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Water Symposium Home
|9:00 am
CIVIL ENGINEERING & WATER: Our City From Rain to Drain – Lynne Christopher & Greg Wukasch, SAWS
ANTHROPOLOGY & WATER: Spa Cultures, Dreaming & Healing Waters – Dr. Jonathan DeVierville, St. Philips College.
|COSMOLOGY & WATER: 13.7 Billion Years Ago to Now – Sr. Linda Gibler, Oblate School of Theology.
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS & WATER: Texas-Mexico Water Issues – Jay Johnson-Castro, Director, Rio Grande International Study Center.
|OUTER SPACE & WATER: From Earth & Beyond! – Jacqueline Havelka, NASA
|LAW & WATER I: Water is a Birthright – Larry Joe Doherty, environmental attorney.
|11:00 am
|ECOLOGY & WATER: Conservation From Rain Catchment to Gray Water – Carol Coston, OP & Elise García, OP, co-directors of Santuario Sisterfarm.
|GEOPOLITICS & WATER: Trickle Down from Source to Ocean – Headwaters Coalition, Helen Ballew.
|HYDROLOGY & WATER I: Intro to South-Central Texas – George Ozuna, Deputy Director, USGS Texas Water Science Center.
|LAW & WATER II: Hot Issues in Recent Cases – Mary Q. Kelly (Gardner Law Firm), Greg Ellis (TX Alliance of Groundwater Districts), and Steve Kosub (SAWS Legal).
|PUBLIC HEALTH & WATER: Biologic, Organic and Inorganic Contaminants – Geary Schnidel, P.G.
|POLITICAL SCIENCE & WATER: Urban vs. Agricultural Use – Whose Water Is It? – Mike Mecke, retired Water Specialist, Kerrville.
|1:00 pm
|ART & WATER IV: Water as an Inspiration in Contemporary Art – David S. Rubin, The Brown Foundation Curator of Contemporary Art, SAMA.
|ARCHITECTURE & WATER: A Critical Balance into the Future! – Gabriel Durand-Hollis, FAIA, Principal with DHR Architects, and Adrianna Swindle.
|CREATIVITY & WATER: Flowing from Expression to Empowered Action – Dianne Monroe.
|ENERGY & WATER: New Ways of Deriving Energy from Water – Dr. Kyle Murray, UTSA, along with Janet Abbott, Alyssa Burgin, moderating. Panel.
|LAND USE & WATER: Human Impact on the Edwards Aquifer – Annalisa Peace, Executive Director, Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance.
|POETRY & WATER: Water as Refuge & Reunion – Cyra Dumitru, poet & instructor at St. Mary's University.
|3:00 pm
|OCEANIC STUDIES & WATER: Environmental Freshwater Inflows and Salinity in Coastal Bays – John S. Adams, Conrad Blucher Institute for Surveying and Science & Coastal Bend Bays Foundation.
|HISTORY & WATER: Chronology of Efforts to Manage the Edwards Aquifer – Dr. John Donahue, Trinity University.
|PSYCHOLOGY & WATER: The Living Waters of the Psyche – Alan Drymala, LPC, LMFT, Jungian psychotherapist.
|MUSIC & WATER: Music IN Water – Brother Mike Sullivan, S.M., DMA, St. Mary's University. A survey of music compositions inspired by water.
|SPIRITUALITY & WATER: The Sacred in the Abrahamic Traditions – Barbie Gorelick, Sylvia Maddox, and Narjis Pierre of The Tri-Faith Dialogue of San Antonio.
|POLITICAL SCIENCE & WATER: Water & Conflict – Celine Jacquemin, Amir Samandi, Leona Pallansch, St. Mary's University. Middle East & Africa.
|5:00 pm
|ECONOMICS & WATER: A Local Perspective – Carol Patterson, Director of the Edwards Aquifer Authority (District 1), and Kirk Patterson, attorney & EARIP Steering Committee member.
|GLOBALIZATION & WATER: The Story of the Thirsty – Paul Darilek, Living Water International.
|LANDSCAPE DESIGN & WATER: Landscape Ecoregions and Water Wise Native Plants – Melissa Miller, Chair of the Native Landscape Certification Program, Native Plant Society of Texas (NPSOT), San Antonio Chapter.
|PEACE & WATER: Flowing Toward Nonviolent and Sustainable Communities –
Dr. Randall Amster, Prescott College; Executive Director, Peace & Justice Studies Association
|7:00 pm
|CIVICS & WATER: Who Controls Your Water – Sally Bolster, League of Women Voters, along with SARA, EAA, SAWS, Trinity Glenrose, and Bexar Met - panel.
|ELECTRICITY & WATER: Playing for Keeps – Dr. Lauren Ross, Director of the Glenrose Project.
|THEOLOGY & WATER: What's in the sacred texts? – Dr. Norm Beck, Texas Lutheran University, panel.
Spa Cultures, Dreaming & Healing Waters – Dr. Jonathan DeVierville, St. Philips College.
Our ancient ancestors knew Dreams as mirrors and windows of their Souls. Sumerians, Egyptians, Chinese, Greeks, Persians, Celts, Romans as well as indigenous Peoples around the Planet frequented thermal-mineral springs, wells and pools for re-creation, dreaming and healing. Designed for rest, sleep and relaxation, these naturally watered sacred sites helped encourage, facilitate and integrate creative wellness and regenerative deep dreaming. Participants will be introduced to this ancient healing legacy.
(Tuesday, February 16 at 9:00 am)
Architecture & Water: A Critical Balance into the Future! – Gabriel Durand-Hollis, FAIA, Principal with DHR Architects and Adrianna Swindle owner of ASA, Accessibility Specialist.
The two presenters offer different perspectives on how water has impacted the formation of cities, both in a historical sense and in the context of modern architecture. Important attention is given to new developments in water conservation, storage and recycling in current architectural practice and exciting research forecast what is in our future. Obviously architecture deals with water in its various states. When we are building spaces there must strike a balance between too much water and too little water.
(Tuesday, February 16 at 1:00 pm)
ART & WATER II: An Exhibit & Experiment – Liz Ward, Trinity University along with students.
(Ongoing throughout the Symposium.)
- ART & WATER III: Ebru - A Turkish Form of Painting on Water
Ebru is a process of dripping dyes upon water, shaping the colors in every which way with various tools and finally, transferring the final composition to paper that is laid over the water. Upon contact the dyes cleave to the paper, leaving the water blank as in the beginning, thus, each print is one-of-a-kind. This on-going expression of art will continue throughout the WATER Symposium and is available for participation by all those in attendance. (Ongoing throughout the Symposium.)
