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Over the years Microsoft has earned high marks for being “green.” In 2008 the company was named one of the best workplaces for recycling by the King County (Washington) Solid Waste Division. With 50,000 employees, Microsoft knows it can make a significant dent in the waste stream.

Case in point: Next to my desk are two bins, one for garbage and one for recycling. In the kitchen down the hall are more bins, including one for composting, which was added last year to collect new compostable cups, plates, bowls and even silverware and leftover food scraps. At Microsoft, recycling is just the tip of the proverbial iceberg when it comes to sustainability; you can read more about it and other company initiatives here.

Get your ‘green’ on

At MSN, we’re committed to bringing you timely news about the environment, as well as practical advice and tips on how you can make a difference, big or small, in your own life. Stories with an environmental focus are easy to find on MSN: Just look for the Green logo.

Because being “green” isn’t just about recycling tips and disposing of household hazardous waste, you’ll see “green” stories everywhere on MSN, from the Travel channel to Greetings. (Send someone an Earth Day e-card -- they’re paper-free and free of charge!) For a little fun, see how “green” your kitchen is with this quiz from our Food & Entertaining channel, Delish.

There’s a great sports piece on the most environmentally friendly sports stadiums and FOX Sports’ slideshow of 10 athletes making a difference off the field. And who’s the “greenest” of them all in Hollywood? Check out Wonderwall’s gallery of the most sustainable celebrities.

MSN Autos is a wealth of information about driving “green”: You can read about the 10 cars that get 40+ mpg or join in a message board about “green” cars. Here’s an article to bookmark for sure – Consumer Reports tips on how to get better fuel economy from your car.

Today’s tech toys are known to be energy hogs, so MSN Tech & Gadgets recently posted a helpful article that outlines popular gadgets’ energy consumption, including HDTVs, LCD monitors, laptops and desktops.

And finally, one of the coolest new things on MSN is MSN Green on Twitter. If you’re curious about microblogging, join us over there and see what our Green editors are tweeting about.

By Heidi A. Schuessler, User Education Producer for MSN.com

There was a time when I thought I'd never read the newspaper online, let alone watch TV on my computer. How things have changed! Now I get all my news on the Web, and I watch more television on my computer than I do on an actual TV.

MSN makes it easy because video is everywhere on our network. Every day the homepage features Video Highlights, which showcase the latest viral videos making the rounds on the Web. (You know, things like "Hula Hoop Baby" and "Extreme Lawn Mower Racing.")

These originate from MSN Video, which is MSN's massive collection of videos on every subject you could imagine. (Click here for a sneak peek at the new MSN Video.) Want to rewatch your favorite Super Bowl ads? Or see highlights from this year's Oscars ceremony? It's all there — as are daily clips from the worlds of entertainment, sports and celebrities, and episodes of NBC news shows like "Morning Joe," "Meet the Press" and "The Rachel Maddow Show."

And then there's this funky place called "Soapbox," where anyone can post their own videos, like this one of someone's dog going crazy trying to drink water from a hose. Look for the link to an entire menu of user-generated videos in the Soapbox menu on the MSN Video menu, here:

Videos around the MSN network

MSN's many channels are committed to giving you a wide range of video options, so you'll find things like video test-drives on MSN Autos (check out the 2009 Ferrari California) and cooking spots on Delish that will teach you everything from how to melt chocolate to how to cook a turkey. Want more? Here are some great places to bookmark:

• MSN Health: Our Health channel has an extensive series of exercise videos; check out the menu at the bottom of the Fitness section.
• MSN Money: See investing videos by financial expert Jim Jubak.
• MSN Movies: Watch trailers of upcoming films and flicks already in theaters.
• MSN TV: This is the place that got me hooked — especially on all the full episodes of current TV shows available on Hulu.
• MSN Music: Watch music videos from featured artists by genre, and check in with the Top 100 videos to see who's hot and who's not.
• MSN Tech & Gadgets: Hosts Paul Hochman and Marianela report on a wide range of tech topics, such as the latest in fitness technology, in the GearDaddy series of videos. Another special video-based feature on Tech & Gadgets showcases two familiar faces: the Keno Brothers from "Antiques Roadshow." Their series called Collect This! shares expert tips on how to collect everything from vintage video games to cell phones.

You could spend hours watching videos on MSN, but start by picking a couple of topics that interest you and have fun. Soon you'll be hooked.

