Brennan LaBrie Kid Reporter

Funeral Hearse Benefits Haunted House

2011-10-29T13:17:00.000-07:00

In 1905, a funeral hearse was built in Vienna, Austria as a carriage for the funeral ceremonies of wealthy and well–respected locals. In 1970, an antiques dealer from the Salt Lake area of Utah brought the hearse to Park City. He displayed it in his antique shop, and then put it aside. It sat neglected in a junkyard for thirty years, until it was discovered by a Park City resident. This was Bill Brown, at the time the president of the Glenwood Cemetery Association, who bought all the parts and started the process of renovating it. After a year and a half, the hearse was as good as new. He began to take part in parades around the country, and enter it in antique competitions. When he moved to Port Townsend last year, Brown brought the Hearse with him.

Like a darker version of the horse-drawn cart from Cinderella, the hearse is black and ornate with black roses carved into its exterior and lanterns. It has glass on three sides, and inside are red velvet curtains surrounding a replica coffin.

“It’s really unique,” Brown said. “I haven’t seen any others like it.”

Earlier this month the carriage was displayed in the parking lot of Safeway, as a fundraiser for the Hauntownsend “Carnival of the Twilight” haunted house, whose proceeds benefit the local Rotary club.

The haunted house, which takes place at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds, is in its last weekend. It is open from 7pm to 10pm. Admission is $11.

Occupy Wall Street comes to Port Townsend

2011-10-15T17:41:00.000-07:00

Occupy Wall Street has come to Port Townsend.

The movement, which officially began September 17 in New York City, has now spread around the world. People in cities from every corner of the world have taken to the streets to demonstrate their anger at their governments and the global financial system.

This list of cities now includes Port Townsend, as a large group of people gathered at the triangle park in front of the Chase Bank on Friday to wave signs that said things such as Make Jobs, Not War, Keep America’s Jobs in America, and Save the American Dream.

Linda Brewster, a regional organizer for MoveOn and the American Dream movement, who sponsored the event, said that she was delighted with the turnout, which she estimated at around 200 people.

She also added that Port Townsend’s reaction was great as well.

“There’s been a lot of honking and waving from passersby and just a huge amount of enthusiasm here today,” she said.

“This is a great turnout,” said Mark Twain Stevenson, another organizer for MoveOn, “people driving by seem to be pleased. I am very pleased with this turnout.”

Gretchen Brewer, of the PTAirwatchers, took part in the demonstration, and feels that the media plays a part in this movement as well.

“The media in general is playing it a little bit coy, claiming not to understand what the issue is, that (the demonstrators) are scattered and all that. But no, the underlying issue is corporate privilege. It’s about corporate dominance and the diminishing of our individual rights and individual abilities to conduct our lives as we see fit.”

The movement is now at day 29, and shows no sign of dissipating anytime soon. In fact, it's growing stronger as it reflects a worldwide dissatisfaction with the status quo.

A Good Week for the Blues

2011-08-09T10:26:00.000-07:00

This year’s Port Townsend Acoustic Blues Festival was hot.
Not only was this the case with the music played by this year’s faculty, but so was the weather. Some days started out overcast, but by afternoon the sun’s appearance sure helped keep spirits high.

As usual, building 204 was the place to be. Afternoons and nights would find a jam happening on the back porch. Someone would pull out a guitar or mandolin and one-by-one others would join in and soon the air was filled with the sound of fiddles, harmonicas, guitars, washboards, mandolins, and voices -- all coming together to form a melody that would draw more people.

There were some new additions to the year’s festival, the most mentionable one being the appearance of Taj Mahal, this year’s headliner. He performed to a sold- out crowd at McCurdy Pavilion on Wednesday, a show opened by third–year artistic director Corey Harris. It was a quick stop for the Taj Mahal Trio, who are currently on tour, but it was greeted with enthusiasm by Port Townsend and the faculty of the festival, many of whom say that Mahal has had a major impact on their Blues Career.

“The guy that was playing here Wednesday, Taj Mahal, is one of my main inspirations,” said Sule Greg Wilson, a percussionist/banjo player on the faculty.
“He was the one that really made me go into old-timey and blues music, from the country blues aspect.”

“Taj Mahal has always been one of my favorites,” said “Washboard Chaz” Leary, “I’ve known Taj for a long time.”

When asked what his favorite part of the festival had been that week, Cheick Hamala Diabate, a faculty member who plays banjo, guitar and the ngoni, a Malian traditional instrument, mentioned Taj Mahal as one of his highlights.

“Taj Mahal went to see my family a couple of times in Mali,” Cheick Hamala added.

Cheick Hamala was another important guest this year. He is a storyteller, historian, and musician in the 800-year-old tradition of the Griot, the storytellers of West Africa. Currently residing in Washington D.C, he grew up in Mali in a family where “all the men play music, and the women sing.”

At a young age, he mastered the ngoni.

“The ngoni is the grandfather of the American banjo,” the Grammy-nominee said. “It has a deep history: When people came from Africa as slaves, they didn’t bring the instrument, but they got the idea to make the banjo in America.”

Cheick Halama added that there are two other main traditional Malian instruments: the kora, a 21-stringed instrument that is the ancestor of the harp, and the balafon, which inspired the keyboard.

On Friday night, he played in a packed Boiler Room. With his colorful traditional Malian robes and hat, black and gray striped dress pants and shiny shoes, along with his ever–present smile, he created a magical atmosphere with his guitar and banjo and songs in his native tongue.

People of all ages came to the festival. There were young musicians, like Jerrone
“Blind-Boy” Paxton, a 23-year-old blues artist from South Central Los Angeles who has been coming here since he was 19. He wowed the audience at McCurdy Saturday as he played the piano, banjo, and guitar. Then there was Nat Reese, an 87-year-old musician from Virginia who has played music since he was a child. He started out playing music in church, and has since played the guitar, as well as the bass viola, concert harp, piano, and organ, among others.
It’s his second year at the festival.

“I’ve enjoyed it really well. Last year was the first time I was here from back northeast, and I’m enjoying it tremendously,” Reese said.

“I’ve always enjoyed the Blues Festival,” said Lightnin’ Wells, a ukulele, harmonica, and guitar player on the faculty. “I’ve been up here probably ten years, and I’m always happy in Port Townsend. It’s the highlight of my year to come up here and be part of the Blues Festival.”

The grounds of Fort Worden grew quiet as people packed up to leave, but many say that they took with them good memories of the past week.

“The Blues Fest is a joy from the first minute we land in Washington to the moment we leave,” said Henrique Prince, a fiddle player and the “lead Billie” of the Ebony Hillbillies, a New York -based string band. “We really had a lot of fun this year, and learned a lot.

