After a rather taxing week at work, I'm settling in with the laptop for some reading and linking. You'd think I get tired of vi, wouldn't you?

Tech Central Station has an interesting article on the political importance of the investor class.

The theory holds that people who become stockowners -- either directly or indirectly through 401(k)s and mutual funds -- grow more likely to have, and to vote on, free-market political views. Behind the theory stand some plausible arguments, suggestive historical coincidences, and survey data.

Residents in nearby Clarke County are beginning to fight the same sort of battles that we have here in PWC, Loudoun, and Fauquier counties, namely, balancing restrictions on development in rural areas against the rights of property owners.

Johnston explained that the committee was trying to address county residents' concerns that Clarke County not be overdeveloped like its neighbors. Requiring permanent easements along with development would create open green spaces, he said.

One of my favorite shows has rubbed off.

So Versaci began constructing new homes that had the look, feel and many of the elements of historic homes.

One such home, commissioned by Ed and Margaret Good, was built on the last open lot in the historic village of Waterford. Its white clapboards, large porch, copper roof and fieldstone foundation blended it seamlessly among its older neighbors, and garnered several awards and magazine features for the architect.

The bucolic Virginia countryside, local attitudes and the relative affluence of its residents provided a fertile environment for Versaci's work. "I was pleasantly surprised to find that there are so many skilled tradespeople in the area. There's a pool of fine carpenters and people who still know how to do standing seam metal roofs," he said.

I've submitted this photo to Photo Friday. The theme is "Glow". I'm entry #360, gah, it fills up fast.