Water as an Inspiration in Contemporary Art – David S. Rubin, The Brown Foundation Curator of Contemporary Art, San Antonio Museum of Art.
A visual exploration of the ways in which contemporary artists have used water as an image, often for symbolic or metaphoric purposes, in a variety of mediums including painting, drawing, sculpture, photography, video, and digital media. The presentation will include works by San Antonio artists recently featured in the San Antonio Museum of Art exhibition, Waterflow. (Monday, February 15 at 1:00 PM.)
Who Controls Your Water – Sally Bolster, League of Women Voters, along with Mr. Robert R. Puente (President/CEO, SAWS); Suzanne B. Scott (San Antonio River Authority General Manager); Velma Reyes Danielson (Edwards Aquifer Authority General Manager); Brad Groves (Trinity-Glen Rose Water Conservation District President of the Board); Kerry McCollough (District Planner for BexarMet). Panel discussion.
(Monday, 15 February at 7:00 pm)
- CIVIL ENGINEERING & WATER: From Rain to Drain – Lynne Christopher & Greg Wukasch, San Antonio Water System.
Ever wondered where your water comes from when you turn on the tap or where it goes when you're finished with it? Find out about the workings of a water system. Learn how your water gets to you and where it goes after the flush. How is wastewater "recycled" and what happens to the bi-products of the process? Experience first hand some of the challenges that SAWS faces daily from main breaks to the GREASE MONSTER!
(Monday, February 15 at 9:00 a.m.)
- COSMOLOGY & WATER: The Deep History of Water - Sr. Linda Gibler, OP, PhD
The story of water from the Beginning, 13.7 billion years ago to now, including how hydrogen was formed in the first milliseconds of creation, to how long it took for oxygen to form in stars, to their combination as water in space and water's subsequent role in star birth, including our Sun. (When we look at Orion, we are looking at millions of oceans of water.) I could say something about how water drenches our Solar System and how we come to have so much of it on Earth. I could end with the role water played in the first life on Earth and all life ever since. Linda Gibler, OP, is the Associate Academic Dean at the Oblate School of Theology in San Antonio and the science editor of the Collins Foundation Press. Overwhelmed by the first Hubble deep field picture, Linda, a Dominican Sister of Houston, became enchanted with the magnificence of the universe and intrigued by the images' significance for a Catholic understanding of God. In 1999, she began formal study of cosmology at the California Institute of Integral Studies, where she completed a MA and then a PhD in Philosophy and Religion with an emphasis in Philosophy, Cosmology, and Consciousness
(Monday, February 15 at 9:00 a.m.).
Flowing from Expression to Empowered Action - Dianne Monroe
This highly experiential workshop combines two fields new to San Antonio. Expressive Art is a way of opening our creativity to explore our inner worlds. The Work that Reconnects (developed by internationally acclaimed systems theorist and environmental scholar Joanna Macy – www.JoannaMacy.net) is a form of group work that reconnects people with our planet and one another in a way that strengthens their ability to act on behalf of meaningful change. This workshop combines elements of both to offer participants the opportunity to explore their personal connections with water in a way that enlivens and enriches their sense of passion and purpose. Dianne Monroe is a writer, photographer and Expressive Arts Facilitator who offers a range of experiential and transformational-learning based workshops. Her workshops flow from the power of creativity and are rooted in our connection with the natural world and its wisdom. Dianne has studied with Joanna Macy and now brings her internationally recognized approach to South Texas.
(Monday, February 15 at 1:00 PM.)
- ECOLOGY & WATER: Conservation From Rain Catchment to Gray Water – Elise Garcia & Carol Coston, Santuario SisterFarm.
Santuario Sisterfarm is a nonprofit organization founded in 2002 by Latina women and Dominican Sisters and co-directed by Adrian Dominican Sisters Carol Coston, OP and Elise D. García, OP. Located in the Hill Country of south-central Texas and rooted in the rich multicultural legacy of the Borderlands, Santuario Sisterfarm is dedicated to inspiriting the work of transforming human relationships with Earth and among ourselves, from dominance to co-creative partnerships.
(Monday, February 15 at 11:00 a.m.)
A Local Perspective – Carol Patterson, Director of the Edwards Aquifer Authority (District 1), and Kirk Patterson, attorney & EARIP Steering Committee member.
The San Antonio/Edwards Aquifer Region is facing critical choices on how to meet future water supply and springflow needs. Achieving an efficient, affordable, and fair balance of these goals requires looking at alternative solutions. We will cover the major plans and proposals of the region, including SAWS, the EARIP, and the Region L part of the Texas Water Plan.
(Monday, February 15 at 5:00 p.m.)
ELECTRICITY & WATER: Playing for Keeps – Dr. Lauren Ross, Director of the Glenrose Project.
Every person on the planet is part of a global bet on water and electrical infrastructure and the stakes are high. Yet, in the midst of growing awareness around climate change and water shortages, as a culture we are largely ignorant of the intersection of these challenges. Workshop participants will compete for cupcakes in a fast-paced, educational, and winner-take-all game to meet global energy and water needs without bankrupting natural resources.
(Monday, February 15 at 7:00 pm)
- ENERGY & WATER: New Ways of Deriving Energy from Water- Panel Discussion:
Dr. Kyle Murray, UTSA, along with Janet Abbott
Spa Waters of the Americas 501c3. Alyssa Burgin moderating.
Texas has a long history as an energy provider through agriculture and oil. During the oil exploration era, hot mineralized waters were found and many of these resources became health destinations and famous for thier healing waters. With current interest in geothermal - heat from the earth- as considered the best renewable energy resource, we will discuss how geothermal mineral waters are becoming a geothermal direct use consideration for wellness facilities, greenhouses, aqua culture to name a few. We will also discuss the geology of Texas heated earth, aquifers and water chemistry.
(Tuesday, February 16 at 1:00 p.m.)
CoCo and ReyBey Productions present The Water Falls Fashion Show. In this exhibit you will see high school designers from all over San Antonio showcase their talent - inspired by water.
(Sunday, February 14 at 5:30 pm.)