Cheick Halama Diabate

The Magic of '11

2011-03-21T17:47:00.000-07:00

I found out some cool things today. In the year 2011 there are four unusual dates: 1/1/11, 1/11/11, 11/1/11, 11/11/11. I also learned that if you take the last two digits of the year you were born and add the age you will be this year, the result is 111 for everybody that tries it. (I tried it on my mom, my brother, and myself, and it works!) Another cool fact: This October will have 5 Sundays, 5 Mondays and 5 Saturdays. This happens only every 823 years! These particular years are known as 'Moneybags' It is is said that if you send this to eight good friends, real money will appear in the next four days, supposedly as explained in Chinese feng-shui. Those who don't continue the chain won't receive money. That's how the story goes, anyway, and maybe it's worth a try.

Glad to be Back

2011-03-17T19:14:00.000-07:00

I'm back to writing my blog. I took a short hiatus while I focused on publishing the last few issues of my newspaper, the Spruce Street Weekly. But now that I published the last issue, I am left with more time to update my blog with articles, pictures, videos, and possibly podcasts, as the local station that is starting up in my town, KPTZ, offered me a show.

It's nice to be back writing my blog, and you can look forward to many posts to come!

Happy Saint Pat's!

Christmas Fun Facts:

2010-12-25T10:17:00.000-08:00

The word Christmas is old English, a contraction of Christ's Mass.

In Greek, X means Christ, so that's where the word Xmas came from.

Christmas became a national U.S. holiday on June 26, 1870.

The first state to recognize the holiday officially was Alabama.

During the Christmas buying season, Visa Cards alone are used an average 5,340 times a minute.

Rudolph was actually created by Montgomery Ward in the late 1930's for a holiday promotion.

Jingle Bells was first written for Thanksgiving, but is now one of the most popular Christmas songs.

Charles Dickens' famous work, "A Christmas Carol", was written in just six weeks.

Electric lights for trees were first used in 1895

Lodges of the Olympic Peninsula: Three Stops Worth Making

2010-11-14T17:20:00.000-08:00

With the current state of the economy limiting our spending dollars, people from Washington's Olympic Peninsula are lucky to have local treasures within driving distance. People from all over come to visit the area's wilderness and unspoiled beauty. This past week, I had the chance to travel the Olympic Peninsula when I was invited to review some of its top lodges: The Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort, Kalaloch Lodge, and Lake Quinault Lodge.

Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort:

The Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort is an enjoyable stay with lots to do, and a happy, friendly staff that makes you feel at home.
"Sol Duc" is a native American term for sparkling water. Olympic National Park water comes directly and untreated from the hot springs on the property.
According to maintenance manager Ron Dahl, there's a fissure that runs through the Olympic National Park and comes out in three places: up in the Olympic Mountains, at the resort, and under the straight of Juan De Fuca.
What is a hot springs?
Dahl, who has worked at Sol Duc for 38 years, explained that rainwater will fall into a fissure(nobody knows where this fissure is), go down and touch molten rock, and come back up hot, usually at about 120 degrees.
He showed me behind a fenced-off area and opened a large wooden trap door, where, 10 feet below, you could see the bubbling mineral water from the springs.
While staying in one of Sol Ducs cabins, you can relax in one of the pools, eat at the restaurant-which is deceptively simple -- although the food is anything but that, serving specialties such as cedar plank salmon and seafood pasta chowder -- and take a magnificent walk to the Sol Duc falls.
The Sol Duc has closed for the winter season but will reopen in March.

Kalaloch Lodge:

My next stop was the Kalaloch Lodge.
Right off of Highway 101, the wooden lodge sits on a bluff overlooking the Pacific ocean and a giant, windswept beach, a fort - building boy's dream.You can stay in the lodge or choose one of the cabins near the bluff.
In comparison to the other lodges that are very busy, the Kalaloch is a place for solitude, with no towns or cellphone reception for miles around.
But even with the simplicity, at the end of the day you can walk on the beach with seagulls on the water's edge, enjoy the view at the restaurant, and warm up by the cabin's fireplaces.
The Kalaloch is open year - round.

Lake Quinault Lodge:

The last stop was the Lake Quinault Lodge. It was built in the 1920's and gives you the feeling of long ago. The dining room overlooks a large, manicured lawn leading down to the lake, and the lobby is very cozy with sofas surrounding a giant fireplace. There's a warm indoor pool, a game room, a sauna, and trails in every direction. In the evening, you can stand on the beach and witness a beautiful sunset. If you drive past the lodge, you can take a short walk to the largest spruce tree in the world, and drive through the Quinault Valley, past fields and old farmhouses where elk are frequently seen, alongside the Quinault river, and an occasional waterfall.
The lodge's staff has many nice people who seem to love their juob.
From renting a canoe to use in the lake, to hiking in unspoiled wilderness, to reading by the fire, it is a place to make good memories.
The lodge is open year - round.

Maria Muldaur Returns to Her Roots

2010-07-05T15:38:00.000-07:00

Maria Muldaur’s successful career as a singer has spanned nearly five decades.

The versatile performer, whose top hit was “Midnight at the Oasis,” was in Port Townsend last month to record her new children’s album, “Down at the Barnyard Dance.” She both sings and produces the album, which features jug band music, one of her favorite kinds of music,and the type that originally inspired her own music career.

Muldaur said that jug band music started back in a time when people would
get together to play music and bring along anything that made sound.

“That could range from a jug to a couple of spoons,” she said on an interview in
the lobby of the Palace Hotel downtown last October after performing at the Upstage with Port Townsend’s own Crowquill Night Owls, who accompany her on her upcoming album.

“My mother would only play classical music for me, but she had a younger sister wholiked what she called “cowboy music,” she said.
The music she would hear was by such artists as Hank Williams and Kitty Wells, and
the tunes grabbed her more than the “seriousness” of classical music. By age 5 she was singing all the songs.

Growing up in Greenwich Village, New York City, Ms. Muldaur was surrounded by
artists and musicians, and was there when both traditional American music -- and Elvis Presley -- were capturing everyone’s interest. People played guitars and fiddles on the city streets and soon she learned a few songs.

When Muldaur was growing up, she didn’t just think about singing -- she sang.
She got friends together to work out harmonies and sang in the school bathroom for the great acoustics. She listened to all kinds of music. Even in college music remained her passion, and by 20 she had decided that her future would be in music.
“I followed my heart,” she said.

I got to get close to the action and see what went into the making of an album when Muldaur invited me to sit in with her at the recoding studio at George Rezendes' house in Port Townsend. I sat behind a glass window that looked into the studio where fiddle-player Suzy Thompson did her takes as Rezendes made adjustments on his sound board.

Muldaur,with her cascade of black curls and black velvet tunic, typed an email beside me but she’d get up to dance when she heard a take she especially liked.

Between takes, Muldaur turned to me.
“Isn’t it something?" she said,"When I saw you back in October, I got the idea to do this album and now here I am doing it! With the help of some terrific people, of course!” she added.

