Ninth Floor Project tag:www.ninthfloorproject.org,2008:/www//1 2006-08-31T16:36:10Z Movable Type 3.31 Ethan Ruby: Prime Cells - The Future of Healing tag:www.ninthfloorproject.org,2006:/www//1.25 2006-08-30T18:32:50Z 2006-08-31T16:36:10Z Stem Cells (We should call them the Primary Cells or Prime Cells) are the future of medicine. Doctors and scientist all over the world agree with the basic medical facts that Prime Cells are the fundamental building blocks of cellular... Ethan Ruby Stem Cells (We should call them the Primary Cells or Prime Cells) are the future of medicine. Doctors and scientist all over the world agree with the basic medical facts that Prime Cells are the fundamental building blocks of cellular life. We have an opportunity to use this discovery to help millions of people afflicted with potentially curable diseases. As with all things that concern our individual bodies, we should have personal choices and control over what happens to us. We may choose to die from treatable illnesses, choose to wither away from degenerative diseases, choose to live in pain or with blindness, or choose to be compromised by countless other physical conditions - this may be what you choose as your destiny, for whatever reason. But other opportunity and choices exists for those who are not willing to sit back and accept that their diagnoses are death sentences. One should be able to choose to be treated and cured. We should have the right to choose to develop medicine and protocols so that our children and grandchildren can be spared pain, disfigurement, or even death. There are treatments and cures that are possible, based on the basic cellular functions that already sustain and support our bodily functions. Without using these curative scientific approaches that exist, our mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, wives, husbands and friends will continue to live with devastating conditions that are directly treatable through Stem Cell therapy. In addition to the emotional anguish associated with preventing Stem Cell therapies, there exist great financial stresses. If we continue to inadequately treat, or in some cases ignore, these conditions, as opposed to curing them, health care costs will continue to rise. Health insurance companies, and our government, will spend billions of dollars superficially and ineffectively addressing medical problems that could be cured or prevented using Stem Cells. These costs will no doubt be passed on to the general population through higher taxes and increased health care premiums. Without Stem Cell therapies, those of us who suffer from treatable conditions will suffer, and those trying to care for us will waste billions in the process. This is our future and these are our bodies and those of our loved ones. We must find a way for our disenfranchised voices to be heard. Those opposed to Stem Cell therapies have motives that must be exposed and their inaccurate interpretations of the facts need to be publicly exposed. False information can be countered with scientific data and medical facts: one of these is that Stem Cells, our Primary Cells, can and will save lives. At one point in time people believed the earth was flat and that it was center of the universe. Science came to the rescue then, and should heed the call again now to prove what the the majority of Americans already know and support. This majority needs to unify and become a powerful force, spreading our message, educating the masses, and joining together in the fight against those in power who are acting irrationally and using false information to stop stem cell therapies. Our voices need to be heard. A Universal symbol in support of Prime Cells would be a powerful tool to unify, amplify and intensify the public majority’s belief in Stem Cell therapy. Creating an easily recognizable symbol will help educate our communities, healthcare practitioners and their patients, and spread the message that the future holds possible cures and helpful treatments for conditions previously believed to be terminal. The dedicated scientists involved are tirelessly searching for the best and most effective medical approaches to treat almost all physical conditions. Forming a universal symbol for saving lives using Stem Cells will create the momentum needed to educate the public about the scientifically backed facts about Prime Cells. Once there is a strong, unified public voice, armed with facts and passion, we can begin to make a difference at a grass roots levels, beginning in our communities, reaching out to our government representatives. This is how changes in government are made, but we need to take the first step in joining people together and raising awareness. A recognizable pro-Stem Cell symbol will begin this process. People are preaching false information everyday about Stem Cells. We hear it on TV and through other mediums and we believe it; we take it at face value because it is spoken by someone we are supposed to trust. False information