- GEOPOLITICS & WATER: Trickle Down from Source to Ocean - Headwaters Coalition
Every river has a source, and all rivers flow through many natural and human communities, to the ocean that connects us all. Using the San Antonio River as an example, session leaders will explain the "anatomy" and "biology" of rivers, especially how a river begins at its headwaters, how tributaries flow into a mainstem, and how that mainstem river progresses to its end. Through dialogue, participants will explore what this may mean to all of us in terms of social justice, natural resource management, and to or moral obligation to earth care.
GLOBALIZATION & WATER: The Story of the Thirsty – Paul Darilek, Living Water International.
883 million people lack access to clean drinking water. A child dies of diarrhea every fifteen seconds. But the hope of the matter is that you can do something about it--and have a blast doing it. The Story of the Thirsty is a multi-media presentation--part education, part film, part poetry, part advocacy opportunity, all fun--featuring the work of Living Water International, a non-profit that provides clean drinking water to the world's poorest people in 25 countries. It's a chance to learn, to be moved and, if you like, to get involved.
(Tuesday, February 16 at 5:00 pm.)
- HISTORY & WATER: Chronology of Efforts to Manage the Edwards Aquifer – Dr. John Donahue, Trinity University.
The presenter draws upon his involvement as a stakeholder in water management issues over the Edwards Aquifer in Central Texas in which local actors participate with state and federal agencies to manage groundwater withdrawals.
(Tuesday, February 16 at 3:00 pm.)
The Hydro-illogical Cycle in Texas - Raymond Slade, Jr.
Raymond Slade, Jr. retired from the U.S. Geological Survey with 33 years of experience as a hydrologist, serving the last 6 years as the Surface-Water Specialist for Texas. During his career with the USGS, he authored about 75 reports on Texas water resources, with subjects including floods and droughts, hydrology of rural and urban watersheds, and water quality of surface and ground water. In cooperation with the City of Austin, he developed and supervised a long-term investigation of Barton Springs and associated Edwards aquifer and authored about 25 reports on the hydrology and water-quality of the springs and aquifer.
HYDROLOGY & WATER II: Intro to South-Central Texas – George Ozuna, Deputy Director, USGS Texas Water Science Center.
Learn the basics from a hydrologist who has worked in this area his entire career. This educational offering includes an overview of the water cycle, a discussion of flood and drought in Central Texas, and basic hydrology of the Edwards Aquifer.
(Monday, February 15 at 11:00 AM.)
Texas-Mexico Water Issues – Jay Johnson-Castro, Director, Rio Grande International Study Center.
Along the banks of the Rio Grande, from the Colorado Rockies to the Gulf of Mexico, millions of inhabitants, and within the Rio Grande watershed, there are literally hundreds of governmental agencies from the local to the international levels, as well as institutions and non-governmental organizations that have some focus on the Rio Grande as a source or resource. Equally, there are hundreds of entities that endeavor to exploit and threaten the quantity and quality of the very waters that millions of people depend on for survival. Yet, in 2010, there is only one initiative to form an alliance that would to protect the waters of the Rio Grande, its watershed, environment and cultures from such threats and exploitation. We will discuss some of the treats to the Rio Grande, including major threats that originate from prominent and wealthy sources within the State of Texas and the Texas laws that, if left unchallenged, would ultimately prevent the Rio Grande from reaching the estuaries of the Gulf of Mexico.
(Tuesday, February 16 at 9:00 am)
LAND USE & WATER: Human Impact on the Edwards Aquifer – Annalisa Peace, Executive Director, Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance
and David K. Langford, Vice President Emeritus, Texas Wildlife Association.
The Edwards Aquifer presents a special challenge in that it is a "karst" aquifer. Learn all about why our regional groundwater supplies are particularly fragile, how they are being compromised, how this wonderful natural system works to provide us with one of the world's cleanest and most reliable water supplies and what we need to do to ensure that we have good quality water for years to come. Plenty of opportunity for Q&A to discuss aquifer related to current events.
(Monday, February 15 at 1:00 pm)
- LANDSCAPE DESIGN & WATER: Xeriscape - Water Saving Plants in Texas – Melissa Miller, Chair of the Native Landscape Certification Program of the San Antonio Native Plant Society.
If you want to conserve water in your landscape, first consider what part of Texas you are in, as the state has eleven major ecoregions. Then consider the micro-climates you have. Plants native to your ecoregion have evolved there for eons and know best how to survive the extremes on their own. Learn about the native plants that have already been in cultivation, some for hundreds of years, or are easy to grow, that will work on your property.
(Monday, February 15 at 5:00 pm)
LAW & WATER II: Hot Issues in Recent Cases – Mary Q. Kelly, Greg Ellis (TX Alliance of Groundwater Districts), and Steve Kosub (SAWS Legal).
According to Mark Twain, "whiskey is for drinking and water is for fighting over." This is especially true here in Texas . Learn why from a panel of three of the top legal experts in the field of water law in a discussion of legal issues that determine how water is allocated in Texas and within our region. Mary Q. Kelly (Gardner Law Firm) will present a Basic Overview of Texas Water Law; Greg Ellis (Director of the Texas Alliance of Groundwater Districts) will discuss Hot Issues in recent cases; Steve Kosub (Legal Counsel for SAWS) will guide us through Legal Applications of Future Water Planning. The presentations will be followed by a spirited Q & A session moderated by Mary Q. Kelly .
(Tuesday, February 16 at 11:00 am)
- LAW & WATER I: Water is a Birthright– Larry Joe Doherty, environmental attorney.
Larry Joe Doherty, an attorney and civic activist well-versed in matters related to ethics, takes on the ethics of water consumption, and, specifically, water commodification. Is water a human right, as believed by water activists, or is water a commodity, like oil, which some can profit from at the expense of others. A very timely presentation as companies jockey to privatize your water rights.
(Tuesday, February 16 at 9:00 am)
Music IN Water – Brother Mike Sullivan, S.M., DMA, St. Mary's University.
A survey of music compositions inspired by water, in all its forms, beginning with Medieval chants, symphonic literature, folks songs, works songs, popular music, and all points in between. The presentation will include numerous recordings and video.
(Tuesday, February 16 at 3:00 pm)
Environmental Freshwater Inflows and Salinity in Coastal Bays – John S. Adams, Conrad Blucher Institute for Surveying and Science & Coastal Bend Bays
The demand for freshwater is an issue that has been part of the public discussion for at least 150 years. A famous quote, attributed to Mark Twain, asserts the "Whiskey is for drinking, water is for fighting over." As human populations expand, the various enterprises and activities that come with that expansion, including agriculture and ranching operations, steam based power generation, municipal and industrial demand, and recreational uses, all depend on a limited and finite water supply. The environmental flows of freshwater that are left over may reach the bays and estuaries along the coast, assuming that they are not captured by dams and reservoirs. The importance of freshwater reaching the estuaries has traditionally taken a back seat to the importance of freshwater reaching coastal communities for their industrial, municipal, and agricultural needs.
