Speaking of petitions – saw this one floating around on Twitter this morning. So far, more than 3,500 people have signed on in support.

To: University of Iowa Athletics Dept, City of Iowa City
We, the fans of the University of Iowa, support the change in color/design of the water tower adjacent to Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, IA. We feel that this change in color scheme of the tower will add to the game day atmosphere in and surrounding the stadium, as well as help promote the university/city relative to what is painted on the tower.

Sincerely,

The Undersigned

Paint the Water Tower Petition

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Okay, maybe that’s a bit harsh. Let’s say – using the Internet to organize your followers and persuade other people to join you in hopes of achieving a specific goal.

Over the last year I’ve seen Twitter fights and Facebook feuds as people use the ease of the Internet to state an opinion and gather supporters.

While I may not call it a war, or even a fight, there is definitely a disagreement about the place for bicyclists in Iowa. And if the number of votes in our poll question or comments on our Web story are any indication, it’s a topic that many people are very passionate about.

In case you missed it – there’s an online petition circulating to ban bikers from farm-to-market roads in Iowa, or roads that run from rural to urban areas. Instead of the stack of stained and crumpled papers on a clipboard that I remember from college, the writers of this petition decided to use the Internet. Petitioners have spread their request across the Internet and are more than half way to their goal of 1,000 “signatures.” (More than a hundred of those signatures came today after the story hit the state news wires.)

But, avid riders in Iowa have a well-established online presence with forums, blogs, calendars and of course – social networking. RAGBRAI and its participants have embraced technology as a way to connect and share information on the ride with an active Twitter account and a slick mobile site. Cedar Falls is even using Twitter to promote its cycling opportunities with @RideCedarValley, which launched last month.

And Iowa cyclists are fighting the petition with – what else – their own online petition. The Iowa Bicycle Coalition has launched a counter petition to oppose bike bans.

Here are both petitions. You decide.

Citizens for Safety Coalition of Iowa – No shared farm-to-market roadways in Iowa

Iowa Bicycle Coalition – Petition to oppose bike bans

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My friends have learned that saying I’m work, doesn’t necessarily mean I’m physically in my office. I can do 99% of my job from anywhere in the world – as long as I have a computer and Internet access. So far, I can only do about 30 percent from my cell phone. Last night I actually sent work e-mails from inside a movie theater (quietly of course).

Sure, it’s easier to communicate with my co-workers when I’m physically in the newsroom. And I don’t have a police scanner at home (although I’ve thought about it). But, I can also focus better without the distractions, which is why I save the long in-depth projects for weekends and evenings.

A recent survey by Harris Interactive for Riverbed Technology found that more than half of respondents were more productive working from remote locations. But, according to Reuters, the lack of access to company files and software slowed them down.

Sure, I have a job that is by definition tied to the Internet and therefore completely mobile. But, these days, anyone with a job that involves computer and phone work can exchange professional wear for pajamas.

I guess the trendy term is telecommuting. But even that seems binding. It implies that you’re still punching the clock. And for a lot of people working remotely, the lines between work time and personal time are blurring. When you’re working from home, you pay a bill right before you dial in for the conference call. Or you can sleep in for an hour in the morning and instead work extra in the evening.

The Harris poll agrees. Off-site employees say they check their personal e-mail, go to the bathroom, watch TV, make a snack or pay bills according to USA Today.

In an ideal world, it would be nice to have the quiet and flexibility of working from home all the time. But for me, there are still more advantages to being in the newsroom.

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