And they sure had a terrific team. The album took 6 days of long hours to record the album -- imagine 11 songs with separate tracks for 6 musicians/instruments and doing an average of 5 takes each song. The musicians worked off of Muldaur’s “scratch vocal,” the vocal track Maria records just for the recording sessions. Once the mix is done, she will add her final vocal, which she plans to do near her home in California after returning from a vacation in Hawaii. She expects the album to be out by next fall.

I asked Muldaur if it was still as fun to make music today as it was 36 albums ago.

“It’s more fun,” she replied. “I used to be nervous but now I’m really comfortable. I can handle anything. Anything can happen and I’ll just sail above it!”

And is doing a children’s album easier than a regular album?

“Well, it’s more fun” she replied. “It’s more lighthearted, playful, and uplifting music. So in that sense, it’s easier!”

Brennan LaBrie Sings with Straight No Chaser

2010-06-03T14:51:00.001-07:00

Lessons that Come to Life

2010-06-02T11:27:00.000-07:00

by TFK Kid Reporter Brennan LaBrie

How would you like to fly through the Grand Canyon? Or shoot through space among meteors? Or take an adventure through the human body? This is what some elementary school students in Dallas, Texas, get to do in their classes. They watch 3D movies that go with many of their lessons.

How Did They Do That?

A special projector makes the lessons come to life with the help of a computer chip about the size of a quarter. The chip, made by Texas Instruments, can power movies as large as those in IMAX theaters and as small as the images on a cell phone. The chip is called a DLP chip.

The DLP chip is made up of many tiny mirrors on microscopic hinges. The mirrors reflect light in a special way to create an image that seems real enough to touch. If you’ve seen movies like Avatar or How to Train your Dragon, then you’ve seen 3D in action. Lessons in 3D can turn learning into an adventure.

The Next Best Thing is To Being There

At Hamilton Park Pacesetter Magnet School in Dallas, Texas, four classes have 3D projectors. The students look forward to the lessons and say that they remember them better than non-3D lessons. “It’s easier to learn because you remember all the stuff that you did better, because it's funner to learn,” said Tom Isaac Mark, a third-grader at the school.

The teachers at Hamilton Park had good things to say about this new edition to their classrooms too. They say that students of all different learning capabilities can enjoy and appreciate the 3D lessons. Brittany Russo teaches third grade. She pointed out that the most advanced students in her class are no longer bored and the students who struggle with subjects are able to grasp them better now. The 3D movies are such a hit that sometimes kids ask for an extra lesson as a reward for good work.

Students wear special 3D glasses to watch the lessons, which range from science to architecture to math and more. Some lessons take students on a field trip to faraway places that they might never go to. “It’s a lot of fun to watch the students have fun,” Russo told TFK.

Vera Johnson, a 5th-grade science teacher, said that she enjoys the science and math lessons best. She pointed out that students who get to see a 3D prism from all sides understand the concept quicker. She also likes the videos about outer space. “You can’t really go up and see the solar system,” she said, “but that this is the next best thing.”

Brennan LaBrie interviews Straight No Chaser

2010-05-26T19:04:00.000-07:00

An interview with James Cameron at the 2010 Microsoft Imagine Cup

2010-05-12T15:47:00.001-07:00

Podcast: Interview with Scott Simon, Host NPR Weekend Edition Saturday

2010-05-10T09:10:00.000-07:00

While in Washington DC, I stopped by the NPR studios and interviewed Scott Simon, Host NPR Weekend Edition Saturday.

The Power of Imagination

2010-05-10T07:48:00.000-07:00

KidReporter: Audio (Click To Listen To Brennan LaBrie's Report): Cell phone podcast direct from Washington DC #imaginecup #ICUS10 #trottr

Every day, people across the world are working hard to find solutions to major world problems such as poverty, hunger and pollution. Can technology offer a way to solve these problems?

This is the challenge Microsoft Corporation posed to students across the nation in an event called the Imagine Cup, which was held in Washington, D.C., on April 26. Microsoft asked college and high school students to use their creativity and imagination to come up with video games and software programs that could, in some way, help solve one of these pressing world problems.

Many teams jumped at the chance, and 4 game design teams and 4 software design teams were chosen from these entries to attend the U.S. Imagine Cup Finals held last week in Washington, D.C.

The finalists explained their goals in helping to solve one of the world issues, then demonstrated their products to an audience that included a panel of judges. One winning team from each of the two categories was selected to represent the U.S. in the world finals in Poland this July.

The winning team in the video game design division was team To Be Announced. (“To Be Announced” is the team’s actual name,) Their game was about a boy who lives in a third-world country slum and has to overcome obstacles to meet his basic needs: finding food, water and shelter.

The name of the game is Sixth, based on the fact that one in six people in the world live in slums. The team said that it’s a fun game that was created to raise people’s awareness of poverty, and can be played by people from any country.

Other games include one where the player is a robot, and the robot tries to pick up as much trash as he can in a race against time.

Photo: Grand Prize Winnters - Anthony Salcito, Microsoft vice president of Worldwide Education, poses with the two grand prize winners at the U.S. Imagine Cup Finals. Standing from left to right are Will Isenhour, Danny Helms, Jonathan Mead and Nic Colley, of Team To Be Announced, the grand prize winners in the game design category; Salcito; Mark Hindsbro, Microsoft’s general manager of the Developer and Platform Evangelism Group; and Helena Xu, Kavon Gaffari, Wilson To, and Audrey Lee of Team Mobilife, grand prize winner of the software design category.

Nic Colley, a member of the winning team, stated that having a competition made participants push themselves further than they might have otherwise to make their ideas a reality.

Carol Pahr attended the event and was enthusiastic about what she saw. “Technology has amazing possibilities, and what better use than to use them for positive change while having fun?”

Many teams mentioned that they wanted to continue exploring technology and its possibilities, and even if they did not win, would continue to use their skills and projects to help the make the world a better place.

Interview: Siegfried Behrens Microsoft General Manager, U.S. Education

2010-05-07T07:50:00.000-07:00

At the 2010 U.S. Imagine Cup Finals in Washington D.C., I interviewed Siegfried Behrens, Microsoft General Manager, U.S. Education, about the role technology will play in the classroom of the future.

Governor Chris Gregoire in Port Townsend

2010-04-22T17:41:00.000-07:00

I grabbed a chance to ask Governor Chris Gregoire a few questions when she was in Port Townsend today for various appointments. Read Article in Port Townsend Leader newspaper.

Today On KING5 New Day Nortwest - I had a blast!

2010-04-20T13:16:00.000-07:00

Today, I was on New Day Northwest with broadcast journalist and host Margaret Larson.

As a co-host, I interviewed Spanish Seattle Times Urban Sketcher Gabriel Campanario.