By Don Sena, Managing Editor, MSN.com homepage

MSN and MSNBC have a deep commitment to bringing you every angle of politics, government and the nation’s leaders. The content comes in many forms, including objective news coverage, expert analysis, interactive features, video, and explanations of complex governmental issues. We also provide message boards, polls, citizen journalism features and other forms of user-generated content, to use an industry term, so you can express your opinions and thoughts.

But sometimes the best service we can provide is easy access to the politicians themselves, allowing you to draw your own conclusions based on comments and addresses from the nation’s leaders. Every Saturday, President Barack Obama speaks directly to citizens in the “Presidential Weekly Address.” And the GOP responds in kind with the weekly Republican address, generally offering different speakers each week such as RNC Chairman Michael Steele and Senator Richard Burr (R-NC).

You can find both addresses every Saturday in the Video Highlights area on the MSN homepage; both run in this prominent location and are given equal time. These weekly offerings allow you to get information directly from each party and speaker; recent topics have included the economic mess, the budget and the nation’s food supply.

Some say these addresses are mere PR stunts from both parties offering nothing more than platitudes, sans any rigorous analysis of the facts. But the media offers plenty of talking heads and no shortage of pundits telling you what to think on all subjects. So why not also hear these viewpoints directly from the parties?

No need to navigate through the “political Web” to find these addresses; the MSN homepage will continue to feature them every Saturday. And we'll let you decide how to react.

By Heidi A. Schuessler, User Education Producer, MSN.com

National Cleaning Week is March 22 to 28, but unless you're Martha Stewart, spring cleaning is probably not something you're going to celebrate. At the very least, the first day of spring is always a good time to take stock: How cluttered have your house, your life, your computer become over the last year?

MSN has tips to cover all kinds of spring cleaning. Let's start with the obvious: your home. MSN Lifestyle has prepared a wealth of content on cleaning and organizing — bookmark that special section! There are articles about getting out tough spots and preventing mildew, as well as 20 easy ways to kick-start your spring cleaning.

My cleaning battles usually revolve around clutter; what gets saved and what gets tossed? I found these 25 strategies for decluttering really helpful — as well as these tips to simplify record-keeping (which could also come in handy at tax time next year).

And it's not just paper: Clutter in my kitchen starts in the pantry, so this handy list reveals the shelf life for common foods like spices, oils and flour. (Flour keeps for only a year? Who knew?) Because the kitchen is the most popular room in our house, it needs constant attention. Martha Stewart to the rescue! She offers some advice on how to stay on top of kitchen messes.

Keep it 'green'

MSN Video has an interesting clip from the "Today" show that talks about how to choose green cleaning products. If you buy regular (i.e., toxic) cleaning products, you can find a local spot to dispose of the packaging safely by searching the recycling directory on MSN Green.

Beyond the house

Here are a few more articles about how to clean out the other areas of your life.

• Spring cleaning for the soul: The baggage you carry from past relationships could be preventing you from having new ones. Time to make room for romance!
• Do a clean sweep of your computer: Is your desktop full of old or unused programs? Our partners at Microsoft.com offer these strategies for reducing your virtual clutter. (While you're at it, take time to delete all those old e-mails as well.)
• If you need a break from dusting, check out your spring cleaning style according to your zodiac sign. Maybe you have a penchant for organization written in the stars.

Happy spring, and happy cleaning!

By Heidi A. Schuessler, User Education Producer on MSN.com

Picture this: It’s the middle of winter. It’s snowing/raining/dark outside and you’re sitting at your computer. You’ve read all the headlines, checked your Hotmail three times and want something new to do.

You’re in luck. Fritter away the winter hours – or just kill a few minutes between meetings – with MSN. Here’s a quick tour of some of my favorite time wasters.

Quizzes

Encarta has quizzes on everything from fad diets and weird animals to state flags and gladiators. Other channels, like Money, Astrology, Careers and Delish, also have quizzes. (Go figure!).

Games

The first stop for gamers is MSN’s Game Zone, where you can play one of 134 free PC games, including board games, puzzles, card games and trivia. MSN’s Food & Entertaining channel also has a handful of games, like solitaire and word search.

Videos

IMHO, MSN TV’s best feature is Hulu, where I go regularly to watch television shows on my laptop. Current episodes of “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart,” “24,” “Dollhouse,” “Paris Hilton’s My New BFF,” and dozens more are available alongside some classics like “The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” “Picket Fences,” and “The Dick Van Dyke Show.” Browse the full menu, or search by genre or decade.

