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

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

The Power of Imagination

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

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

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.

A Chance To Ride

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

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

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)

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

SPEAKING HIS MIND: Marcelas Owens Speaks Out for Healthcare

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.”

Olympic Lessons

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.)

Dueling Interviews

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

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

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.”

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

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

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

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!

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

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

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

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)