diff --git a/public/docs/_examples/cb-component-communication/e2e-spec.js b/public/docs/_examples/cb-component-communication/e2e-spec.js
index 84729e0cef..37d97f4bd5 100644
--- a/public/docs/_examples/cb-component-communication/e2e-spec.js
+++ b/public/docs/_examples/cb-component-communication/e2e-spec.js
@@ -149,24 +149,39 @@ describe('Component Communication Cookbook Tests', function () {
     // ...
     // #enddocregion child-to-parent
   });
-
+  
+  describe('Parent calls child via local var', function() {
+    countDownTimerTests('countdown-parent-lv')
+  });    
+  
   describe('Parent calls ViewChild', function() {
-    // #docregion parent-to-view-child
+    countDownTimerTests('countdown-parent-vc')
+  });
+ 
+  function countDownTimerTests(parentTag) {
+    // #docregion countdown-timer-tests    
     // ...
+    it('timer and parent seconds should match', function () {
+      var parent = element(by.tagName(parentTag));
+      var message = parent.element(by.tagName('countdown-timer')).getText();
+      browser.sleep(10); // give `seconds` a chance to catchup with `message`
+      var seconds = parent.element(by.className('seconds')).getText();
+      expect(message).toContain(seconds);
+    });
+
     it('should stop the countdown', function () {
-      var stopButton = element
-        .all(by.tagName('countdown-parent')).get(0)
-        .all(by.tagName('button')).get(1);
+      var parent = element(by.tagName(parentTag));
+      var stopButton = parent.all(by.tagName('button')).get(1);
 
       stopButton.click().then(function() {
-        var message = element(by.tagName('countdown-timer'))
-                     .element(by.tagName('p')).getText();
+        var message = parent.element(by.tagName('countdown-timer')).getText();
         expect(message).toContain('Holding');
       });
     });
     // ...
-    // #enddocregion parent-to-view-child
-  });
+    // #enddocregion countdown-timer-tests    
+  }
+
 
   describe('Parent and children communicate via a service', function() {
     // #docregion bidirectional-service
diff --git a/public/docs/_examples/cb-component-communication/ts/app/app.component.html b/public/docs/_examples/cb-component-communication/ts/app/app.component.html
index 6cfb5b76ed..0c71b7379f 100644
--- a/public/docs/_examples/cb-component-communication/ts/app/app.component.html
+++ b/public/docs/_examples/cb-component-communication/ts/app/app.component.html
@@ -1,11 +1,12 @@
 <h1 id="top">Component Communication Cookbook</h1>
 
-<a href="#parent-to-child">Pass data from parent to child with input binding</a><br/>
-<a href="#parent-to-child-setter">Intercept input property changes with a setter</a><br/>
-<a href="#parent-to-child-on-changes">Intercept input property changes with <i>ngOnChanges</i></a><br/>
-<a href="#child-to-parent">Parent listens for child event</a><br/>
-<a href="#parent-to-view-child">Parent calls <i>ViewChild</i></a><br/>
-<a href="#bidirectional-service">Parent and children communicate via a service</a><br/>
+<a href="#parent-to-child">Pass data from parent to child with input binding ("Heros")</a><br/>
+<a href="#parent-to-child-setter">Intercept input property changes with a setter ("Master")</a><br/>
+<a href="#parent-to-child-on-changes">Intercept input property changes with <i>ngOnChanges</i> ("Source code version")</a><br/>
+<a href="#child-to-parent">Parent listens for child event ("Colonize Universe")</a><br/>
+<a href="#parent-to-child-local-var">Parent to child via <i>local variable</i>("Countdown to Liftoff")</a><br/>
+<a href="#parent-to-view-child">Parent calls <i>ViewChild</i>("Countdown  to Liftoff")</a><br/>
+<a href="#bidirectional-service">Parent and children communicate via a service ("Mission Control")</a><br/>
 
 <div id="parent-to-child">
   <hero-parent></hero-parent>
@@ -31,8 +32,14 @@
 <a href="#top" class="to-top">Back to Top</a>
 <hr>
 