can be very dangerous when it is spoken by influential people. But the truth regarding Prime Cells is available, and it is not a mystery. Lets get together and organize ourselves. We are the majority. We have the power to let truth and the future of medicine move forward. A Little Known Fact tag:www.ninthfloorproject.org,2006:/www//1.24 2006-08-14T16:39:52Z 2006-08-30T18:41:11Z Step inside an American fertility clinic to see what happens to 350,000 unused embryos every year. View "A Little Known Fact" Video Clip A Little Known Fact on Vimeo This video was produced by the Ninth Floor Project. For more... Caryn Farber View "A Little Known Fact" Video Clip This video was produced by the Ninth Floor Project. For more information on this video clip please contact Caryn at info@ninthfloorproject.org.]]> More Video Excerpts from "Plan B" tag:www.ninthfloorproject.org,2006:/www//1.23 2006-08-11T21:43:55Z 2006-08-30T18:41:09Z As we mentioned in our previous post, "Stem Cells for the Greater Good", Plan B is a documentary produced by Empax founder, Martin Kace. Martin was injured in an accident five years ago, which left him paralyzed from the waist... Caryn Farber "Stem Cells for the Greater Good", Plan B is a documentary produced by Empax founder, Martin Kace. Martin was injured in an accident five years ago, which left him paralyzed from the waist down. In 2004, Martin's personal struggle leads him to protest President Bush's decision to ban federal funding for stem cell research. The film follows Martin as he takes his battle to the Capitol where he stages a daring and provocative protest. Although things don't go exactly as planned, the messages contained in the journey ring loud and true. You can view clips from the poignant documentary at: www.ninthfloorproject.org/video If you would like more information about the documentary or would like to purchase a copy, please contact Caryn at info@ninthfloorproject.org.]]> Design sketches tag:www.ninthfloorproject.org,2006:/www//1.22 2006-08-10T23:37:18Z 2006-08-30T18:41:09Z Welcome to our kitchen. We’re happy to share some of our preliminary sketches and doodles with you. We haven’t included the napkins, business cards, pizza boxes and backs of hands that we’ve been using – just some work on paper... Martin Kace Welcome to our kitchen. We’re happy to share some of our preliminary sketches and doodles with you. We haven’t included the napkins, business cards, pizza boxes and backs of hands that we’ve been using – just some work on paper for now. The kitchen is kind of open source, so if you’d like to add your own work, please do. Comments are also important to us, so please express yourself. Thanks. ]]> Click on the image below to see a larger view of all the sketches. sketches_all.jpg]]> Stem Cells for the Greater Good tag:www.ninthfloorproject.org,2006:/www//1.21 2006-08-08T16:31:09Z 2006-08-30T18:41:11Z This concise, but powerful video clip features several well known medical professionals who make a strong case for the benefits of stem cell research. The footage in this clip is taken from a 2004 documentary entitled, "Plan B", which follows... Elana Dweck www.elanadweck.com For more information on "Plan B", please contact Caryn at info@ninthfloorproject.org.]]> Clement Wu: What We've Learned from the Live Strong Wristband and Other Symbols tag:www.ninthfloorproject.org,2006:/www//1.20 2006-08-07T16:08:21Z 2006-08-30T18:41:10Z As a preliminary step towards coming up with a symbol I looked into others for various social or political causes. Some have a design that comes directly from a unique concept or history, like the recycling symbol or the pink... Clement Wu As a preliminary step towards coming up with a symbol I looked into others for various social or political causes. Some have a design that comes directly from a unique concept or history, like the recycling symbol or the pink triangle while others like the AIDS ribbon and the Live Strong wristband developed meaning through their usage.]]> Wear Yellow campaign -- and simply because it was so successful. According to the Lance Armstrong Foundation, more than 58 million people wear the wristband, which has been sold to people in more than sixty countries. In terms of creative process, I wondered how it came about: was Lance Armstrong himself in a room with designers, sociologists, writers, and cancer survivors going over how design could inspire and empower people with cancer? Was Armstrong vetoing ribbons and buttons and then having an "aha" moment when the idea for a wristband sprung forth? Were the wristbands a bold replacement for the bracelets worn by hospital in-patients, or a reference to friendship bracelets, appropriate for a campaign about people supporting each other? Earlier in the year I had written Nike to find out more. A community relations manager wrote back the following:
"Nike had originally created the wristbands to show support for basketball athletes, but it never took off. The concept was then applied to a cause and it took off."
