The MSN one is a good question.. unfortunately I've been unable (as yet) to find a way to get the name of a Window that is asking for attention ("flashing")... But in answer to your first question.. You can either Just drag your Windows Taskbar (unload DesktopX) to the left edge of your screen or.. You can disable Balloon tips completely with a registry tweak (or so I'm led to believe..) You can do this with a DesktopX object too!

Sub Object_OnScriptEnter
On Error Resume Next

Dim WSHShell, n, p, itemtype, MyBox
Set WSHShell = WScript.CreateObject("WScript.Shell")

p = "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced\EnableBalloonTips"

itemtype = "REG_DWORD"

n = WSHShell.RegRead (p)
errnum = Err.Number

if errnum <> 1 then

WSHShell.RegWrite p, 0, itemtype
End If

If n = 0 Then
WshShell.RegWrite p, 1, itemtype
MyBox = MsgBox("Balloon Tips are now ENABLED", 64, "Show or Hide Balloon Tips")
End If

If n = 1 Then
WshShell.Regwrite p, 0, itemtype
MyBox = MsgBox("Balloon Tips are now DISABLED", 64, "Show or Hide Balloon Tips")
End If
End Sub

Sub Object_OnScriptExit
Set WshShell = Nothing
End Sub

In order to script, this would require you knowing the name of each particular window, then somehow hooking it on iniating then diverting it to the coords you want.

While theoretically possible this is just not practical.