>Is it requirement now for MS employees to have a blog? :)

No, it is completley voluntary. It is not even discussed, people just do one if they want to, generally post to it on their own free time. There are less than 1000 Microsoft employees with a blog, but the list is growing, and there are over 55,000 Micorsoft employees world wide. I did not create a blog for my Europe trip, I created a blog so I can post items of news or possible interest in a regular basis outside of the monthly letter on MSDN and also outside of specific message posts on forums like the UT. I just happen to start my own on my trip.