(Monday, February 15 at 3:00 pm)
- OUTER SPACE & WATER: From Earth & Beyond!
Jacqueline Havelka, NASA's Life Sciences Data Archive
This presentation will observe water from the unique perspective of outer space. Participants will learn about NASA's discoveries about water on Earth and other planets. Over the last decade, new observations of our Milky Way galaxy show that water is more abundant than expected. Other learnings will be about the crucial importance of water as a life support system in spacecrafts, and unique ways astronauts will ensure that they have water to live and work. A visual presentation with some of the spectacular pictures that have been taken in outer space and on other planets will be shown.
(Monday, February 15 at 9:00 a.m.)
PEACE & WATER: Flowing Toward Nonviolent and Sustainable Communities –
Dr. Randall Amster, Prescott College; Executive Director, Peace & Justice Studies Association
Against the seemingly intractable trends of militarization and resource conflict stand examples of people and communities managing scarce resources peacefully and sustainably. In the desert southwest, in fact, one of the last great "common pool resource" systems in North America provides irrigation water and open grazing land to farmers and pastoralists alike. Derived from the imported culture of Spanish settlers and combined with the best practices of the native peoples of the region, this acequia system serves as a powerful example of how we might envision people working together not only with each other but with the land itself, thus demonstrating the potential of effective techniques for conflict transformation at levels of engagement ranging from the interpersonal to the environmental. This interactive workshop will present an alternative acequia-inspired vision for managing resource conflict, with an eye toward generating concrete plans of action for use in local communities everywhere. The lesson is that if relatively "poor" people confronted with extreme scarcity in arid regions can create a stable, cooperative, and nonviolent system for managing water, then certainly we can likewise find ways to do so with all of the tools at our disposal.
(Monday, February 15 at 5:00 pm)
Water as Refuge & Reunion – Cyra Dumitru, poet & instructor at St. Mary's University.
This interactive session combines the reading of original poems by Dumitru with writing exercises. We will explore water as a source of inspiration for our own flow of words. We will tap into our memories and imagination as sources of content. The emphasis will be upon the process of playful, quick writing followed by shaping, and opportunities to share. Designed for anyone who loves water and words.
(Tuesday, February 16 at 1:00 pm)
- POLITICAL SCIENCE & WATER I: Whose Water Is It? Urban vs. Agricultural Water Use – Mike Mecke.
Mike Mecke recently retired as the AgriLife Extension water programs specialist at Fort Stockton, Texas. (Tuesday, February 16 at 11:00 am)
- POLITICAL SCIENCE & WATER II: Water & Conflict – Dr. Celine Jacquemin,
Amir Samandi & Leona Pallansch, St. Mary's University
Challenges of water and conflict in the Middle East and on the African continent.
(Tuesday, February 16 at 3:00 am)
The Living Waters of the Psyche – Alan Drymala, LPC, LMFT, Jungian psychotherapist.
Water is the pre-eminent symbol for the unconscious. We will reflect together on our watery relation to this psychic wellspring, examining our language and our dreams, as well as fairy tale and alchemical images. C.G. Jung believed that the fate of humanity rested on how many individuals would establish a conscious and living relationship to this source.
PUBLIC HEALTH & WATER: Biologic, Organic and Inorganic Contaminants
– Geary Schnidel, P.G..
The US EPA has recognized karst aquifer as one of the most vulnerable aquifer types. The Edwards Aquifer is a highly developed karst aquifer containing caves, sinkholes, sinking streams, rapid groundwater velocities and a wide diversity of aquifer fauna. In 1984, an outbreak of Cryptosporidiosis, caused by a water borne pathogen, occurred in the community of Braun Station near San Antonio affecting approximately 200 people. Learn about water quality from a public health prospective including a discussion on water quality sampling, water quality parameters, maximum contaminant limits, why and how we treat water, the importance of access to clean drinking water, and common threats and case histories.
(Monday, February 15 at 11:00 AM.)
- SPIRITUALITY & WATER: Barbie Gorelick, Sylvia Maddox, and Narjis Pierre of the Tri-Faith Dialogue of San Antonio.
The Abrahamic Faiths of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam all view WATER in a most sacred way. Come hear members of the Core Team of the Tri-Faith Dialogue of San Antonio share information and thoughts on the role of WATER in their faith traditions. There will be plenty of time for questions, and of course, dialogue! (Monday, February 15 at 3:00 p.m.)
THEOLOGY & WATER: What's in the sacred texts? – Dr. Norm Beck, Texas Lutheran University, moderator.
Panel Discussion
(Monday, 15 February at 7:00 pm)
- URBAN STUDIES & WATER: San Antonio Running Dry! – Char Miller, W.M. Keck Professor of Environmental Analysis, Pomona College, California.
As the WATER Symposium's featured speaker, Char will set contemporary San Antonio and Water in a wider context along with select readings from his just-released 2 companion volume books, Water in the 21st-Century West and River Basins of the American West published by Oregon State U Press. Book-signing to follow. (Sunday, February 14 at 6:30 p.m.)


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Travel Photography Photos tagged as pch Climbing Eudora
This is Thomas' favorite tree in the entire world. We were lucky enough to share a day with him there. This shot was taken right before I fell out of it. Good timing Zac.
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text: SPD's Community Outreach Program works to create and strengthen programs and communication efforts that build trust between police and minority communities. Programs focus on working with immigrant and minority communities that have developed fears of working with the police department. Funds assist SPD in making over 1,200 positive contacts annually with members of Seattle's minority communities with such events as Night Out Against Crime, Year of Hope 2007 Event, Demographic Student Success Parent Workshop, and Role Reversal demonstrations.


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Five Ways to Combine Disney With A Cruise
Cruising and Disney go hand-in-hand, especially for those who love the Disney parks. Disney Cruise Line offers a wide variety of options for Disney-themed sailings. It's important to remember, however, that cruising aboard a Disney Cruise Line ship isn't the only way to make your Disney dreams come true.
Here are five ways to combine a love of Disney with a cruise on the high seas.