+<div id="parent-to-child-local-var">
+  <countdown-parent-lv></countdown-parent-lv>
+</div>
+<a href="#top" class="to-top">Back to Top</a>
+<hr>
+
 <div id="parent-to-view-child">
-  <countdown-parent></countdown-parent>
+  <countdown-parent-vc></countdown-parent-vc>
 </div>
 <a href="#top" class="to-top">Back to Top</a>
 <hr>
diff --git a/public/docs/_examples/cb-component-communication/ts/app/app.component.ts b/public/docs/_examples/cb-component-communication/ts/app/app.component.ts
index a1d11ed518..1cb24ac989 100644
--- a/public/docs/_examples/cb-component-communication/ts/app/app.component.ts
+++ b/public/docs/_examples/cb-component-communication/ts/app/app.component.ts
@@ -3,7 +3,8 @@ import {HeroParentComponent} from './hero-parent.component';
 import {NameParentComponent} from './name-parent.component';
 import {VersionParentComponent} from './version-parent.component';
 import {VoteTakerComponent} from './votetaker.component';
-import {CountdownParentComponent} from './countdown-parent.component';
+import {CountdownLocalVarParentComponent,
+        CountdownViewChildParentComponent} from './countdown-parent.component';
 import {MissionControlComponent} from './missioncontrol.component';
 
 @Component({
@@ -14,8 +15,9 @@ import {MissionControlComponent} from './missioncontrol.component';
     NameParentComponent,
     VersionParentComponent,
     VoteTakerComponent,
-    CountdownParentComponent,
+    CountdownLocalVarParentComponent,
+    CountdownViewChildParentComponent,
     MissionControlComponent
   ]
 })
-export class AppComponent { }
\ No newline at end of file
+export class AppComponent { }
diff --git a/public/docs/_examples/cb-component-communication/ts/app/countdown-parent.component.ts b/public/docs/_examples/cb-component-communication/ts/app/countdown-parent.component.ts
index d1e2a00cc9..bc3487c688 100644
--- a/public/docs/_examples/cb-component-communication/ts/app/countdown-parent.component.ts
+++ b/public/docs/_examples/cb-component-communication/ts/app/countdown-parent.component.ts
@@ -1,22 +1,59 @@
-// #docregion
-import {Component, ViewChild} from 'angular2/core';
-import {CountdownTimerComponent} from './countdown-timer.component';
+// #docplaster
+// #docregion vc
+import {AfterViewInit, ViewChild} from 'angular2/core';
+// #docregion lv
+import {Component}                from 'angular2/core';
+import {CountdownTimerComponent}  from './countdown-timer.component';
 
+// #enddocregion lv
+// #enddocregion vc
+
+//// Local variable, #timer, version
+// #docregion lv
 @Component({
-  selector:'countdown-parent',
+  selector:'countdown-parent-lv',
   template: `
-  <h3>Countdown to Liftoff</h3>
+  <h3>Countdown to Liftoff (via local variable)</h3>
+  <button (click)="timer.start()">Start</button>
+  <button (click)="timer.stop()">Stop</button>
+  <div class="seconds">{{timer.seconds}}</div>
+  <countdown-timer #timer></countdown-timer>
+  `,
+  directives: [CountdownTimerComponent],
+  styleUrls: ['demo.css']
+})
+export class CountdownLocalVarParentComponent { }
+// #enddocregion lv
+
+//// View Child version
+// #docregion vc
+@Component({
+  selector:'countdown-parent-vc',
+  template: `
+  <h3>Countdown to Liftoff (via ViewChild)</h3>
   <button (click)="start()">Start</button>
   <button (click)="stop()">Stop</button>
+  <div class="seconds">{{ seconds() }}</div>
   <countdown-timer></countdown-timer>
   `,
-  directives: [CountdownTimerComponent]
+  directives: [CountdownTimerComponent],
+  styleUrls: ['demo.css']
 })
-export class CountdownParentComponent {
+export class CountdownViewChildParentComponent implements AfterViewInit {
 
   @ViewChild(CountdownTimerComponent)
   private _timerComponent:CountdownTimerComponent;
 