At first, I was a little disappointed that the design solution was accidental, but I quickly realized that there's absolutely nothing wrong with a little bit of serendipity; if anything, it's welcome. This was also a study in how you can have almost the exact same object and one can be wildly successful and the other not. Something to think about: what if the Lance Armstrong Foundation had gone with a ribbon or a button instead of a wristband? Or something different altogether? Or just a two-dimensional symbol and campaign? Graphically, the wristbands are very appealing. Yellow is an excellent color choice because it is bold and vibrant and fits the spirit of the campaign. It has personal significance to Armstrong himself as the winner of the Tour de France. They are also stylish but not ostentatious, they’re generic enough to have wide appeal but yet they still stand out. They appeal to both genders (although I probably notice more males wearing them then females.) The bands are also easy to put on and take off and are inexpensive and fairly easy to acquire. livestrong.gifThe slogan, which apparently serves as a two dimensional "symbol" in the form of yellow type inside a black rectangle, was also critical to the success of the wristband as revealed by the Nike manager above. It's simple, assertive, direct, motivational and empowering. It's debossed in a sans serif typeface, free of ornamentation, with the word "STRONG" in a heavier weight, like an exclamation to a sentence. This debossing is more elegant and subtle than merely having type printed on the wristband and to me is a graphic representation of inner--mental and emotional--strength. The wristband speaks loudly but doesn't shout. I once caught part of an interview with Armstrong in which I heard him describe cycling as an activity characterized by suffering; I'm not sure if LIVESTRONG would have been as successful with any other person at the helm. Although the wristband has since become a fashion accessory and spawned a legion of knockoffs, it was an effective, simple, and unique design solution. Other successful symbols I looked at are as follows: The Pink Triangle pinktriangle.gifDesign Origin: Nazi designation for gay people in concentration camps. In the 1980s, ACT-UP (AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power) rotated the triangle 180 degrees so that it points upward, representing "active fight" over a "passive resignation to fate," as a symbol for its cause. Comments: Striking, bold, simple image with strong formal qualities. Imbued with defiance, this symbol has a history that gives it power and meaning. Rainbow Icon Archive - Icons for the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Community AIDS Ribbon redribbon.gifDesign Origin: The idea came from yellow ribbons supporting American troops in the Gulf War in 1991. (Ribbons associated with promoting a cause had existed previously.) According to Frank Moore, the person who came up with the idea for the AIDS ribbon, red was chosen "for its 'connection to blood and the idea of of passion — not only anger, but love, like a valentine.'" Awareness and implementation: The idea was adopted by Visual AIDS, an arts organization. The campaign launched at the 45th Annual Tony Awards, where ribbons were given to nominees and presenters to wear. Worn by celebrities at the Oscar and Emmy Awards. "The Body: Where Have All the Ribbons Gone?" Peace Symbol peace.gifOriginally developed to be a symbol for a campaign on nuclear disarmament in England, it has traveled overseas and become a general worldwide symbol for peace. Design Origin (various theories): 1. An incorporation of the semaphore letters N and D for "nuclear disarmament" 2. An abstract representation of a figure in despair A. Upside down crucifix B. Person with arms downward and palms open before a firing line 3. Derivation of an ancient runic symbol Peace Symbol History Recycling recyling.gifSymbol designed in 1970 by a college student as part of a contest sponsored by a recycled product maker. The designers says,
"The figure was designed as a Mobius strip to symbolize continuity within a finite entity. I used the [logo’s] arrows to give directionality to the symbol. I envisioned it with the small edge or the point of the triangle at the bottom. I wanted to suggest both the dynamic (things are changing) and the static (it’s a static equilibrium, a permanent kind of thing). The arrows, as broad as they are, draw back to the static side."