1. Sail With Disney Cruise Line. Disney Cruise Line sails to a variety of destinations around the world, including Alaska, the Bahamas, the Caribbean, Mexico and the Mediterranean. Disney characters can be found onboard every sailing, plus there are plenty of Disney shows, movies, and other Disney-themed attractions onboard Disney Cruise Line's ship. Disney Cruise Line also offers seamless ways to combine a Disney 3-, 4-, or 7-night cruise with pre- and post-cruise visits to Orlando's Walt Disney World theme parks. These Disney vacations include round-trip airport transfers, Walt Disney World resort stays, park tickets, transportation from Orlando to the Port Canaveral cruise terminal, and the Disney cruise itself. Check the packages section of the Disney Cruise Line website (http://disneycruise.com) for more information.
2. Sail from Port Canaveral and Visit Walt Disney World. Prices on Disney Cruise Line ships can often be higher than those on other cruise lines. That doesn't mean that a Disney vacation experience is out of your family's reach, however. Simply fly into Orlando, visit the Walt Disney World theme parks, and then sail from nearby Port Canaveral, located approximately 45 miles away. Cruise lines sailing from Port Canaveral include Carnival and Royal Caribbean in addition to Disney Cruise Line. A variety of cruise itineraries are available, including 3-, 4-. 5- and 7-night cruises to destinations such as the Caribbean, Mexico and the Bahamas. All cruise lines offer transfers from the Orlando airport, but if you're sailing with friends and family, renting a car or minivan might be a cheaper option. Companies such as Avis have an office near Port Canaveral and provide a shuttle to the pier. Some hotels offer shuttles as well.
3. Sail from Tampa and Visit Walt Disney World. While vacationers often associate Port Canaveral with Orlando vacations, it's important to remember that the port of Tampa is relatively close to the Orlando theme parks as well. Located about 85 miles from Walt Disney World, Tampa's port can be easily reached in less than two hours by car. A wider variety of cruise lines sail from Tampa, including Carnival, Holland America, Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean. Cruises from Tampa can sometimes be less expensive than those from Port Canaveral and airfares can be lower as well. Cruises departing from Tampa typically sail to the Caribbean or Mexico, and both short cruises and week-long itineraries are available.
4. Sail from Southern California and Visit Disneyland. On the West Coast, Disney cruises are easily possible by combining Disneyland in Anaheim, California with a cruise from convenient ports such as Long Beach, Los Angeles, or even San Diego, California. While Disney Cruise Line ships occasionally cruise from Southern California, a wide variety of other cruise options are offered on Carnival, Celebrity, Holland America, Norwegian Cruise Line and Princess. Destinations for cruises from Southern California include Hawaii, Mexico and Central America.
5. Choose a Cruise that Stops at Port Canaveral. If the flights to Florida and Orlando hotel stays are too expensive, dont give up on including Disney in your cruise vacation. Its still possible. Just choose a cruise that includes Port Canaveral as one of its port visits. These cruises leave from a variety of U.S. homeports including Baltimore, New York City, Bayonne, New Jersey and Galveston, Texas. Cruise lines offering stops in Port Canaveral as part of their 7- or 8-night itineraries include Carnival, Disney, Norwegian Cruise Line, and Royal Caribbean. Ships typically allot 10-12 hours for their visit to Port Canaveral, providing plenty of time to take a ships shore excursion to Walt Disney World or rent a car and visit on your own. Check with each cruise line for more information on available Walt Disney World shore excursions and make plans in advance to avoid disappointment. Disney-related shore excursions tend to sell out fast.
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Gamer for about 30yrs and still loving it. Always been a console gamer until recently getting into PC Gaming. I really dig the indie scene and it has become one of my main focuses lately. I also write for a great gaming website looking to get better called VelocityGamer.com. I'm the guy bringing the PS3, Vita, and PC gaming focus to the site. Check out my the first article of my soon to be reacurring editorial Indie Picks of the Month. I'd really appreciate your input and recommendations for new games to spotlight.
Posted by DazeOfWar on Nov 11th, 2012
So I just started writing for a new site today. It's a site that puts more focus on the little guys which is what I've really been focusing more on. I'm still going to be writing my feature Indie Picks of the Month but with some changes. It's now called Indie Pickin's, will be bi-weekly, and only feature one game each time. I feel it'll fit my time management better and let the games stand out more.
The site is called Glorious Underdogs and I've already posted up my first Indie Pickin's to the site. Go over and check out my feature on Out There Somewhere and enter for a chance to win the game. While you're there check out the rest of the site too. There's some good stuff so far and more to come.
Thanks and let us know what you think.


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Happy Monday!
Caption Time!
How would you caption this picture?
You can add your caption for this picture in the comments below.
17 Responses to "Happy Monday!"
Oh cwap, I hope'z dat'z not berd poo..BOL :) have a funtaztic Monday xx00xx
"Nothin' like raindrops keep fallin on my head"…BTW cute photo, where did you find it?
OMC the sky is falling!!
"Mah EYEZ, mah EYEZ! Ohh de hoomanity!"
This is too cute (not caption)!
Happy Monday, Dianda! :)
Damn that squirrel!
oh that face is so cute :-). Did you get your parcel? xxx
"I sure didn't see that coming!" We can't believe that you caught this photo. Our mom is jealous. We have just discovered your blog and have subscribed. Hope you'll check us out on our blog. Purrs and hugs, Lily Olivia, Mauricio, Misty May, Giulietta, Fiona, Astrid, Lisbeth and Calista Josette.


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I call biggest shit show at the party. I welcome all challengers.
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What is the point of this shitty OP text?
I was wondering about the "first" thing is it a game some friends r playing or is just one guy or a bunch of different people I check this site every day or every other and I noticed there's five or six people or one guy who prints the same thing on every one and it's always by the top dude really likes this site or maybe it's the people who work for tfln
I always thought the "first" thing was a game douche bags that sucked at everything else in life played to boost their miniscule self esteem since no one else gives a shit enough to 'play', I could be wrong tho...
what is a shit show?
What's the point of putting fiiiirst. Is that your- I have no life logo?
shit show is drunk off your ass
i am always a shit show so i accept.
im always the biggest shitshow by far and then some. i take your challange and will beat u.
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A genome wide association study for litter size in Norwegian White Sheep (NWS) was conducted using the recently developed ovine 50K SNP chip from Illumina. After genotyping 378 progeny tested artificial insemination (AI) rams, a GWAS analysis was performed on estimated breeding values (EBVs) for litter size.