Read Gabriel's Seattle Times Story

Video Skype Interview: Erin Kennedy USOC Youth Ambassador

2010-04-19T08:04:00.000-07:00

Port Townsend Library - 10-year-old Brennan LaBrie, TIME For Kids, chats with Erin Kennedy, 2010 Youth Olympic Games U.S. Olympic Committee's Young Ambassador.

Kennedy, who serves as the Youth Development Manager for USA Rugby, was selected as the U.S. Young Ambassador in January. Her role at the 2010 Youth Olympic Games will be to encourage Team USA athletes to participate in the cultural and educational activities that will be part of the Games, along with supporting the U.S. Chef de Mission. As a new initiative developed by the IOC, the Young Ambassador will also participate in the youth sport forums and report on the activities for the IOC and USOC. - USOC Press Release March 2010

A Chance To Ride

2010-04-16T15:44:00.000-07:00

By Brennan LaBrie
Spruce Street Weekly (25 Cents)
April 5, 2010

This month, the Broken Spoke Bike Shop celebrates its Grand Opening with a chance for you to hop on your bike.

On Friday, April 9, there will be a road ride starting at 6PM at the bike shop, located at 835 Water Street, weaving it's way through Port Townsend, and eding up at the Water Street Brewery.

The secod ride, taking place on Saturday, April 10, will be their family ride, "Tour De Tweed," where all of the riders are encouraged to wear tweed.

Upon returning to the shop, a party will be waiting, featuring food, drink, music, and discount coupons given out.

For the third ride, taking place on Sunday, April 11, all riders will meet at Gibb's Lake for a ride around its trails.

"We're looking to have a good time celebrating the bike shop and spring, and the beginning of biking season, said co-owner Jason.

Dan Parker Professional LEGO Artist

2010-04-02T09:22:00.000-07:00

LEGO artist Dan Parker rediscovered LEGO at 30 and began to explore the creative and professional possibilities.

In 2000, he formed The TBP Group, a company that produces custom LEGO displays, events, and education venues. Today, TBP is an independent LEGO studio that maintains a comprehensive line of LEGO-related products and services. The facility is open to the public and has made a tradition of engaging other LEGO artists for projects.

Significant projects of the Puget Sound area-based studio include a 400,000-piece Christmas exhibit, a 10-foot Statue of Liberty, and a holiday train display now in its tenth year at a local museum. The company also coordinates fan shows at LEGOLAND, and has produced art pieces for various corporations.

Bodie LaBrie's winning LEGO contest creation.

Letter: Readers benefit from Brennan's Olympic reports

2010-03-31T10:04:00.000-07:00

Plaudits to the Leader for its sponsorship of the coverage of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games by Brennan LaBrie. As a 10-year-old journalist, Brennan was one of about 10,000 reporters covering the Vancouver Olympics and was accompanied by Jack Olmsted, a photographer (videographer) (and Colleen LaBrie, photographer, writer, editor, mother).

Brennan's relation of his experiences of being in Vancouver, with so much excitement and fanfare, was beautifully reported with a child-like, delightful enthusiasm. His observations gave a unique aspect to readers of what it was like to be a member of the press. He enjoyed the privileges, such as getting up close to the Olympic sculpture Fire and Ice, which the public did not share. He attended press conferences, circulated among TV news personnel from all over the world and interviewed celebrities. His reporting gave readers an insight to that world most of us know little about.

The articles, together with the photographs, were a journalistic contribution to the newsworthiness of the Leader.

To have recognized the abilities of young Brennan and to have encouraged him to report on this international event was commendable. This was an inspiring story about a publisher, a young person excelling in a grown-up world, and we, the readers, benefited as well.

L. ELIZABETH MEYER
Port Ludlow

A CANCELED PLAYDATE (And a Pretty Good Excuse)

2010-03-25T12:36:00.000-07:00

by Brennan LaBrie

I had a playdate planned – but I guess I’ll have to put it off for a little while.

Something came up.

My friend had to go see the President of the United States.

A new friend of mine, Marcelas Owens, was flown to Washington, D.C., to attend the signing of the new healthcare bill. Marcelas, 11, stood right next to President Obama as Obama signed the new bill into law.

Marcelas got to be a part of this special day by going through something very hard: his mother, Tiffany, died in 2007 after her heart condition, pulmonary hypertension, caused the loss of her job and with it the loss of her health insurance and home.

She had been an advocate for healthcare reform. She spoke out for healthcare and died because she had none.

After her death, Marcelas felt he wanted to speak up as well.

“My grandma told me that even if you’re nervous you do it anyway,” he told me, “and that you have to be able to not be afraid speaking what you have on your mind.”

That advice helped him when he was in Washington, D.C. March 11 where he stood before Congress to tell what happened to his mother in hopes of getting the healthcare bill passed.

The bill was voted on Sunday, and it was late Sunday night when Marcelas got the good news. Not long after that, he was on a red-eye flight to Washington, D.C. to attend the signing.

“It was really exciting. I didn’t know the bill was going to pass that fast!” he said.

Marceles wore a suit as he watched the President sign, and his blue tie matched Obama’s. I asked him if he had planned that.

“No,” Marcelas said. “Someone that worked there picked it out for me.”

Becoming president is something Marcelas would like to do some day. It’s either that or become a professional basketball player.

By Wednesday noon Owens was on a plane back to Seattle. The trip flew by fast, but he had favorite moments – meeting the President topped the list, but he also liked the Washington, D.C., yo-yo that Obama gave him as a souvenir.

For Obama, the bill passing was just the beginning. He still has a lot of work ahead as he prepares to tour the country to promote the new bill. Marcelas has more work to do as well, as he continues to speak out -- and, of course, there’s school. But he is up for all of it.

“I’ll do whatever it takes,” he said.

Marcelas was looking forward to the celebration waiting for him when he returned home, and felt very good about the trip and this week’s victory for getting healthcare for all Americans.

“This meant a lot because my mom was working so hard for it,” he said, “and she didn’t get a chance to finish it.”

And as for that playdate, I imagine it will happen after he gets a bit of rest. We plan to play hard, then talk ideas.

And of course try out that new yo-yo.

This article was published:

Port Townsend Leader 03/31/10
TIME For Kids 03/26/10

Summit Speech Oct09

2010-03-25T11:01:00.001-07:00

Check out this SlideShare Presentation:

Summit Speech Oct09

View more presentations from Jack Olmsted.

SPEAKING HIS MIND: Marcelas Owens Speaks Out for Healthcare

2010-03-24T20:53:00.000-07:00

by Brennan LaBrie

History was made last Tuesday when President Barack Obama signed the healthcare bill into law.

Marcelas Owens, an 11-year-old from Seattle, stood right next to the President at that historic moment.