Creating the Recycling Symbol Black Power Symbol blackpower.gifA fist. The fist iconography is also used by other groups. Comments: A fist is physically powerful. As a graphic symbol, its compact, circular, and solid appearance makes it visually powerful as well. It is also immediately recognizable. Also, it can be "performed" and needs no ribbon, wristband, or button to be worn. Socialism: Hammer and sickle Design Origin: The hammer represents the worker and the sickle represents peasants. Together they represent unity between the two groups. Incorporated into the flag of the Soviet Union. Fascism: Bundle of sticks and an axe Symbol of authority in ancient Rome.]]> Ehud Tal: Designing a Symbol for the Majority tag:www.ninthfloorproject.org,2006:/www//1.19 2006-08-05T01:29:34Z 2006-08-30T18:41:11Z Americans are compassionate and pragmatic people, and both compassion and common sense dictate that surplus stem cells should be placed in the hands of researchers, who are looking for cures, rather than be thrown in red plastic bags full of... Ehud Tal ]]> science and politics of stem cells. We also looked at symbol case studies paying close attention to both the failures and the success stories. The next stage is brainstorming, where the goal is to diverge and find the largest number of ideas, and not necessarily the best ones. You’re basically hoping to produce radically different and original concepts. This type of exploration requires a lot of free association but it isn’t a random process. In fact, to find our symbol we’ve begun brainstorming from a number of planned starting points: Stories: What allegories and myths are related to this issue? For example, the story of the Galileo’s or that of the founding fathers of religious freedom in the United States. Form: What do circles mean? How does a hexagon work as a symbol for a cell? Visuals: What images are commonly used? Should we work with those images or against them? Color: What colors evoke abstract concepts such as compassion, cure and action? Words: Words come into play for us even when we’re focusing on coming up with visuals. We used writeboard to brainstorm on words as a team. Medium: Thinking about how a symbol is going to be used is an important part of the process. For example, do we want to design something that can easily be worn, like the Live Strong band and AIDS ribbon? Maybe it should be easily translated into a hand sign, like “hang loose” or the peace sign?
Info-graphics: Sometimes a memorable and clear diagram that conveys important information becomes a symbol. Like the Red and Blue America statistical map or the hockey stick chart of global warming. We’ve had some experience that has shown us the importance of info-graphics in the political sphere (see the LibLab section of the empax website). Family Resemblance: We look at symbols that have represented this cause in the past, for common traits that we can explore and develop. Event: Thinking about how certain images will play out at protest sites and in the media are also useful angles. Campaign: Finally we ponder which elements make any symbol contagious and memorable. We jot down all our ideas as they come, and then group them into categories. We try to find the underlying dimensions that drive each of these categories, and build more ideas based on those deeper dimensions. The next step after this distillation process is narrowing the list down until we have a winner. As I’m writing this, we’re still in the midst of our brainstorming process. Every couple of days, we get together and throw out more and more ideas. Since this site is a window into our kitchen, we invite you to comment and make suggestions of your own. ]]> Lara McCormick: Coming From A Place of Not Knowing tag:www.ninthfloorproject.org,2006:/www//1.18 2006-08-03T15:30:02Z 2006-08-30T18:41:10Z I became a designer initially to make things look good; I enjoy the process of creation. As I get older, my take on design has shifted. I see the power it has to make a difference. I design responsibly and... Lara McCormick I became a designer initially to make things look good; I enjoy the process of creation. As I get older, my take on design has shifted. I see the power it has to make a difference. I design responsibly and I encourage others to do the same. I'm involved in projects I believe in and no longer have the time nor the energy for projects that don’t speak to me or make me think. When I joined Empax in June I knew next to nothing about stem cell research. What I did know was that I supported the cause but that was mostly because Bush opposed it. But if I have I have to be honest, if anyone had asked me why I was in favor of stem cell research back then, I wouldn't have been able to offer any substantive reasons. Now, being a part of the Ninth Floor Project, I am continuously learning about this issue and the politics that surround it. The more I know the more passionate about the topic I become, the more I want to tell other people about it. I now have a need to explain the details and how it benefits humanity on so many levels. I was honored with the task of coming up with Ninth Floor Project logo. Looking to the elevator button for inspiration, I used Braille- the language of disability- and the number '9', the floor on which we are located to create our identity. For those of you who have ever created a public space, you’ll know how remarkable it is to watch a space spring to life, to hear dialogue begin and find strangers meeting and engaging in a place that you helped create. This project has had a lot of personal and professional significance for me. I have friends who are ill and who would benefit from the science. I also see a lot of youth around me who seem to understand the need for a change in policy but who either lack the information to rally behind the cause or the appropriate leadership and organization. In fact while I was working on the