If you’re looking for a quick video fix, check out Videos of the Week or viral videos on MSN Video. This is where you’ll find the most-watched videos of the week, like Dog Attacks Shark and Parking Expert, which makes me laugh every time.

Sports

Spring training has started, so it’s time to sign up for fantasy baseball. If NASCAR is more your style, FOX Sports (MSN’s partner for all things sports) offers up a new fantasy auto racing site, too. Both are free but require signing up for an online account. (Took me just a couple minutes.)

More fun

• Zoom down to see your town—or anywhere in the world—using the 3-D aerial maps on Live Search Maps. (To use the 3D function, you’ll need to download Virtual Earth beta.)
• Browse and send an e-card greeting to someone, just for fun. Some cards require membership to buy and send, but others are free.
• Find out what your dream last night meant with the Dream Dictionary.
• Listen to songs by everyone from the Eagles to Kanye West on MSN Music’s Listening Booth.

I want to hear from you: What are your favorite places to go on MSN for fun? E-mail me at inside-msn@hotmail.com.

By Heidi A. Schuessler, User Education Producer, MSN.com

I have a confession. I do my taxes in February. Early February. I am compelled to know that magic number ASAP so I can, if I’m lucky, spend my refund.

If you’re just starting to think about taxes, don’t panic. April 15 is two months away and MSN has many resources to help you plan, prepare and file your taxes. So gather your forms for 2008 and bookmark these articles, tools and videos I’ve collected from around the MSN network.

First things first

Find out if you should even be doing your own taxes by taking this quiz. If you’re a good candidate for DIY taxes and don’t know where to start, this video shows how you can get free help and advice through the Internal Revenue Service Free File program.

If you don’t want to go it alone, tax software is everywhere these days: Here’s a great video that compares three popular tax prep software programs, and this article offers side-by-side comparison of H&R Block’s TaxCut and Intuit’s TurboTax.

O.K., another decision to make: Are you going to e-file? The Tech & Gadgets team reviews the benefits –and some limitations – for going that route.

So, review this checklist of what you need and these important tax deadlines (April 15 is just one of them), and dive in.

What you need to know

MSN Money is my first resource for all things taxes – the tax section of the site is full of great tools and advice from tax accountant Jeff Schnepper. (He also hosts the Tax Corner message board and answers reader questions.)

If you’re an itemizer, here are 10 big deductions that many people miss, and here’s some advice on how to get the most out of itemizing.

Every year the tax laws change, and in 2008 those changes affected the standard deduction and tax brackets. Also, if you have a kid in college, log business miles on your car, or purchased a house, you might be due some savings. And remember that stimulus check you got from the government? Know how to handle that income.

Mistakes happen

Until the tax code is simplified for us non-accountants, mistakes are bound to happen – like forgetting to sign and date the form and mistyping your social security number (oops). One other biggie is failing to report all income, and that means even bribes, gambling and yes, even theft. If you do make a mistake, don’t worry, there are ways to correct it.

Remember, you are not alone. The message boards on MSN Money heat up this time of year as readers ask:

• Should I report a tax cheat?
• What should newlyweds know about taxes?
• Do I have to pay taxes on gambling winnings?
• Do I have to pay tax on inherited money?

Rejoice over refunds

Getting money back? Weigh in on this message board and tell us how you’re going to spend it. Paying off a credit card? Buying an HDTV or taking a much-deserved vacation on the IRS?

My refund went straight to paying off some debt. Not exactly fun, but in this market I’ll take what I can get.

By Don Sena, Managing Editor, MSN.com

The presidential election, the holiday crunch, 2009 arrives, Golden Globes, inauguration, Super Bowl. Just listing some of the big events and breaking news of the past two months is exhausting — and that doesn't even include the economic mess.

At the MSN Homepage, we know how important these happenings are to your lives, and we strive to cover them from myriad angles. Whether you are seeking smart advice on how to secure your personal finances in this economy or just looking for an escape by spying on celebrity fashion, the MSN Homepage dedicates itself to helping you find what you want, when you want it.

Moreover, we are always looking for new interactive ways to bring you major events and news as it happens. For instance, we hope you noticed our new presentation for the Super Bowl, which allowed MSN editors to bring you more content and bigger photos of the game and its advertisements.

And just as you catch your breath from the last two months, there are many more events right around the corner. In February, we're offering plenty of content and shopping tips to help you get ready for Valentine's Day — even some stories to help those who wish the calendar went directly from February 13 to February 15.