Owens got to be a part of this special day by going through something very hard: his mother, Tiffany, died in 2007 after her heart condition, pulmonary hypertension, caused the loss of her job and with it the loss of her health insurance and home.

She had been an advocate for healthcare reform. She spoke out for healthcare and died because she had none.

After her death, Owens felt he wanted to speak up as well.

“My grandma told me that even if you’re nervous you do it anyway, and that you have to be able to not be afraid speaking what you have on your mind.”

That advice helped him when he was in Washington, D.C. on March 11 where he stood before Congress to tell what happened to his mother in hopes of getting the healthcare bill passed.

The bill was voted on Sunday, and it was late Sunday night when Owens got the good news. Not long after that, he was on a red-eye flight to Washington to attend the signing. He had been invited by Majority Leader Harry Reid.

“It was really exciting. I didn’t know the bill was going to pass that fast!”

Owens wore a suit as he watched the President sign, and his blue tie matched Obama’s. Was this planned?

“No,” Owens said. “Someone that worked there picked it out for me!”

Becoming president is something Owens wants to do some day. It’s either that or become a pro basketball player.

By Wednesday noon Owens was on a plane back to Seattle. The trip flew by fast, but he had favorite moments – meeting the President topped the list, but he also liked the Washington, D.C., yo-yo that Obama gave him as a souvenir.

For Obama, the bill passing was just the beginning. He still has a lot of work ahead as he prepares to tour the country to promote the new bill. Owens has more work to do as well, as he continues to speak out -- and, of course, there’s school. But he is up for all of it. “I’ll do whatever it takes,” he said.

He looked forward to the celebration that was waiting when he returned home, and felt very good about the trip and this week’s victory for healthcare.

“This meant a lot because my mom was working so hard for it and she didn’t get a chance to finish it.”

YouTube 2010 Vancouver Olympic Winter Games Channel

2010-03-22T07:22:00.000-07:00

You can now watch my 2010 Winter Olympic videos on the new YouTube Playlist.

NOTE: It will take over an hour and a half to see them all.

Olympic Lessons

2010-03-20T10:58:00.000-07:00

Now that the Olympics are over, I'm left with a lot of good memories, but I also learned a thing or two from the trip, and here are just a few of them.

Shaun White, Team U.S.A. Olympic Gold medalist snowboarder, told me that you need to love what you do to get though the hard parts.

When the Today Show followed me around on my interviews, I learned that they mixed the fun with work. They were working hard on a story that was fun. (And the cameraman told me that you always need to be nice to your cameraman, for they have the right to make you look good or bad.)

I met a lot of reporters in the media room, where I would stay up late at night typing up my stories, and they taught me many things, including that part of a reporter's life at a big event like the Olympics includes junk food and almost no sleep. (I wasn't crazy about the no-sleep part, but the junk food part wasn't that bad.)

Youth Olympics: First Year

2010-03-18T09:31:00.000-07:00

By Brennan LaBrie

Now that the Vancouver Games have come to an end, the next stop for this reporter will hopefully be Singapore. That's were the Youth Olympic Games, starting August 14 and running though August 26, will take place.

It will consist of 3.600 young athletes, ranging from ages 14-18, and 26 sports, including archery, football, kayaking and horse-back riding.

But what make this Olympics stand apart the most from the regular Olympic Games is their culture and education program, which over 50 interactive activities crafted along the five, educational themes of "Olympism, skills developmental, well-being, healthy lifestyle, social responsebility, and expressiion, helping them become well-rounded." The Olympic Committee has not launched something new like this for a long time, but have high hopes for this new undertaking.

Interview with Devon Soltendieck MusicMatter DJ and Whistler Live Host

2010-03-11T11:51:00.000-08:00

On my one and only day at Whistler, I walked into the Whistler Live production tent and talked with their host Devon Soltendieck.

Fire and Ice Report

2010-03-08T09:00:00.000-08:00

After running around all day (February 19) with two NBC Today Show video crews, we produced this short report in the front of the Fire and Ice Torch.

Dueling Interviews

2010-03-05T13:44:00.000-08:00

I met Kimiya Shokoohi, International Olympic Committee Youth Reporter, while in Vancouver covering the Winter Games. We spoke about her background as a journalist as well as the upcoming Youth Olympics being held in Singapore this coming August. This is the first year for this new Olympics, which will feature athletes ages 14 to 18. And this Olympics also includes workshops for the young athletes such as social responsibility, well-being and teamwork.

Kimiya reserved our roles, picked up the mic and interviewed me.

The World According to Brennan: Moments from the Vancouver Winter Games

2010-03-04T04:02:00.000-08:00

Spending a week in Vancouver, B.C., is fun in itself, and even more so during the Olympics. And being there as a reporter is better yet!
As a spectator, I got to see so many wild and interesting things.

The town was splashed with the Canadian colors red and white – groups of guys even wore flags as capes. Sides of buildings were used as giant TV screens to show games and broadcasts. Cheers echoed through the streets when gold was won by a Canadian.

People wore wild hats and painted faces, and high-fived strangers. Streets were closed off and filled with art and performers. The sky train rolled past on tracks above us. Jugglers and music – and even fireworks – filled the center of town at night. (Read More)

Whistler Native Becomes Ski Cross’s First Gold Medalist

2010-03-01T09:12:00.000-08:00

Ashleigh McIvor took home the gold medal in the women’s ski-cross competition on Cypress Mountain in West Vancouver yesterday, becoming the sport’s first female gold medalist.

McIvor stopped by the British Columbia Media Center in Vancouver B.C. today for a press conference proudly wearing her gold medal.

”It’s been amazing,” McIvor said. “I’ve barely had time to sit back and go, ‘Wow! I just won the Olympics!’ ”

She adds that she’s not usually superstitious but a friend gave her a small Buddha she kept in her pocket while things were going well for her – and she was afraid to take it out just in case it was acting as her good luck charm.

Her advice to other members of Team Canada as they approach their own big moments in the quest for gold is good advice for all: “Have fun! This is the Olympic Games! It’s all about having fun!”

McIvor said she knew she was going to be “100% ready” because of the tremendous support of the Canadian government in their “Own the Podium” program, which gave financial and other support to its athletes this year.

“And even standing at the top of the course I had this crazy feeling that it was all coming together perfectly,” she grinned.

The weather conditions of snow and fog that she faced at the event didn’t faze her, she said. She is from Whistler and had been skiing with friends in similar conditions.

This is the first year that the ski cross event is part of the Olympic Games. McIvor feels it is a perfect fit.

“It’s an amazing spectator sport. Four of us racing head-to-head, downhill, big jumps, huge turns, lots of terrain – it doesn’t get much more exciting than that.”

An Interview with Olympic Bronze Medaist Speedskater JR Celski

2010-02-28T08:11:00.000-08:00

I sat down with Olympic bronze medalist JR Celski in a little coffee shop on a rainy day in Vancouver, BC.