logo, I was standing in line for popcorn at a movie and I noticed that the concessions guy was wearing a superman tag - http://www.supermantag.org/ (all proceeds from the sale of the tags support the foundation's work in finding treatments and cures for paralysis). When I ordered my popcorn, I asked him if he was a supporter of stem cell research. “I haven’t really had a chance to research the whole stem cell thing,” he said, “but I love Christopher Reeves and I was a volunteer at an event for the foundation where we passed out the tags.'” I thought to myself, here was a guy, mid-twenties, involved in a cause without knowing anything about the heart of the issue. I feel like this is the true for a lot of causes and for many people, especially our youth. Many people ‘feel’ that stem cell research is a good thing but are unable to explain why or don’t feel inspired to learn more. This lack of knowledge has created a serious need for a hub of information on the issue-- and maybe because I’m a designer (but I suspect not) -- a symbol seems like the right place to start. Jonathan Nachum: Doing the Homework tag:www.ninthfloorproject.org,2006:/www//1.16 2006-07-27T21:38:17Z 2006-08-30T18:41:10Z I’m the office manager and researcher at Empax. Being extremely interested in how society views and acquiesces to social change – specifically, how perception dictates political realities – I can’t help but get excited about the prospects of helping out,... Jonathan Nachum www.ninthfloorproject.org I’m the office manager and researcher at Empax. Being extremely interested in how society views and acquiesces to social change – specifically, how perception dictates political realities – I can’t help but get excited about the prospects of helping out, especially for a project like this. I’m someone who’s primarily a visual learner (though, there have been times when I’ve learned things through listening), so designing a symbol to give a voice to the majority of Americans who support stem cell research seems to be a very practical and obvious endeavor. Not being a professional designer quite yet, I was given the task of researching the scientific background of stem cells and “bottom-lining” the overwhelming scientific information for the designers. Not an easy task. At first, I thought the best way to handle this assignment was to visit websites of groups representing potential patient beneficiaries such as the Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s foundations. I was interested specifically in how they thought stem cells would help their afflicted populations. I thought I’d get a tailored, scientific summary and that I’d learn what medical techniques could be used to harvest the cells. Overall, these sites were useful in offering general information and offered lots of hypothetical scenarios about how stem cells (particularly embryonic stem cells) could play a significant role, both therapeutically and in curing disease, but I still felt the designers would need a more scientific primer to begin their work. For an introduction to stem cells, I decided to go straight to the source of all the drama – the United States government. The National Institute of Health (NIH) is an arm of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). If the DHHS were a human body, NIH would probably make up its two legs. It’s charged with performing and supporting medical research in this country, as well as helping facilitate research around the world. It is here that President Bush forced the U.S. Government to stop doling out Federal funds to research facilities for embryonic stem cell research. And, it is here that President Bush decentralized the chain of command and prevented facilities from collaborating and coordinating their activities: specifically in the area of embryonic stem cells. However, it is also here that you can still get unbiased, scientific information regarding all types of stem cells. The information from NIH, coupled with the information from patient advocacy groups easily explains the stem cell story, which stands at the very center of this ‘controversial’ subject. In the end, what was given to the designers was a basic primer outlining what each stem cell is and why one type is more viable than another. Embryonic stem cells topped the list, due to their nearly infinite regenerative and undifferentiated properties; fetal stem cells came second because although they can morph into almost any cell in the body, they also have a finite ability to multiply. All the scientific information available across all media showed adult stem cells to be the least feasible due to their limited ability to replicate, and their hindered plasticity in becoming any type of cell in the body. I also incorporated some socioeconomic implications that may occur if the political and scientific communities continue with their current mindsets. For example, concerns that individuals in higher socioeconomic groups would be more likely to have access to potential stem cell remedies in the future. In short, I tried to give the designers a snapshot of a very large body of science as well as some of the social implications that might result from the advances. In doing so, I hope I provided them with the building blocks they need to understand what lies at the core of their mission. Steven Heller: To Bond and Brand tag:www.ninthfloorproject.org,2006:/www//1.15 2006-07-27T14:26:53Z 2006-08-30T18:41:11Z How absurd to think that one man - indeed one president - can control medical destiny with the flick of a pen. How tragic it is when governed by misguided beliefs and skewed ideals this man - indeed this president... Steven Heller How absurd to think that one man - indeed one president - can control medical destiny with the flick of a pen. How tragic it is when governed by misguided beliefs and skewed ideals this man - indeed this president - destroys (no matter how temporarily) the