A QTL-region was identified on sheep chromosome 5, close to the growth differentiation factor 9 (GDF9), which is known to be a strong candidate gene for increased ovulation rate/litter size. Sequencing of the GDF9 coding region in the most extreme sires (high and low BLUP values) revealed a single nucleotide polymorphism (c.1111G>A), responsible for a Val→Met substitution at position 371 (V371M). This polymorphism has previously been identified in Belclare and Cambridge sheep, but was not found to be associated with fertility. In our NWS-population the c.1111G>A SNP showed stronger association with litter size than any other single SNP on the Illumina 50K ovine SNP chip. Based on the estimated breeding values, daughters of AI rams homozygous for c.1111A will produce minimum 0.46 - 0.57 additional lambs compared to daughters of wild-type rams.
We have identified a missense mutation in the bioactive part of the GDF9 protein that shows strong association with litter size in NWS. Based on the NWS breeding history and the marked increase in the c.1111A allele frequency in the AI ram population since 1983, we hypothesize that c.1111A allele originate from Finnish landrace imported to Norway around 1970. Because of the widespread use of Finnish landrace and the fact that the ewes homozygous for the c.1111A allele are reported to be fertile, we expect the commercial impact of this mutation to be high.
Litter size is an economically important trait in sheep breeding. To date, polymorphisms in three different genes have been associated with increased ovulation rate/litter size in sheep. These are the growth differentiation factor 9 (GDF9), bone morphogenetic protein 15 (BMP15) and bone morphogenetic protein receptor, type IB (BMPR1B).
The BMP15 gene was first reported to be associated with increased ovulation rate in Hanna (FecXH) and Inverdale (FecXI) sheep [1]. In Hanna sheep a glutamine in position 291 was replaced by a premature stop codon (Q291X), while in the Inverdale sheep a valine residue in position 299 was replaced by aspartic acid (V299D). In the Merino Booroola sheep (FecBB), a glutamine to arginine mutation in position 249 (Q249R) of the BMPR1B gene was found to increase ovulation rate and litter size [2-4]. In Cambridge and Belclare sheep two additional mutations affecting ovulation rate were identified in BMP15, a substitution of glutamine with a premature stop codon in position 239 (Q239X) (FecXG) and a change of serine to isoleucine at position 367 (S367I) (FecXB) [5]. In the same study, a substitution of serine with phenylalanine in position 395 (S395F) (FecGH) of the GDF9 gene was found to be associated with increased ovulation rate.
A common feature of the GDF9 and BMP15 mutations described above is that increased ovulation rate/litter size is observed for individuals being heterozygous for these mutations, while individuals being homozygous are sterile, indicating a dose dependent function of these proteins. Later, additional mutations with a similar effect have been identified in BMP15, a cysteine to tyrosine change in position 323 (C323Y) in Lacaune sheep (FecXL) [6] and a 17 basepair deletion in the Rasa Aragonesa sheep (FecXR) [7,8]. Also in GDF9 an additional mutation was found, a substitution of serine with arginine in position 427 (S427R) (FecTT) [9].
In 2011 Silva et al., [10] reported a GDF9 mutation, a substitution of phenylalanine with cysteine at position 345 (F345C) (FecGE). In contrast to previously reported mutations in both GDF9 and BMP15, the F345C mutation in GDF9 did not cause sterility in the homozygous individuals, but rather significantly higher prolificacy compared to heterozygous individuals. GDF9 and BMP15 are known to influence ovulation rate in a dose-responsive manner [11], indicating that the F345C variant has not completely lost its biological function.
In the present study we have used 378 rams selected for artificial insemination (AI rams) to search for polymorphisms affecting litter size in the Norwegian White Sheep (NWS) breed. All animals were included in a genome wide association study using the Illumina ovine 50K SNP chip. A QTL was detected on chromosome 5 which highlighted a previously detected candidate gene; GDF9. Sequencing of this gene in AI rams with extreme EBVs for litter size revealed a non-synonymous mutation in NWS.
378 AI rams were genotyped using Illumina's 50K ovine SNP array. Association testing was performed by a linear mixed model (GEMMA) [12], using estimated breeding values (EBVs) for daughter litter size as phenotypes. An initial test showed overlapping results when using EBV1, EBV2 and EBV3 as separate phenotypes (results not shown). We decided to use EBV1 phenotypes only for the association analysis, since this estimate is generated from the largest number of daughters compared to EBV2 and EBV3. Allowing for 5% missing data per SNP and 1% minor allele frequency, 47 986 SNPs were included in analysis.
Five SNPs on chromosome 5 showed significant association (p < 10-6), corresponding to a Boferroni corrected p-value < 0.05 (Table 1). A Manhattan plot of chromosome 5 is shown in Figure 1A, and the corresponding QQ-plot is shown in Figure 2A. To test for any remaining population stratification, an additional QQ-plot was made after removing chromosome 5 SNP p-values (Figure 2B), showing that the model is efficiently correcting for this.
Table 1. Five Oar5 SNPs on the Illumina ovine 50K SNP array showing significant association with litter size, together with GDF9 c.1111G>A
Figure 1. Manhattan plot of ovine chromosome 5. Mahattan plot showing SNPs associated with litter size on ovine chromosome 5. The chromosomal positions are shown in base pairs (bp) on the x-axis, while the –log10 of the likelihood ratio p-value is shown on the y-axis. The plot is shown without the GDF9 c.1111G>A SNP included (A), and with GDF9 c.1111G>A SNP included (B).
Figure 2. QQ-plot of p-values without the GDF9 c.1111G>A SNP included. Comparison of p-value distributions when all the 47 986 analyzed Illumina SNPs were included (A), and the corresponding plot when 2 112 SNPs on chromosome 5 were excluded (B). The expected –log10(p) is on the x-axis and the observed –log10(p) is on the y-axis.
The location of these SNPs on chromosome 5, and proximity to a known candidate gene affecting litter size, GDF9, gave us reason to examine this sequence more closely. The two GDF9 exons were sequenced (EMBL: HE866499) in 7 rams with high EBVs for litter size, and 6 rams with low EBVs, animals were chosen to be not closely related. This revealed one polymorphism where the alleles appeared to correlate with the litter size phenotype. This was a single nucleotide polymorphism (c.1111G>A) responsible for a Val→Met substitution at position 371 (V371M) (Figure 3). Except one heterozygous individual, 6 high fertility rams were homozygous for the A allele, while 6 low fertility rams were all homozygous for the G allele.