This video is also available on the KING5 Olympic Zone

Canadian Ice Dancing Gold Medalists Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir Press Conference

2010-02-28T08:07:00.000-08:00

After asking Canadian Ice Dancing Gold Medalists Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir a couple of questions at their February 23, 2010 BCMC Press Conference, I then interviewed Scott's dad, Joe.

The video is also on the KING5 Olympic Zone

GOOD FRIENDS WIN GOLD AT HOME
By Brennan LaBrie

Earlier this month I wrote a blog for the News-Tribune and mentioned that I did not know what to expect while covering the Olympics, but that the unexpected was half of the fun. Well, yesterday morning something unexpected popped up – and it certainly was fun.

Scott Boir and Tessa Virtue, the Canadian ice–dance couple who won gold Monday night, did a press conference at the British Columbia Media Center(BCMC) just hours after taking home the gold. The couple are very popular in Canada and people love the stories about how close they are and how they have skated together for most of their lives, having met when they were just seven and nine.

Both were very excited and proud, along with thousands of Canadians, but also credit American ice–dance couple Meryl Davis and Charlie White for helping in their win.

“We wouldn’t be sitting here now with gold medals without Meryl and Charlie. They’re an incredible team, they work so hard, not to mention that they’re just fabulous people,“ Virtue said. “We’re lucky to call them friends, and I think that we will be friends for a lifetime."

I grabbed the chance to ask a few questions of Virtue and Boir, and here they are:

There were some great performances last night – do you honestly enjoy close competition?

“Absolutely. We always want everybody at their best,” Virtue replied.” I think that’s just how you want a event. Entertaining for the crowd, exciting for everyone watching. And it’s great to come out on top. So we want everyone at their best. We want everyone to deliver a great performance, it’s just the sweeter for us!”

And how do you sleep when the next day is going to be the biggest day of your life?

“It is tough to sleep,” Boir replied, “and time ticks by so slowly. Yesterday was probably one of the longest days of my life. Actually, we’re still kinda living it! But you have to rely on your training. We really just trust our training when we get up there and believe in ourselves. We did our work before we went up there and we were going to be satisfied with ourselves no matter what happened, and that’s the best thing in the world.”

Great Gift Ideas

2010-02-28T07:05:00.000-08:00

December 4, 2009
TIME For Kids (TFK)

Decorative Bowls and Flowerpots
I bought a bright-colored, glazed flowerpot and my brother and I took Sharpie markers and wrote nice moments from the past in a spiral shape around the pot, along with small doodles. It looks great and won't wash off! Our grandparents will see what our handwriting looked like for a long time. - Brennan LaBrie

Book Review: Drizzle

2010-02-28T07:01:00.000-08:00

Drizzle
By Kathleen Van Cleve
Reviewed by TFK Kid Reporter Brennan LaBrie

Genre: Fiction

Number of pages: 368

What is the basic story line?
The book is about a magical rhubarb farm owned by a farmer and his family. It is a first-person narrative from the perspective of the farmer's 11-year-old daughter, Polly Peabody. The Peabodys are an ordinary family in an extraordinary situation. Their magical farm is a nationwide tourist attraction, featuring chocolate-flavored rhubarb, a lake that no one can drown in, and rain that falls every Monday at 1:00 p.m. The tourists come to witness the rain and to experience the famous "umbrella ride," a 20-story-high spinning swing ride. Life is going great for the Peabody family until one Monday when the afternoon rain stops for the first time in 86 years. The lake, the crops and the family business are at stake. Plus, Polly's cheery 17-year-old brother, Freddy, comes down with a serious illness, and money is needed to help him. Everyone in the family has his or her own theory about this bad turn of events, but only Polly knows that magic is the key, and it's up to her to find a way to save the farm and her brother.

Were the characters believable?
Yes, very much so. In fact, one of the reasons that I liked the book so much was that I could feel just how Polly felt throughout the book, and I could even relate to her mom and dad.

On a scale of 1 to 10 (10 being best), how would you rate this book?
I would definitely give this book a 9. It is a great book with drama and action throughout. I was completely hooked and did not want to put the book down. I highly recommend it for anyone who is into magic--or who just wants to read a good book.

Fun (and Games!), Too!

2010-02-28T06:57:00.000-08:00

By TFK Kid Reporter Brennan LaBrie
February 19, 2010

TFK Kid Reporter Brennan LaBrie reports from the 2010 Olympic Winter Games

I arrived in Vancouver, Canada, on Wednesday, February 17, and found lots of activity on the streets. Everywhere I looked there were signs of national pride. The Olympic rings and the Canadian flag were splashed across everything from T-shirts to skyscrapers. Many messages on billboards showed a sense of humor. One billboard for an insurance company read: Speed skaters can't avoid tail-gaiting, but YOU can!

I'm enjoying myself in Vancouver. The city is surrounded by beautiful snow-capped mountains, and bridges over waterways. Its downtown district is fun to walk and has a great variety of cool shops and underground malls. Every few blocks there are musicians or art displays. Banners fill the city, and light shows fill the sky. (Read More)

A Birthday to Remember

2010-02-28T06:53:00.000-08:00

By TFK Kid Reporter Brennan LaBrie
February 19, 2010

Canadian speed skater Marianne St-Gelais snags a silver medal on her birthday

Marianne St-Gelais skated into second place on her 20th birthday. The Canadian won the silver medal in the women's 500-meter short-track speed skating on February 17, at the Winter Games in Vancouver.

COURTESY LABRIE FAMILY

TFK Kid Reporter Brennan LaBrie met with Canadian speed skater Marian St-Gelais.

Her boyfriend and fellow short-track speed skater, Charles Hamelin of Team Canada, hugged her at the finish line. St-Gelais says she will be at the finish line to cheer Hamelin on when he races later this week.

St-Gelais, who grew up in the French-speaking province of Quebec, also speaks English. The friendly and energetic athlete beamed as she spoke to the press at the British Columbia International Media Center in Vancouver on Thursday morning. Many members of the Canadian press appeared proud to congratulate one of their own.

So what is it like to win on home turf?

"It's a really good thing," Saint-Gelais told TFK. "You're in front of your crowd, your Canadian crowd. It's amazing! It gives you wings. But it is really, really loud. It is great positive energy!"

Catching up with Shaun White

2010-02-28T06:51:00.000-08:00

By TFK Kid Reporter Brennan LaBrie
February 22, 2010

TIME For Kids talks to Shaun White, snowboarder and Olympic gold-medal winner

TFK:
What goes through your mind before a competition?

WHITE:
I usually think about the trick that gives me trouble. I try to get into the zone, into a good state where I feel confident. I really feel that succeeding in the sport mostly depends on your mindset. If you tell yourself that you're going to do all of your tricks perfectly, your chances of winning are much better.