Historical perspective is top of mind in February with Black History Month and the 200th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's birth. February is also awards season — and the MSN Homepage is your destination for the Grammys and Oscars, including carpet-to-carpet coverage from MSN's new celebrity site, Wonderwall.

Of course, March Madness is not too far away (start researching your bracket for the office pool). And even though the groundhog saw his shadow, it's never too early to start thinking about warmer weather, spring break and the hope for a better season for your baseball team.

As always, intertwined with all this event programming are fast and trustworthy news stories, smart advice columns and plenty of interactives and videos on all topics. And if you don't see something you want or just feel like dropping us some advice, please send us your thoughts.

We asked, and you answered. And answered. And answered.

We posted a call for readers to tell us how they were feeling about Barack Obama's inauguration. Just on the day of the inauguration, Jan. 20, we received more than 60,000 posts. We heard voices from every state and more than two dozen countries, from Spain to Qatar.

Throughout Inauguration Day we featured hundreds of the comments in a scroll bar toward the top of the MSN.com homepage. In the comments, several strong themes came through. Here's the rundown:

Feeling inspired by the moment: "Today is truly an inspiration for everyone to dream big. This movement's infectious,” wrote Courtney from Phoenix. “The inauguration signifies hope for mankind,” wrote Marco of Reading, Pa. “The U.S. is heading in the right direction.” Charlene from Lancaster, Ken., said, “This is the most historic event in my lifetime. I will tell my grandchildren about it.”

Sending prayers and good wishes for the first family: “We didn't vote for Obama, but as with any president, we should give him a chance,” wrote Stan and Mary, of Seymour, Mo. In Albuquerque, Jose said: “Congrats, President Obama. Don't forget your Bible. I will be praying for you.”

Showing concern for the Obama family’s safety: “I don’t believe the U.S. is ready for a black president, and I worry about him and his family,” wrote Donna of Delta, Colo. Michelle from Gastonia, N.C. wrote: “I pray for everyone's safety and that things go well today!”

Expressing pride for electing our first black president: “As a black American whose grandparents were slaves, I am very proud of my country,” wrote Ronald from Far Rockaway, N.Y. And Samantha from Brooklyn noted, “It means that finally there is a commander in chief that looks like a member of my family.” Others wished that Martin Luther King Jr. was still alive to witness the day. “This was especially meaningful to those old enough who heard ‘I have a dream’ when it was only a dream,” wrote Andrea from Maplewood, N.J.

Calling out that Obama is half-white: But at the same time, many questioned why he was being labeled as a black man when his mother was white. "They should call him the first mixed president. His mom was white as snow, so he is not the first black president,” commented Linda from Memphis. Nancy from Columbus, Ohio said, “I hope it is well worth it to the country. He may be the first black president, but he is not 100 percent African-American.”

Getting weary of the race issue altogether: Then there were expressions of exasperation that Obama’s race was even an issue. “Isn't it just as racist to glorify him because of race as it is to discriminate him for it?” wrote Diana of Okemos, Mich. Tiffany of Miami summed up another common sentiment of the day: “It's sad that many people still think that America is only America if a white man is president.”

Celebrating is a waste of money: Many, many of you wrote to say that the millions of dollars could have been put to better use. “A waste of money and time. Just swear him in and let him get to work,” wrote Nancy from Grandville, Mich. “I voted Obama, but in this time of crisis, all the pomp and glitz is unnecessary!” said Marge from Jacksonville, Fla.

“Sad day for America”: This was another oft-repeated comment. Virgil from Trenton, N.J. “To me, this inauguration means it is a sad day for America.” Chris in Fayetteville, Ark., admitted he felt “sad, concerned, and scared. I feel America has made a dreadful mistake! I only pray that my feelings prove to be unfounded.”

“The beginning of the end”: The change in administration was not welcome by many of our readers. “This is the beginning to the end of this country, from every level of thought and deed,” wrote Paul from Phoenix. Ric in Cincinnati echoed that sentiment: “This presidency marks the beginning of the end. Government will dominate.” And, from William in Colorado Springs: “We are entering what will be the worst times in the history of the United States.”

For all of you who wrote in, thank you for sharing your thoughts, concerns and hopes with MSN. We always want to hear what’s on your mind; e-mail us at inside-msn@hotmail.com and let us know what you want to read about next.

By Heidi A. Schuessler, User Education Producer, MSN.com

When Barack Obama took the oath of office today, it was the culmination of a long and hard-fought election season. 

MSN.com would like to hear from you! We want to know how you were feeling and what you were thinking as you watched the inauguration events unfold. Or, if you didn’t watch, why? A selection of your comments will be printed on MSN.com.

