For a few reasons you heard about Microsoft in the news over the last couple of weeks. If you were on vacation or had your head otherwise preoccupied, here are the highlights:

• If you fly on Delta in October and peruse their in-flight magazine, you will have to watch for a 30-page article on North Dakota. Of particular interest to this blog is Microsoft's own Don Morton being named one of the "Six to Know". Don is our Fargo site leader and oh hey, Fargo is busting at the seams with people from CSS. Congratulations to Don and North Dakota for being the first state featured by Delta's sky mag!
• Last week, for the fifth straight year in a row, Microsoft scored a perfect score for the Human Rights Campaign's Workplace Index: 100 out of 100. This recognizes Microsoft as a leading employer for LGBTQ job-seekers, a status Microsoft works hard for and a responsibility it doesn't take lightly. Check out Microsoft's scorecard here.
• And finally, there was some news out of Microsoft this past Monday. You may have heard a little bit about something we like to call Windows Phone 7. Microsoft unveiled a whopping 9 launch devices and gave the world a preview of what Windows Phone 7 can do. There's enough articles out there that I'll let you sort through the various first reactions. To learn more for yourself, though, check out the official Windows Phone 7 page. You can also Like Windows Phone 7 on Facebook and check out your own personalized demo.

While we're at it - let me also make sure you know about the upcoming Services Diversity Webinar celebrating Asian and Hispanic heritage months. If you'd like to join in on the celebration, visit the registration page to register for the webinar. It's being held tomorrow, October 14, at 6:00 PM ET.