In a move reminiscent of AskJeeves (now Ask), Microsoft Live Search is slapping on a face and a personality to their product to draw more search traffic. the main difference seems to be instead of an old British butler cartoon, MSN is falling back on that old maxim, sex sells.

Ms. Dewey (played by Janina Gavankar) is appropriately pretty, sassy and “modern” (of indeterminate race). So go on, amuse yourself for 20 seconds and type in the word “b*tch.” It’s like every banker’s dream — virutal S&M.