot of the latest trends that are blowing up in real time, check out the “Biggest Movers” Feature. And, don’t forget to build the buzz by clicking on the butterfly and sharing it yourself through a variety of options – including Facebook, Twitter and email. You can also easily sort through the trends that matter most to you in the topics sections by filtering them by areas of interest, including: Fame: Drill down on celebrity gossip and entertainment reports. Soul: Explore trends related to life – including love, beauty, kids, products and more. Sweat: Check into the latest sports buzz. Wire: Catch up on trends related to the day’s big stories. Cash: See what’s hot in the world of money and big business. Demand Dashboard: The Tool Behind NOW Every moment of every day, people are searching, sharing, tweeting and posting content. With so much information available, it’s hard for you to know what’s trending and why; so every few minutes our newly developed “ Demand Dashboard” looks back at the last 24 hours to tally, sort and analyze millions of Bing searches, public Facebook posts, tweets, shared URLs and breaking  news stories. It sifts through all the data and looks for patterns to emerge – detecting breaking trends as they happen, so you can easily find out what everyone will be talking about. We think that by applying this new technology, msnNow can deliver timely and socially relevant information so you can stay in the know.         Get msnNOW Everywhere Because msnNOW is all about keeping you in the know, you can stay up-to-date wherever you are, by hopping on your PC, mobile phone, or tablet by going directly to now.msn.com. On Facebook, ‘like’ msnNOW to receive updates in your feed, or read the hottest trends with friends on the msnNOW Facebook Reader . Or, simply follow @msnNOW on Twitter. When you’re reading www.msn.com, just look for headlines with a NOW bubble to see what trends and conversations are heating up on the Web. Check out what msnNOW host, Asha K., has to say about msnNOW.   Go to now.msn.com and click make msnNOW my homepage to ensure you’re always up-to-speed on the latest and greatest.  To read more about the technology and people behind msnNOW, check out this article on Microsoft News Center. msnNOW is just the beginning of exciting changes at MSN.  Stay tuned!   - Bob Visse, General Manager, MSN Mr. Bob Visse, This is a nice idea for MSN. But why isn't it being made more visible, announced with greater fanfare?   I spend far too much time online  a good portion of which includes time on Microsoft sites such as MSDN, Newsvine and MSNBC News. Yet I only found out about msnNOW because I was reading an article on the perfectly respectable but not exactly social OnWindows (site description is "Enterprise technology on the Microsoft Windows platform") about expansion of a Dublin, Ireland data center which is a very fine thing, but again, not social media material. Microsoft has many wonderful products and services that hardly anyone even knows exist! I hope more people find out about this latest offering, and I look forward to exploring it.  P.S. Bing maps are EXCELLENT! P.P.S. I love your emoticon assortment. The sheep are so cute!!! I've never seen them anywhere else but here. Maybe you could include them and some of the other festive emoticons on additional Microsoft websites? BlogArticle http://msnblog.msn.com/blogpost.aspx?post=10c87c2c-6d2e-4ce6-8666-f8acdaa28614 Stay in the know with MSN wherever you are (including the couch) Sun, 25 Mar 2012 13:32:53 -0700 MSN Team 00000065-07bc-0000-0000-000000000000 10c87c2c-6d2e-4ce6-8666-f8acdaa28614 BlogArticle 86A6E242F7F7E1F1 1 2 2012-02-09T18:25:41.93 Today we are launching MSN for iPad in the US. Available via the iTunes App Store, MSN for iPad introduces a beautiful way to stay in the know with MSN. It’s all your favorite content reimagined as an online magazine that you can take with you and access anywhere. Relax, explore and keep up with your world with a swipe of a finger.       Explore MSN The MSN channels, you know and love are displayed on the rich frontpage, including: News:  Stay in the know with breaking news and video from MSNBC.com. Sports: Find the latest stories,  predictions and award winning news on your favorite teams from Foxsports.com. Entertainment & Celebrities: Browse movie reviews, read about your favorite musical acts and more in the entertainment section. Stay up to date on the latest celebrity news and gossip from Wonderwall. Editor’s Picks:  Explore the best content MSN has to offer hand-selected by our editorial team. Video: With a tap of a finger you can watch the most popular videos on MSN. Money: From financial advice to savings tips, stay up to date on your money matters.  Living: Whether you’re interested in celebrity fashion, the latest beauty trends, or budget solutions for your family, MSN Living has always been your go-to destination with great content from your favorite print brands. Autos: Get car information and expert advice from MSN Autos while you’re on the go.   Easy to Use The enhanced interface allows easy swiping to find your favorite articles and renders perfectly whether you prefer landscape or portrait orientation.  