Figure 3. A chromatographic representation of the c.1111G>A mutation. The ovine GDF9 c.1111G>A mutation. The figure show the sequence chromatograms from an individual homozygous for the G-allele (upper line), a heterozygous individual (GA) (middle line) and one individual homozygous for the A-allele (lower line). The sequences were assembled and viewed with Phred/Phrap/Consed software.
We subsequently repeated the GWAS analysis including the c.1111G>A SNP. The c.1111G>A SNP showed a -log10 value of 28.7 compared to 9.1 for the strongest associated SNP on the Illumina ovine 50K SNP array. A Manhattan plot including the c.1111G>A SNP is shown in Figure 1B, while the corresponding QQ-plot is shown in Figure 4A. A second QQ-plot was made including the c.1111G>A SNP genotypes as covariates (Figure 4B). These p-value distributions indicate that the deviation from the middle line is mainly explained by c.1111G>A SNP and its linked markers.
Figure 4. QQ-plot of p-values with GDF9 c.1111G>A SNP included. Comparison of p-value distributions when the GDF9 c.1111G>A SNP is added to the dataset (A), and when the GDF9 c.1111G>A SNP genotypes is included in the model as a covariate (B). The expected –log10(p) on the x-axis and the observed –log10(p) on the y-axis.
Genotyping the AI rams born from 1983 to 2009 for c.1111G>A gave an overall allelic distribution as follows: homozygous GG: 236 rams, heterozygous GA: 136 rams and homozygous AA: 31 rams. These results correspond to an overall allelic frequency of 0.25 and 0.75 of c.1111A and c.1111G, respectively. The c.1111A allele frequency has shown a tendency to increase from 1990 to 2009 as shown in Figure 5.
Figure 5. Frequency changes of GDF9-alleles among the Norwegian White Sheep AI rams. Frequency change in the GDF9 allele c.1111A in NWS AI rams born in 1990-2009. The number of genotyped rams per birth year is presented by bars. The period 1983 – 1989 is omitted from the figure due to low numbers of rams per year (3 AI rams per year in average).
Genotype effects on litter size EBVs were highly significant, F-values were 102.84, 102.00 and 98.24 for EBV1, EBV2 and EBV3, respectively. Differences between least-squares means are given in Table 2. Sires homozygous for the mutation (AA) had an EBV that were 0.46 - 0.57 lambs higher than for the wild-type (GG), while the effect of the heterozygote (GA vs GG) was intermediate (0.20-0.25 lambs). These effects were consistently largest for the daughters at three years of age.
Table 2. EBV contrasts between GDF9 c.1111 genotypes
By combining a genome wide association study and a candidate gene approach in AI rams of the Norwegian White Sheep breed, we successfully identified a SNP causing an amino acid change in the mature GDF9 protein. This SNP showed a stronger association to EBVs for litter size than any of the SNPs present at the Illumina 50K SNP array (Figure 1B). This sequence variant has previously been reported to exist in Belclare and Cambride sheep (the G7 polymorphism) [5], but these authors focused on polymorphisms that caused female sterility in the homozygous state. Animals homozygous for c.1111A were found to be fertile in that study, and no additional attempt to correlate this polymorphism with ovulation rate/litter size was performed. Also, the number of animals carrying this mutation was most likely too low to detect any genotype dependent variation in fertility.
Without any functional testing, we cannot conclude that the c.1111G>A is the causal mutation for the differences in EBVs for litter size observed in the NWS population, however our evidence is suggestive of a functional association for two reasons. Firstly, this is an amino acid change in the mature region (the bioactive part) of the GDF9 protein [13], and secondly, valine is found in this position across 6 highly different mammalian species (sheep, cattle, pig, cat, human and mouse), while in chicken and zebrafish valine is substituted by another aliphatic amino acid, isoleucine (Figure 6).
Figure 6. Amino acid conservation at the 371 – position. A sequence alignment comparing the protein sequence at ovine position 371 across Sheep (NP_001136360.1), Cattle (NP_777106.1), Pig (NP_001001909.1), Cat (NP_001159372.1), Human (NP_005251.1), Mouse (NP_032136.2), Chicken (NP_996871.2) and Zebra fish (NP_001012383.1).
GDF9 is mediating its effect by binding to transforming growth factor, beta receptor 1 (TGFBR1) [14,15] and bone morphogenetic protein receptor, type II (BMPR2) [16]. As pointed out by Hanrahan et al. [5], the c.1111G>A polymorphism represents a relatively conservative change in the sense that one nonpolar amino acid (V) is substituted by another (M). However, the side chain of methionine is structurally different from that of valine, so depending on the location relative to the receptor binding region of GDF9, a reduced (but not lost) binding capacity can possibly be explained by this change.
Daughters of rams being homozygous for c.1111A gave birth to 0.46 - 0.57 additional lambs compared to daughters of c.1111G homozygous rams, while daughters of heterozygous rams gave 0.20 - 0.25 additional lambs. These figures can be considered as conservative, since they build on EBVs that are regressed towards the mean to compensate for a non-infinite number of progeny tested offspring. Based on the development of the c.1111A allele frequency in the AI rams over time (Figure 5), we can assume a similar but lagging frequency development in the ewe population, and thus low overall frequency. Basically, it will then be the heterozygous effect that is contained in the contrast of GG with AA rams, while the GA group with 50% heterozygote daughters will be logically intermediate. Also, when using the animal model for calculating EBVs without modeling the allele effect of c.1111A, the sire will mainly provide the allele, while the effect will be shared with the dam and therefore be underestimated when the frequency is low among the ewes.
The EBVs were estimated based on the daughters' performance in terms of number of lambs born, but only ewes that gave births were included. Since GDF9 is known to influence oocyte maturation and ovulation rate, the ewe's genotype will be determinative for her fertility. Therefore, this study should be followed up by genotyping a large number of ewes with known reproductive performance to obtain a better estimate of the separate genotypic effects, and to confirm that homozygous ewes are fertile as reported for Cambridge and Belclare sheep [5].
