Neighbors and neighborhood institutions are making headlines in larger publications than our humble Connection. Here are a few that have popped up in recent months:
Recipes from a revolution: Scott Seligman is the coauthor of what’s likely the only cookbook inspired by one woman’s remembrances of China’s Cultural Revolution. Sandra Gong was ten years old at the beginning of Mao Zedong’s Communist uprising. Her family, accused of being counter-revolutionaries, was exiled to the countryside, where they had to scrape for food. Scott and Sandra describe the aim of the cookbook in this interview with NPR. The Cultural Revolution Cookbook is available at Politics & Prose and on its web site. (NPR)
Energy Department’s numbers man: Adam Sieminski began serving as the Energy Information Agency administrator in June. Among the the statistics EIA collects are gas price moves and energy usage. Among the findings EIA data has produced lately: The U.S. could become the world’s top energy producer by 2020. (U.S. Energy Information Administration, Bloomberg)
Take your kids out to play, all kids win: The mission of Forest Hills-based nonprofit KaBOOM! is a terrific one: Build safe, fun playgrounds within walking distance of every child in the country. Through August 13th, it’s issuing a challenge to fun-lovers everywhere: Visit as many playgrounds as you can between now and August 13th, mark the locations on its Tag! app, and win a week-long trip to Washington, DC. Other kids will win if you play. KaBOOM! is plugging the data into its new Map of Play, which not only helps users find nearby playgrounds, but helps the organization discover “play deserts” within neighborhoods. (Wired, Apartment Therapy)
Wildlife are neighbors too: Parkland that’s allowed to remain in its natural state has been embraced by more North American cities. Rock Creek Park, our most prominent neighbor, is a fine example, though the one mention in the article finds a human neighbor who could do without some of its four-legged inhabitants. (Salon.com)
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