+  seconds() { return 0; }
+
+  ngAfterViewInit() {
+    // Redefine `seconds()` to get from the `CountdownTimerComponent.seconds` ...
+    // but wait a tick first to avoid one-time devMode
+    // unidirectional-data-flow-violation error
+    setTimeout(() => this.seconds = () => this._timerComponent.seconds, 0)
+  }
+
   start(){ this._timerComponent.start(); }
   stop() { this._timerComponent.stop(); }
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
+// #enddocregion vc
diff --git a/public/docs/_examples/cb-component-communication/ts/app/countdown-timer.component.ts b/public/docs/_examples/cb-component-communication/ts/app/countdown-timer.component.ts
index 0175993303..5df84c5e50 100644
--- a/public/docs/_examples/cb-component-communication/ts/app/countdown-timer.component.ts
+++ b/public/docs/_examples/cb-component-communication/ts/app/countdown-timer.component.ts
@@ -12,24 +12,24 @@ export class CountdownTimerComponent implements OnInit, OnDestroy {
   seconds = 11;
 
   clearTimer() {clearInterval(this.intervalId);}
-  
+
   ngOnInit()    { this.start(); }
   ngOnDestroy() { this.clearTimer(); }
-  
+
   start() { this._countDown(); }
   stop()  {
     this.clearTimer();
     this.message = `Holding at T-${this.seconds} seconds`;
   }
-    
+
   private _countDown() {
     this.clearTimer();
     this.intervalId = setInterval(()=>{
       this.seconds -= 1;
       if (this.seconds == 0) {
         this.message = "Blast off!";
-        this.seconds = 11; // reset
       } else {
+        if (this.seconds < 0) { this.seconds = 10;} // reset
         this.message = `T-${this.seconds} seconds and counting`;
       }
     }, 1000);
diff --git a/public/docs/_examples/cb-component-communication/ts/app/missioncontrol.component.ts b/public/docs/_examples/cb-component-communication/ts/app/missioncontrol.component.ts
index 2f0ac129c0..edcb0ae344 100644
--- a/public/docs/_examples/cb-component-communication/ts/app/missioncontrol.component.ts
+++ b/public/docs/_examples/cb-component-communication/ts/app/missioncontrol.component.ts
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ import {MissionService}     from './mission.service';
     <my-astronaut *ngFor="#astronaut of astronauts"
       [astronaut]="astronaut">
     </my-astronaut>
-    <h2>History</h2>
+    <h3>History</h3>
     <ul>
       <li *ngFor="#event of history">{{event}}</li>
     </ul>
diff --git a/public/docs/_examples/cb-component-communication/ts/demo.css b/public/docs/_examples/cb-component-communication/ts/demo.css
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..b63a8b38dd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/public/docs/_examples/cb-component-communication/ts/demo.css
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+/* Component Communication cookbook specific styles */
+.seconds {
+  background-color: black;
+  color: red;
+  font-size: 3em;
+  margin: 0.3em 0;
+  text-align: center;
+  width: 1.5em;
+}
diff --git a/public/docs/_examples/cb-component-communication/ts/index.html b/public/docs/_examples/cb-component-communication/ts/index.html
index 8678794506..56965e27cf 100644
--- a/public/docs/_examples/cb-component-communication/ts/index.html
+++ b/public/docs/_examples/cb-component-communication/ts/index.html
@@ -7,11 +7,12 @@
       .to-top {margin-top: 8px; display: block;}
     </style>
     <link rel="stylesheet" href="styles.css">
+    <link rel="stylesheet" href="demo.css">
 
     <!-- IE required polyfills, in this exact order -->
     <script src="node_modules/es6-shim/es6-shim.min.js"></script>
     <script src="node_modules/systemjs/dist/system-polyfills.js"></script>
-    <script src="node_modules/angular2/es6/dev/src/testing/shims_for_IE.js"></script>    
+    <script src="node_modules/angular2/es6/dev/src/testing/shims_for_IE.js"></script>
 
     <script src="node_modules/angular2/bundles/angular2-polyfills.js"></script>
     <script src="node_modules/systemjs/dist/system.src.js"></script>
diff --git a/public/docs/ts/latest/cookbook/component-communication.jade b/public/docs/ts/latest/cookbook/component-communication.jade
index 4f814464ff..02f040b4c2 100644
--- a/public/docs/ts/latest/cookbook/component-communication.jade
+++ b/public/docs/ts/latest/cookbook/component-communication.jade
@@ -23,6 +23,8 @@ include ../_util-fns
 
