I love how easy MTV and Microsoft have made it.

We’re becoming more savvy about ideas and efforts that make positive differences in the world, but are often unable to do anything. We’re busy with our jobs, families, and personal interests, so don’t have time to fly around the world lobbying for peace, justice or healing.

But, social activism still matters to us, right?

I read on Ad Week this morning that MTV has just launched its Beta site Think.MTV.com. It’s a cool stab at social networking meant to really capitalize on our desire to impact the world starting with our computers. I noticed that one of the banner ads on their new site pointed back to Windows Live Messenger and their new initiative, i’m making a difference.

Here’s what the site says:

i’m is a new initiative from Windows Live Messenger™. Every time you start a conversation using i’m, Microsoft shares a portion of the program’s advertising revenue with some of the world’s most effective organizations dedicated to social causes. We’ve set no cap on the amount we’ll donate to each organization. The sky’s the limit.

Out of the gate, Microsoft is supporting 9 organizations. One that I’m particularly interested in supporting is the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. So, they’ve made it really easy for me to download this cool web button so all of you can click and learn:

Or, say you’re passionate about:

You get the idea. It’s exciting that two groups, MTV and Microsoft, are both latching on to the stuff we’re saying matters to us.

(P.S. I agree with Justin Timberlake. I love you MTV, for wanting to get your hands dirty, but please go back to your roots and play more music.)

Jeff Caylor will be playing at Rico’s (a restaurant, toy store, book store and venue!) tonight starting at 6:30pm. Jon Collins and Don McCaleb will be sitting in with him, both featured musicians on the “Okay” album. Steve Russo will also be adding his drum skills on a couple songs.

I’m still deciding if I’m going to play/sing. I’ve been fighting a cold for a few days now and was slightly delusional last night (thanks TheraFlu!) as I fell asleep. Kept seeing giant purple spiders crawling out of my dresser drawers. And was then convinced that an elephant’s trunk was slowly creaping out from under a pile of socks. It might be best if I just rested tonight, lest I mistake an audience member for a circus animal.

But, either way, I’ll be there to enjoy the great music.

I have an old pair of New Balance shoes that I bought before I knew they were cool. I’ve had them for probably 7 years and they are the color of pee. Every time I’m tempted to toss them, I think to myself, “Leora, not many people have shoes the color of pee. You should hold on to these.” And I do. And I wear them still. Maybe I’ll wear them on Friday night. Luke Flowers (and me, Dawn and Paul) will be opening for John Troast and his red shoes.

Taken from his website:

Empathy is often described as the ability to “put oneself in another’s shoes”. If the shoes belonged to Jon Troast, they would be red. The folk rock artist from Wisconsin wears a trusty pair of red Reeboks whenever he performs. Literally putting on someone else’s shoes might not make a big difference, but metaphorically speaking, it could have a profound impact. That’s called empathy.

He’s about to release his sixth project called “Second Story.” The show will be at Dogtooth Coffee this coming Friday night. Starts at 6pm.