TFK:
Do you have any rituals that you do for good luck before you compete?

WHITE:
One year I bought an awesome T-shirt at an Ozzy Osborne concert. It was my favorite. I wore it under my jacket and started winning competition after competition. I had to have that shirt on for every competition that whole year, and it turned out to be the best season of my career. This year, I ate steak before each competition.

TFK:
What do you love best about your sport?

WHITE:
I think my favorite part is that I'm not told what to practice—it's all up to me. I'm really only as good as I want to be. I have the opportunity to be the best snowboarder in the world or just an alright one. I love that about the sport. You're able to dig deep and see what you can do.

(Read More)

A Chat with Rachael Flatt

2010-02-28T06:45:00.000-08:00

Our kid reporter caught up with the champion figure skater at the Olympic Games in Vancouver, Canada
By TFK Kid Reporter Brennan LaBrie
February 24, 2010

TFK:
What has been the most exciting moment for you so far?

FLATT:
I would have to say it was the opening ceremonies. Everyone was ecstatic and chanting "U.S.A.!" The sense of [friendship ] was incredible. I had a great time and I knew that everyone else was just as excited as I was.

TFK:
How do you deal with the stress of the Games?

FLATT:
I'm having a great time. I'm not worrying about all the stress and pressure or anything. I'm just trying to enjoy myself and skate a great performance.

TFK:
Do you have any rituals that you do before competing?

FLATT:
Not really. I don't really have any superstitions. Before a competition, I just try to prepare myself both physically and mentally.

(Read More)

HANNAH TETER: A Passion for Her Sport -- and Her World

2010-02-27T11:03:00.000-08:00

This video is also available on the KING5 Olympic Zone

By Brennan LaBrie

After winning the silver medal on February 18, snowboarder Hannah Teter (23) was presented with a check from Samsung for $30,000 for her charity, Hannah's Gold, which is connected with the international organization World Vision.

I got the chance to meet her on a sunny day in Yaletown, Vancouver, BC, where she told me more about the difference she wanted to make.

"I'm working with World Vision to sponsor a town in Kenya. Seventy thousand people! We are working to equip the whole village with clean water. It's kind of a big mission, but it's fun to do," said Teter, who won Olympic gold in 2006.

An undertaking like this is not a new idea for Teter, who has been involved in charity work since she was a child.

"I sponsored a child in a third-world country when I was younger," she said. "They would write letters and send pictures to show the difference we were making in their lives. So I knew from a young age that the influence we can have on third-world countries is huge."

Why did she choose World Vision out of all the great charities available?
"I approached World Vision because they sponsor whole villages, and I wanted to do something big. At the time,they were one of the biggest organizations making huge differences. They've been really easy to work with and have been making changes quickly."

Teter is involved in other charities as well.

"I really like helping out in all the ways I can, getting the information out there for people who might not know about things like Save the Seals here in Canada. I don't think many people know about that," she says of the extremely cruel conditions for baby seals. "And I think I'm in a good position to set a bar for knowledge and try to get it out there."

Teter says she's excited about what's going on in her life right now. From starting out in sports by trying to keep up with four older brothers, to finding her passion on the slopes, to using her visibility to help good causes, she is glad for the chance to be a role model.

SNAPSHOTS: Moments from a Kid Reporter's Trip to the Winter Games

2010-02-27T10:45:00.000-08:00

by Brennan LaBrie

Spending a week in Vancouver, B.C, is fun in itself, and even more so during the Olympics. And being there as a reporter is better yet!

As a spectator, I got to see so many wild and interesting things. The town was splashed with the Canadian colors red and white -- groups of guys even wore flags as capes. Sides of buildings were used as giant TV screens to show games and broadcasts. Cheers echoed through the streets when gold was won by a Canadian.

People wore wild hats and painted faces, and high-fived strangers. Streets were closed off and filled with art and performers. The sky train rolled past on tracks above us.

Jugglers and music -- and even fireworks --filled the center of town. Seaplanes landed on the water. People traded collector pins. Sausages roasted on roadside carts.

From a bridge that spanned a waterway I could see two giant ball-shaped buildings reflected in the water, and hundreds of small stone inukshuks lined the shore.

As a reporter, I got to see things in a very different way. I got to see inside massive media centers, go through security checks, walk straight into venues without waiting in line, ask questions of famous athletes at press conferences and spend time with them afterwards, and meet crews from the big news stations, which was just as fun.

My home base while there was the British Columbia Media Center in Robson Square. Rows of steps lead down to a public square where events and activities surrounded an ice rink where skating was free. Overhead were glass domes, roads and a zipline suspended four stories above the square. People waited in line 5 to 9 hours to shoot through the sky for a 12-second ride they will remember forever.

As part of the media, I got up close to the Olympic flame sculpture, Fire and Ice, which was kept at a distance from the public. My interviews lead to being interviewed myself, and I got to be on TV in places as far away as Russia, Australia and Mongolia. I got to see professional newsrooms and hold giant TV cameras. I worked alongside journalists from all over the world as we typed out our stories at night.

I enjoyed special moments that are like snapshots in my mind: meeting JR Celski (short-track speed-skater) in a coffee house on a rainy day, and talking with snowboarder Hannah Teter on a very sunny balcony and holding the silver medal she had just won. Dashing to a press conference with my credential tags flying. Boarding a luxury train at sunset after a great day in Whistler.

And some of the best moments were with my mom, Colleen, who made me laugh so much at the end of a long and busy day. That -- and of course watching her cling to the zipline harness in terror as she shot through the sky holding my video camera like I'd talked her into!

NBC TODAY Show: Pint-sized reporter covers Olympics

2010-02-27T07:22:00.000-08:00

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the
economy

NBC TODAY Show: Kid Reporter Gets Snowboarding Scoop

2010-02-27T06:56:00.000-08:00

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

A young reporter lands the interview of a lifetime with snowboard gold medalist Shaun White.

Singing Oh Canada On Rocky Mountaineer Train Ride

2010-02-26T20:59:00.000-08:00

I sing Canada's national anthem, "Oh Canada" on the Rocky Mountaineer Train ride from Whistler to Vancouver, BC.

10 year old is youngest Olympic reporter

2010-02-26T18:43:00.000-08:00

At 10 years old, Brennan LaBrie will be the youngest professional reporter at the Olympic Games next month in Vancouver. Wowzers! LaBrie, who runs his own weekly newspaper at home in Washington, will be covering all the events and games. He has already interviewed two US Olympic athletes, including speed skater Apolo Ohno. (Read More)

Vancouver meets 10-year-old reporter

2010-02-26T08:34:00.000-08:00

By Kimiya Shokoohi

How do you picture a typical reporter? Middle-aged, a little weathered, potentially balding? How about a 10-year-old with a James Dean hairdo, a pocket full of calling cards, and who is dressed to kill, or at least, gets down to the story.