   [Parent listens for child event](#child-to-parent)
   
+  [Parent interacts with child via a *local variable*](#parent-to-child-local-var)
+  
   [Parent calls a *ViewChild*](#parent-to-view-child)
 
   [Parent and children communicate via a service](#bidirectional-service)
@@ -170,38 +172,112 @@ figure.image-display
 :marked
   [Back to top](#top)
 
+parent-to-child-local-var
+.l-main-section
+<a id="parent-to-child-local-var"></a>
+:marked
+  ## Parent interacts with child via *local variable*
+  
+  A parent component cannot use data binding to read child properties
+  or invoke child methods. We can do both 
+  by creating a template local variable for the child element
+  and then reference that variable *within the parent template*
+  as seen in the following example.
+
+  <a id="countdown-timer-example"></a>
+  We have a child `CountdownTimerComponent` that repeatedly counts down to zero and launches a rocket.
+  It has `start` and `stop` methods that control the clock and it displays a
+  countdown status message in its own template.
++makeExample('cb-component-communication/ts/app/countdown-timer.component.ts')
+:marked
+  Let's see the `CountdownLocalVarParentComponent` that hosts the timer component.
+  
++makeExample('cb-component-communication/ts/app/countdown-parent.component.ts', 'lv')
+:marked
+  The parent component cannot data bind to the child's 
+  `start` and `stop` methods nor to its `seconds` property.
+  
+  We can place a local variable (`#timer`) on the tag (`<countdown-timer>`) representing the child component.
+  That gives us a reference to the child component itself and the ability to access
+  *any of its properties or methods* from within the parent template.
+ 
+  In this example, we wire parent buttons to the child's `start` and `stop` and
+  use interpolation to display the child's `seconds` property.
+  
+  Here we see the parent and child working together.
+
+figure.image-display
+  img(src="/resources/images/cookbooks/component-communication/countdown-timer-anim.gif" alt="countdown timer")
+
+a(id="countdown-tests")
+:marked
+  ### Test it
+  
+  Test that the seconds displayed in the parent template
+  match the seconds displayed in the child's status message.
+  Test also that clicking the *Stop* button pauses the countdown timer:
+  
++makeExample('cb-component-communication/e2e-spec.js', 'countdown-timer-tests')
+
+:marked
+  [Back to top](#top)
+  
 .l-main-section
 <a id="parent-to-view-child"></a>
 :marked
   ## Parent calls a *ViewChild*
-  A parent can call a child component once it has been located by a property adorned with a `@ViewChild` decorator property.
   
-  This `CountdownTimerComponent` keeps counting down to zero and launching rockets.
-  It has `start` and `stop` methods that control the countdown.
-+makeExample('cb-component-communication/ts/app/countdown-timer.component.ts')
+  The *local variable* approach is simple and easy. But it is limited because 
+  the parent-child wiring must be done entirely within the parent template.
+  The parent component *itself* has no access to the child.
+  
+  We can't use the *local variable* technique if an instance of the parent component *class*
+  must read or write child component values or must call child component methods.
+  
+  When the parent component *class* requires that kind of access, 
+  we ***inject*** the child component into the parent as a *ViewChild*.
+  
+  We'll illustrate this technique with the same [Countdown Timer](#countdown-timer-example) example. 
+  We won't change its appearance or behavior. 
+  The child [CountdownTimerComponent](#countdown-timer-example) is the same as well.
+.l-sub-section
+  :marked
+    We are switching from the *local variable* to the *ViewChild* technique
+    solely for the purpose of demonstration.
 :marked
-  The parent `CountdownParentComponent` cannot bind to the child's `start` and `stop` methods.
-  But it can obtain a reference to the child component by applying a `@ViewChild` decorator 
-  to a receiver property (`timerComponent`) after giving that decorator the type of component to find.
-  Once it has that reference, it can access *any property or method* of the child component.
- 
-  Here it wires its own buttons to the child's start` and `stop`.
+  Here is the parent, `CountdownViewChildParentComponent`:
++makeExample('cb-component-communication/ts/app/countdown-parent.component.ts', 'vc')
+:marked
+  It takes a bit more work to get the child view into the parent component classs.
+   
+  We import references to the `ViewChild` decorator and the `AfterViewInit` lifecycle hook.
+  
+  We inject the child `CountdownTimerComponent` into the private `_timerComponent` property
+  via the `@ViewChild` property decoration.
+  
+  The `#timer` local variable is gone from the component metadata. 
+  Instead we bind the buttons to the parent component's own `start` and `stop` methods and
+  present the ticking seconds in an interpolation around the parent component's `seconds` method.
+  
+  These methods access the injected timer component directly.
+  
+  The `ngAfterViewInit` lifecycle hook is an important wrinkle.
+  The timer component isn't available until *after* Angular displays the parent view.
+  So we display `0` seconds initially.
+  
+  Then Angular calls the `ngAfterViewInit` lifecycle hook at which time it is *too late*
+  to update the parent view's display of the countdown seconds.
+  Angular's unidirectional data flow rule prevents us from updating the parent view's
+  in the same cycle. We have to *wait one turn* before we can display the seconds.
+  
+  We use `setTimeout` to wait one tick and then revise the `seconds` method so 
+  that it takes future values from the timer component.
 