Click here to share your thoughts; be sure to include your first name only, your comment, and your city and state/country.

Here are a few examples of what MSN readers from around the country are saying:

The size of the crowds on the National Mall so early in the day was inspiring. Wow.
—David, Cincinnati

I've been waiting eight years for this. I'm going to be parked in front of my TV all day.
—Nadine, Buffalo, N.Y.

This is the best day this country has had in eight years. —Alisa, Lakeland, Fla.

No one is a miracle-worker, not even Obama. But I do believe he can change things for the better. —Savannah, Fla.

He can't do any worse than Bush did! —Mike, Greenwich, N.Y.

This is a once-in-a-lifetime dream to come true; a blessed day for all. —Jill, Aiken, S.C.

No big deal. I can't believe people are wearing his face on their clothes like he's some hero. —Rene, West Berlin, N.J.

Whether you voted for him or not, shouldn't every American want Obama to succeed?
—Vivi, Easton, Pa.

With God on your side, Obama, you will make American great again.
—Phina, Lagos, Nigeria

Obama has a tremendous opportunity to change the world for the better. Such a burden to bear. —Dan, Parkville, Md.

He was a do-nothing senator. Why do people think he will be an effective president?
—Joanne, Reeders, Pa.

A great day for all Americans! Naysayers, get a life. —Sarah, Bismarck, N.D.

Every other president had a parade and a ball. Why not Obama? Oh, because you didn't vote for him. —Joseph, Cleveland

He can talk the talk, can he walk the walk? —Nick, Badger, Iowa

The fine print: There's space for only about 20 words per entry. MSN editors may edit your comment for length. We won't publish offensive comments, rumors or accusations. Just be sensible. Go easy on the all-caps, too. Finally, by submitting your comment, you give us permission to print it on MSN.

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By Heidi A. Schuessler, User Education Producer

During the past 12 months, MSN has covered some unforgettable stories: Barack Obama was elected president; China hosted the Olympics; the economy spiraled downward and the nation slid into recession.

We said goodbye to Tim Russert, Heath Ledger, Bernie Mac and Paul Newman, and hello to Sarah Palin, Joe the Plumber, and so many others who stepped onto the world stage in 2008.

During the year, we ran thousands of headlines and photos. Thousands. But which ones did readers like best? Here's the rundown of MSN's 10 most popular non-news stories of the year, in descending order.

10. “America’s most-stolen cars,” from MSN Autos. What did thieves want to drive most this year—and was your car on the list?

9. “Say Cheese: 12 photos that should never have been posted online,” from Tech & Gadgets. A picture may be worth a thousand words, but these cost someone their job, reputation or in some cases, their freedom. What were they thinking?

8. “Deep Water: The Rising Seas,” from City Guides & Green Living channel. This story reviewed the 10 U.S. cities most at risk from rising sea levels. See if your city is on the list.

7. “What People Earn 2008,” from Careers. Car salesman, bounty hunter, doctor, tow-truck driver… take a look at Parade magazine’s annual salary survey to see how you compare.

6. “Is the IRS holding a check for you?” from MSN Money. Some people never got their economic stimulus checks, so millions of dollars are sitting with the IRS. Are you leaving money unclaimed?

5. “LeBron-Gisele Vogue cover draws criticism,” from Fox Sports. This was the most controversial story in our top 10, and MSN.com addressed it from a variety of angles, including a news story, editorial and reader poll.

4. “Surprising Signs You’ll Live Longer Than You Think”, from MSN Health. This slide show revealed 13 fascinating anti-aging secrets, such as “eat purple food” and “build strong legs.” What else is on the list?

3. “Where Are They Now?”, created for MSN Specials, captured our then-and-now fascination with celebrities, sports stars and newsmakers -- like Rudy from The Cosby Show, Patty Hearst and Monica Lewinsky – who have faded from the limelight.

2. “Sunken Dreamboats”: A slide show of heartthrobs no more, by MSN Movies. Mickey Rourke and Val Kilmer made the list—but there are a few surprises, too.

And the top story of the year? “Top Baby Name Trends of 2008” from MSN’s Lifestyle channel. This year, babies named after nouns and presidents were hot. See what other trends are popular.

Here are more year-in-review stories:

• The Year in Pictures from MSNBC
• MSN Travel’s Best of 2008
• Top Celebrity Hook-Ups and Breakups of 2008
  

Happy Holidays from everyone at MSN!