Easily update the content by pulling down the homepage grid for quick refresh to get more of your favorite articles.   No Web Connection, No Problem: Take MSN Content with You Enjoy your content on the go, even when you are not near a wireless connection with offline mode. Simply enable offline mode from the arrow on the top right of the menu bar to access MSN anytime, anywhere. If you're looking to engage more deeply, Bing is built in so you can easily search the web for more content that interests you.   Streamlined Sharing Easily share interesting stories with friends on Facebook and Twitter, or email a link for their enjoyment. Hotmail and Windows Live Messenger are easily accessed for your convenience so you can connect all the products that matter to you.   Circle and Search with Lasso Today, it can be somewhat painful to search on a tablet. With that in mind, we’ve included a feature we call Lasso that lets you circle and search in just two steps.  Find a word or phrase that you want to know more about, just hold the left or right margin with your thumb while you circle the word or phrase and MSN for iPad will launch a search in Bing. Swipe-Through Slideshows and Photo Galleries Photo galleries and slideshows come alive in the MSN interface,   and all of the video content selected by our editors for your enjoyment is formatted to play just for iPad. The MSN for iPad App is available today in in the US. It was previously available for users in Canada, Germany, France and the UK.   MSN for iPad. Try it now.   -          Eva Corets, MSN Mobile slnee Information Technology Riyadh neighborhood of Al Rayyan Street - Ahmad ibn Hanbal Saudi information technology company to design, programming and development of iPhone applications, websites and office software best technologies in the world http://www.slnee-it. ​ com BlogArticle http://msnblog.msn.com/blogpost.aspx?post=f53222ee-1f81-43ec-b287-567e721f8c92 Get romance tips and advice from relationship experts like Andrea Syrtash at Living.MSN.Com Sun, 05 Feb 2012 20:19:53 -0800 MSN Team 00000065-07bc-0000-0000-000000000000 f53222ee-1f81-43ec-b287-567e721f8c92 BlogArticle 86A6E242F7F7E1F1 0 1 2012-02-06T18:27:30.273 Last week, we launched MSN Living, a new site showcasing a striking visual design, fresh original content, and experiences that speak to the varied facets of your life – most importantly your love life. In our love section, you will find articles on love & sex, relationships, married life and weddings from contributors from your favorite brands like Allure, Glamour, Cosmopolitan, InStyle, Good Housekeeping, GQ, Real Simple, Parenting and more. This week, we are featuring Andrea Syrtash, dating and relationship expert advice columnist and author of Cheat On Your Husband (With Your Husband) who shares “ 8 Surprising Secrets That Happy Couples Know.” With Valentine’s Day a few short weeks ahead, we thought it would be interesting to gauge how the nation was feeling about the holiday and see what factors people feel make or break a relationship.   Here’s what you had to say: 57 % of people say they plan to spend Valentine's Day with a significant other, while 43% said they will either spend with friends/family or alone. Valentine's Day is a holiday for both couples and singles, and Andrea Syrtash provides tips and advice for enjoying the day no matter the situation of your love life. 65% of women love Valentine's Day and think it's a great way to celebrate a relationship, compared to 55% of men. So men, despite your feelings, it's probably a good idea to listen to your significant other and plan something special. On average, 60% of people say they spend less than $100 on Valentine's Day and 32% say they don't spend any money while celebrating.  Great ideas don’t have to be expensive – check out MSN Living for ideas. When asked what causes the most problems in relationships, 46% think it's infidelity while 30% say keeping secrets from the other. Andrea Syrtash stresses the importance of openness and communication in a relationship. Being honest with each other can go a long way in keeping a relationship positive and loving. 78% of people think that having a crush on another person while in a marriage/serious relationship is either problematic or a sign the relationship isn't working. Andrea thinks that having a crush while you’re married is normal and gives a few strategies on how to deal with it. Of the people surveyed, 55 percent said they are intimate with their partners two times a week or less.  Andrea Syrtash provides advice on MSN Living on how couples can spice up their love life for Valentine's Day, as well as the rest of the year. From fashion to beauty, home décor to relationships, we’re ready to help you live your best life – and experience your best Valentine’s Day - with savvy tips, advice, and inspiration at http://living.msn.co ​ m.   -          The MSN Team Last week, we launched MSN Living, a new site showcasing a striking visual design, fresh original content, and experiences that speak to the varied facets of your life – most importantly your love life. In our love section, you will find articles on love & sex, relationships, married life and weddings from contributors from your favorite brands like Allure, Glamour, Cosmopolitan, InStyle, Good Housekeeping, GQ, Real Simple, Parenting and more. This week, we are featuring Andrea Syrtash, dating and relationship expert advice columnist and author of Cheat On Your Husband (With Your Husband) who shares “ 8 Surprising Secrets That Happy Couples Know.” With Valentine’s Day a few short weeks ahead, we thought it would be interesting to gauge how the nation was feeling about the holiday and see what factors people feel make or break a relationship.   Here’s what you had to say: 57 % of people say they plan to spend Valentine's Day with a significant other, while 43% said they will either spend with friends/family or alone. Valentine's Day is a holiday for both couples and singles, and Andrea Syrtash provides tips and advice for enjoying the day no matter the situation of your love life. 65% of women love Valentine's Day and think it's a great way to celebrate a relationship, compared to 55% of men. So men, despite your feelings, it's probably a good idea to listen to your significant other and plan something special. On average, 60% of people say they spend less than $100 on Valentine's Day and 32% say they don't spend any money while celebrating.  Great ideas don’t have to be expensive – check out MSN Living for ideas. When asked what causes the most problems in relationships, 46% think it's infidelity while 30% say keeping secrets from the other. Andrea Syrtash stresses the importance of openness and communication in a relationship. Being honest with each other can go a long way in keeping a relationship positive and loving. 78% of people think that having a crush on another person while in a marriage/serious relationship is either problematic or a sign the relationship isn't working. Andrea thinks that having a crush while you’re married is normal and gives a few strategies on how to deal with it. Of the people surveyed, 55 percent said they are intimate with their partners two times a week or less.  Andrea Syrtash provides advice on MSN Living on how couples can spice up their love life for Valentine's Day, as well as the rest of the year. From fashion to beauty, home décor to relationships, we’re ready to help you live your best life – and experience your best Valentine’s Day - with savvy tips, advice, and inspiration at http://living.msn.co ​ m.   -          The MSN Team BlogArticle http://msnblog.msn.com/blogpost.aspx?post=a98fec76-6ae8-4ef2-a25f-bdefd6aa42e4 Explore new ways to turn your inspired dreams into reality on Living.MSN.com with fresh new voices, timely and relevant content, and a vibrant site design Wed, 15 Feb 2012 03:30:01 -0800 MSN Team 00000065-07bc-0000-0000-000000000000 a98fec76-6ae8-4ef2-a25f-bdefd6aa42e4 BlogArticle 86A6E242F7F7E1F1 2 3 2012-02-01T16:59:28.527 Whether you’re interested in celebrity fashion, the latest beauty trends, or budget solutions for your family, MSN Lifestyle has always been your go-to destination with great content from your favorite brands like Allure, Glamour, Cosmopolitan, InStyle, Good Housekeeping, GQ, Real Simple, Parenting and more. Today, MSN Lifestyle transforms into MSN Living – a completely new site that delivers a brand new visual design, fresh original content, and experiences that speak to the varied facets of your life.     Jump in today and take a look at the latest fashions of the season, grab quick home décor tips, and find fun getaways for your family vacation this summer. Our writers and bloggers will keep you in touch with the trending topics of the day on Facebook and Twitter so that you stay in the know. Get the latest and greatest trends from contributors on topics that you love:   Daily Dose Blog – What’s buzzing today? Culture and lifestyle news (Rich Maloof’s award-winning writing has covered subjects ranging from soda pop to stem cells.) The Organized Home Blog – Put your house in order (from the editors of Real Simple) The Men’s Department Blog – Style and substance for men (from the editors of GQ) Simply Chic Blog – Fresh & fun style advice (contributions from Kim Peiffer and editors of Allure, Glamour, and InStyle) Family Room Blog – Your guide to imperfect parenting (Jeremy Greenberg, dad, comedian and writer) My Married Life Blog – What happens after I do (from The Knot/The Nest) Wedding Obsessions – All things weddings (with Carley Roney, editor-in-chief The Knot) Miss Manners Advice – Mind your manners in life and relationships (with Judith Martin, Miss Manners)   And just in time for Valentine’s Day, relationship expert and author of “Cheat on Your Husband, (With Your Husband)” Andrea Syrtash, shares her tips and advice on MSN Living. Check out her slideshow on “ Breaking the Rules for a Better Romance:  5 Ways to Shake Things Up.”     From fashion to beauty, home décor to relationships, we’re ready to help you live your best life with savvy tips, advice, and inspiration at http://living.msn.co ​ m.   - Jeri Condit, Lead Producer, MSN Living yeah .  keep it up BlogArticle