-+makeExample('cb-component-communication/ts/app/countdown-parent.component.ts')
-:marked
-
-figure.image-display
-  img(src="/resources/images/cookbooks/component-communication/countdown-timer-anim.gif" alt="countdown timer")
-:marked
   ### Test it
-  
-  Test that clicking the *Stop* button pauses the countdown timer:
-  
-+makeExample('cb-component-communication/e2e-spec.js', 'parent-to-view-child')
-
+  Use [the same countdown timer tests](#countdown-tests) as before.
 :marked
   [Back to top](#top)
-
+  
 .l-main-section
 <a id="bidirectional-service"></a>
 :marked
diff --git a/public/docs/ts/latest/glossary.jade b/public/docs/ts/latest/glossary.jade
index 6498392b59..4bbdca4c5c 100644
--- a/public/docs/ts/latest/glossary.jade
+++ b/public/docs/ts/latest/glossary.jade
@@ -42,8 +42,8 @@ include _util-fns
 
 // #docregion b-c
 - var lang = current.path[1]
-- var decorator = lang = 'dart' ? 'annotation' : '[decorator](#decorator)'
-- var atSym = lang == 'js' ? '' : '@'
+- var decorator = lang === 'dart' ? 'annotation' : '<a href="#decorator">decorator</a>'
+- var atSym = lang === 'js' ? '' : '@'
 <a id="B"></a>
 .l-main-section
 :marked
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ include _util-fns
     The Component is one of the most important building blocks in the Angular system.
     It is, in fact, an Angular [Directive](#directive) with a companion [Template](#template).
 
-    The  developer applies the `#{atSym}Component` #{decorator} to
+    The  developer applies the `#{atSym}Component` !{decorator} to
     the component class, thereby attaching to the class the essential component metadata
     that Angular needs to create a component instance and render it with its template
     as a view.
@@ -446,8 +446,8 @@ include _util-fns
 
 // #docregion n-s
 - var lang = current.path[1]
-- var decorator = lang = 'dart' ? 'annotation' : '[decorator](#decorator)'
-- var atSym = lang == 'js' ? '' : '@'
+- var decorator = lang === 'dart' ? 'annotation' : '<a href="#decorator">decorator</a>'
+- var atSym = lang === 'js' ? '' : '@'
 <a id="N"></a>
 <a id="O"></a>
 .l-main-section
@@ -469,7 +469,7 @@ include _util-fns
 .l-sub-section
   :marked
     An Angular pipe is a function that transforms input values to output values for
-    display in a [view](#view). We use the `#{atSym}Pipe` #{decorator}
+    display in a [view](#view). We use the `#{atSym}Pipe` !{decorator}
     to associate the pipe function with a name. We then can use that
     name in our HTML to declaratively transform values on screen.
 
diff --git a/public/resources/images/cookbooks/component-communication/countdown-timer-anim.gif b/public/resources/images/cookbooks/component-communication/countdown-timer-anim.gif
index 31df3ec69f..d225b9df16 100644
Binary files a/public/resources/images/cookbooks/component-communication/countdown-timer-anim.gif and b/public/resources/images/cookbooks/component-communication/countdown-timer-anim.gif differ