Time Magazine's kid reporter Brennan LaBrie is painting a new picture of the criteria many expect reporters to fit.

“I was into writing in first grade. Our teacher showed us that we could just make our own books,” LaBrie said about how it all began. “And one day on the swings I thought I could start my own newspaper.” (Read More)

Brennan, the boy journalist, has story of his own at Games

2010-02-25T07:41:00.000-08:00

By SEBASTIAN FEST | DPA

VANCOUVER : Brennan LaBrie is no sportsman, but he holds one of the most curious records of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver: he is the most precocious journalist in Olympic history.

"Brennan, stop reading the papers!"

The boy, aged 10, attributes the sentence to his mother, overwhelmed by the mountains of newspapers her son reads.

"I was always curious. My mum says that one of the first things I ever learnt to say was, 'why?'" the young American tells the German Press Agency DPA.

Even as his friends were at school, Brennan spent a week-and-a-half covering the Winter Olympics. LaBrie is disconcerting, because he talks with the fluency, the speed and the vocabulary of an adult.

He was chosen for Time For Kids - the children's edition of Time magazine, which has 3.5 million subscribers - in September from among 12 candidates who had previously been shortlisted among 400 children.

LaBrie could hardly believe he was going to the Olympics.

"But they told me the prize was just to go there for one day. 'No way!' I told them. If I go to the Games it is to be with the sportspeople, to see them, to talk to them, not to visit." (Read More)

Article in Spanish
Un niño que pone la nota

Kid reporter makes his mark at Olympics

2010-02-24T10:13:00.000-08:00

By Patrick J. Sullivan of the Leader

Brennan LaBrie is overflowing with the Olympic experience.
The Spruce Street Weekly publisher of Port Townsend, on assignment in Vancouver for Time for Kids, is back in Port Townsend from a six-day whirlwind in Canada.

"It's been an incredible week," LaBrie said Monday afternoon by telephone from Vancouver. "There is so much going on."

Look for LaBrie, 10, as the subject of a Kid Reporter feature on NBC's Today Show this week.

Like most folks, the Today Show film crew was intrigued by LaBrie and his intensity. "They were assigned to spend two hours with us, and it ended up to be about seven hours,” LaBrie noted. (Read More)

2010 Winter Olympic Photo Gallery

2010-02-23T19:55:00.000-08:00

ХАМГИЙН ЗАЛУУ СЭТГҮҮЛЧ

2010-02-18T21:18:00.000-08:00

ХАМГИЙН ЗАЛУУ СЭТГҮҮЛЧ

Үзэгч та хамгийн залуу сэтгүүлчийг харж байна. 10 настай Брэнан Лаври Америкийн Time for kids сэтгүүлд спортын сэтгүүлчээр ажилладаг. Энэ удаад тэрээр өөрийн биеэр олимп үзэж хүүхдүүдэд өвлийн спортын талаар нийтлэл бичихээр ирсэн байна. 10-хан настай гэхэд тун эвлэгхэн бас сэргэлэн жаал байсан шүү. Сэтгүүлчдин танхимд завгүйхэн ажиллах түүнийг бид энэ олимпийн хамгийн залуу сэтгүүлчээр нэрлэж байна.

I think they are saying something nice!

CNET: Olympic notebook: Meet the Games' Youngest Reporter

2010-02-18T21:11:00.000-08:00

by Ina Fried

VANCOUVER--Working in the unofficial press center at Robson Square, Brennan LaBrie stands out a bit.
It's not just that he's blogging, doing podcasts, and posting to Twitter. It's that he's 10 years old. LaBrie was one of a dozen winners of a Time magazine "kid reporter" contest.

But LaBrie was already an experienced reporter before landing the Time gig. He runs a handwritten neighborhood weekly that has roughly 250 subscribers paying 25 cents an issue. (Read More)

Meet Brennan LaBrie, Youngest Reporter Covering Olympic Games

2010-02-18T14:45:00.000-08:00

FanHouse spoke to LaBrie, who is in BC covering the games for Time for Kids, about how he became a journalist at such a young age and his experience at the games thus far.

Ariel Helwani
Ariel Helwani is a Video Reporter and Writer for FanHouse
VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- Brennan LaBrie is a 10-year-old from Port Townsend, Wash. He's also the youngest accredited reporter covering the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver.

KING5: 10 year old selected as Olympic reporter

2010-02-16T15:29:00.000-08:00

by Elizabeth Berman

Posted on February 16, 2010 at 9:32 AM

******

Port Townsend 10 year old Brennan LaBrie will be covering the Olympic games for Time for Kids, the youth version of Time Magazine.

KING 5 Evening Magazine: The Olympics' youngest reporter

2010-02-15T20:51:00.000-08:00

by SAINT BRYAN / Evening Magazine

Posted on February 15, 2010 at 7:27 PM

******

Reporters and photographers are working around the clock to bring all the Olympics action to people worldwide! And while we don't know who the oldest journalist is, we do know the youngest - a 10-year-old kid reporter from Port Townsend.

Brennan will be covering the Olympics for 5 days beginning this Wednesday.

Let The Games Begin!

2010-02-13T06:17:00.000-08:00

By Brennan LaBrie, Special to the Leader

(Brennan LaBrie, 10, of Port Townsend, is the youngest reporter among the estimated 10,000 reporters covering Winter Olympics in Vancouver, B.C. This is his first report for the Leader.)

The excitement is mounting in Vancouver, B.C., as the 2010 Winter Games draw near. Last Thursday I took a pre-Olympics trip up to Vancouver to see the city for myself, just days before all the madness starts.

I found there was already a great bustle on the streets, and everywhere we looked were signs of national pride. The Olympic theme was splashed across everything from T-shirts to skyscrapers. Even advertisers benefited. Many billboards exhibited humor, such as one for an insurance company: “Speed skaters can’t help tailgating, but you can!” (Read More)

Olympics: 10-Year-Old Boy To Blog For News Tribune

2010-02-13T04:05:00.000-08:00

Olympics: 10-year-old boy to blog for News Tribune

CRAIG HILL; Staff writer
Published: 02/12/1012:05 am

While stressed veteran journalists at the Winter Olympics look for bars to blow of steam during their down time, Brennan LaBrie will be looking for a swing set.

Brennan is a writer, an editor and a newspaper publisher.

He’ll cover the Winter Olympics in Vancouver, B.C., for his newspaper, Time for Kids and The News Tribune’s Olympics blog.

Not a bad start to a journalism career, especially considering Brennan is just a 10-year-old kid from Port Townsend.

“I work really hard,” Brennan said. “But sometimes I just want to go outside and play in the mud.”

(Read More)

Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games

2010-02-12T06:55:00.000-08:00