hopes of millions by limiting the ability of science to eliminate killer illness and disease. And how heartbreaking it is that religious politics has managed to influence this one man - this unduly powerful president - to the point that progress, which is everyone's right, has been halted dead in its tracks by virtue of a veto. Stem cell research must be beyond politics. The science that promises to save human life should be free from religious prejudice. Belief is fine, superstition is tolerable, but when it interferes with the "natural" exercise of scientific muscle then its time for people of conscience to vociferously protest - to raise their voices in opposition to the unnatural blockade of their freedom. The struggle against this untenable opposition to stem cell research must be battled on many fronts. And weaponry is necessary to mount the most effective offensive. Therefore, graphic symbols must be employed that serve to bond and brand those of kindred sympathies. Its never enough simply to say "up with stem cell research" or "down with religious interference;" marks and icons are useful, just as banners and flags are necessary in war. This is war against dark age obstructionists. So it is important to develop a symbol that represents the viability of this movement while appealing to the emotionalism endemic to it. A committee-generated mark would be the wrong strategy, but too subjective an image might be too rarified. The answer is somewhere in the middle - something between professionally acceptable rightness of form and emotionally conceived talisman. It cannot be purist any more than it can be eclectic. It must convey the importance of the issue and the spirit of its proponents. Like the AIDS ribbon it must be humanist, but like the Peace Symbol it must be a composite of meaning and aesthetics. Everyone knows about the stem cell issue. Many understand it is humanity's greatest hope at this time for an end to life-threatening disease and genetic malfunctions. But few know how to visually concretize this complex concern. Don't even call it a debate - there is nothing to debate - but do call it a mission. In this sense whatever mark is devised must rally all to the core of the mission, and must be used in the most effective way to help spread this idea throughout the land. Julie Tinker: Researching the Politics of Stem Cell Research tag:www.ninthfloorproject.org,2006:/www//1.12 2006-07-24T20:07:01Z 2006-08-30T18:41:10Z This summer, I have the privilege of working with Empax to design a campaign to show the overwhelming public support for embryonic stem cell research. Not the easiest undertaking, but definitely a great design challenge. And as a designer originally... Julie Tinker This summer, I have the privilege of working with Empax to design a campaign to show the overwhelming public support for embryonic stem cell research. Not the easiest undertaking, but definitely a great design challenge. And as a designer originally from the world of non-profits and social reform, from education to disability rights advocacy, it is a project for which I feel well suited -- personally and professionally. All of this is to say, I am honored to be joining up with Martin and the team at Empax on this endeavor. The International Society for Stem Cell Research, an independent, non-profit organization established to promote and foster the exchange and dissemination of information on stem cell research, proved to be an excellent source, , making available public polls sponsored by media groups, medical and science organizations, and the Catholic Church. It’s worth checking out for those new to subject. Understanding the legislation trail on the issue is another key component to the research, especially considering the President’s recent veto, his first, made July 19, banning expansion of federal support for embryonic stem cell research. Political parties, the current administration, and the Catholic Church all have official statements on their views on stem cell research as a party or group. And while our campaign targets American citizens, learning about the attitudes towards embryonic stem cell research in the international community and how their governments are supporting or prohibiting the advancement of stem cell research is also incredibly valuable. Hopefully, by examining the various groups and where they fall on the research and the political spectrum, we are entering the development of our campaign with a solid understanding of where opinions and parties lie. We certainly know there are barriers and opposition to the advancement of stem cell research, but we also know our audience, the majority of Americans (somewhere between 65% and 70%), who support stem cell research and it is for them that we hope to deliver a symbol to visually show their support…a well researched, beautifully executed symbol.]]> Martin Kace: Why I'm Doing This tag:www.ninthfloorproject.org,2006:/ninthfloorproject_BETA//1.10 2006-07-24T17:30:30Z 2006-08-30T18:41:10Z I’ve been living in a wheelchair for the past 5 and a half years. It’s gotten to the point where it doesn’t bother me most of the time. I can just go ahead and live what feels to me like... Martin Kace I’ve been living in a wheelchair for the past 5 and a half years. It’s gotten to the point where it doesn’t bother me most of the time. I can just go ahead and live what feels to me like a normal life most of the time. Except when I want to kiss my wife and kids. They have to bend over and strain their backs when we want to kiss. And hugging is a bit of a drag since they have to get in my lap for a real hug. Otherwise, it’s just one of those sterile cheek-hugging, pat-on-the-back things. Recent interviews with Martin Kace about his personal struggle and new campaign for stem cell research: "Standing Tall for a Cause Dear to Him," Newsday, July 19, 2006 Radio interview with Ellis Henican on WOR: July 18, 2006]]>