No single event in the breeding history of NWS has influenced litter size more than the introduction of Finnish landrace. Finnish landrace sheep are well known for their high fertility, and have been crossed to several breeds to investigate this trait [17,18]. Also in Norway, Finnish landrace was imported in late 1960s and early 1970s to improve fertility [19-21]. The significant phenotypic effect of the GDF9 c.1111A - allele observed in this study could therefore indicate that this allele originate from Finnish landrace. The development in allele frequency in the AI rams population since 1990 also resemble the pattern observed for another imported allele, namely the Texel MSTN c.*1232A - allele [22]. In both cases a new breed has been imported to improve key traits, litter size and meatiness respectively, and after some latency the organized breeding system catches the causal allele and rapidly increase its frequency, first in the AI ram population and subsequently in the whole ewe population.
We have identified a missense mutation in the bioactive part of the GDF9 - protein that is strongly associated with litter size in the NWS population. The observed amino acid change from valine to methionine might be the functional explanation of this trait, although the possibility of mutations outside the coding region in close linkage disequlibrium with c.1111G>A should not be excluded. According to the estimated breeding values, daughters of AI rams homozygous for c.1111A will produce minimum 0.46 - 0.57 additional lambs compared to daughters of rams not having this allele. Based on the breeding history of NWS and the recent increase in the allele frequency of c.1111A in this population, we hypothesize that this allele originates from imports of Finnish landrace. Because of the widespread use of Finnish landrace internationally, and the fact that this mutation is reported to also give fertile ewes in the homozygous state, we expect the commercial impact of this mutation to be high.
A total of 378 AI rams of the Norwegian White Sheep (NWS) breed, born between 1983 and 2008, were genotyped by the Illumina 50K SNP array and used for the GWAS - study. In addition to the 378 AI rams genotyped by the 50K SNP array, 21 AI rams born in 2009 and 4 rams born in 2007 and 2008 were genotyped for the GDF9 c.1111G>A mutation and used for calculating allele frequencies. These additional 25 individuals were not included in the association analysis, nor in the analysis of genotype effects.
Progeny testing and EBV calculations
All rams are progeny tested in so-called ram circles [19,23]. A ram circle consists of several farms that exchange rams during the breeding season to ensure that their offspring for progeny testing are born in different production environments (flocks). From 1991 the best linear unbiased prediction (BLUP) method and the animal model replaced the selection index approach for calculating breeding values. The phenotypic trait "number of lambs born" is referred to as litter size in this paper, and includes both live born and stillborn lambs. Separate BLUP EBVs for litter size are estimated, depending on whether daughters are one, two or three years of age. These data are referred to as EBV1, EBV2 and EBV3, respectively, and mean number of daughters per ram were 235, 212 and 148 respectively. Only ewes giving births are included in the EBV-calculation, leaving out sterile individuals. The phenotypic data used for prediction of breeding values was retrieved from the National Sheep Recording System (SRS), comprising all sheep born after 1987 in the ram circles.
Genotyping by the ovineSNP50
DNA was isolated from semen using Qiagen MagAttract DNA extraction kit according to manufacturers protocols (Qiagen, Germany). DNA concentration was determined using PicoGreen reagent (Invitrogen, USA) and quality was assessed by gel electrophoresis using a 1% TAE agarose gel. Genotyping was performed using the OvineSNP50 array from Illumina (Illumina, USA) according to manufacturers recommendations. Raw data was converted to genotypes using the Illumina's Genotyping Module (version 1.9.4) within the Genome Studio Software (version 2011.1). Automatic clustering was performed with a call-threshold of 0.15, samples with call rates below 98% were excluded before performing manual re-clustering. SNP call frequency, minor allele frequency and pedigree error frequency were used as criteria to sort SNPs and facilitate manual adjustments. Of the 54 241 SNP assays present on the array, 79 were regarded as failing, with another 4 155 being monomorphic in our study.
Association analysis
Estimated breeding values (EBVs) for litter size (measured as number-of-lambs-born when daughters are one year of age, i.e. EBV1) were used as phenotypes of the 378 genotyped AI rams included in the study. A linear mixed-model algorithm (GEMMA), that calculates exact values of standard test statistics, was used for the association analysis [12]. A standard relatedness matrix was estimated from SNP genotypes to account for population stratification and sample structure by this software. Only informative SNPs (> 95% data and > 1% MAF) were included in the study (n = 47 986). The significance of the associations was evaluated with likelihood-ratio test, and a conservative threshold for significance of p < 10-6 was applied using the Bonferroni correction for multiple testing, since (0.05/47986) = 1.04 × 10-6. The distribution of obtained versus expected genome-wide p-values were visualised by QQ-plots. The Manhattan plot and QQ-plots were made by a R-code provided at: http://gettinggeneticsdone.blogspot.no/2011/04/annotated-manhattan-plots-and-qq-plots.html webcite.
PCR amplification, cloning and sequencing of GDF9
Exon 1 of ovine GDF9 was amplified by primer pairs 7916/7917, while exon 2 was amplified with primer pairs 7918/7919 and 7979/7980, respectively (Table 3). The primers were designed based on a genomic sequence that included both the GDF9 exons (GenBank: AF078545.2 ). The exon 1 fragment was directly sequenced with primers 7916/7917, while the exon 2 fragment was directly sequenced with primers 7918/7919 and 7979/7980, using the BigDye® Terminator v3.1 kit (Applied Biosystems). Genomic DNA from 7 rams with high EBVs for litter size and correspondingly 6 rams with low EBVs were amplified and sequenced.
Table 3. Primers used for amplification, sequencing and genotyping of the ovine GDF9 gene
Genotyping of the c.1111G>A polymorphism in ovine GDF9
The Sequenon massARRAY platform (SEQUENOM, San Diego, USA) was used for genotyping the c.1111G>A SNP according to manufacturers recommendations. Amplification primers (GDF9F and GDF9R) and the extension primer (GDF9E) are shown in Table 3. All animals included in the GWAS - study were genotyped by this assay, including those used in sequencing.
Sequence alignment
To visualise the amino acid conservation across species at the sheep GDF9 371 position we used the COBALT program available at NCBI to align the following GDF9 protein sequences: Sheep (NP_001136360.1), Cattle (NP_777106.1), Pig (NP_001001909.1), Cat (NP_001159372.1), Human (NP_005251.1), Mouse (NP_032136.2), Chicken (NP_996871.2) and Zebra fish (NP_001012383.1).
Genotype effects
All three genotypes (GG, GA and AA, respectively) were for the first time represented among the rams in 1994, and these and subsequently born rams up to 2008 (n = 319) were used to estimate the genotypic effect on EBVs. These 319 rams are a subset of the 378 rams genotyped by the 50K array. Rams born in 2009 have so far too few daughters that have lambed to be included. The following univariate linear model was applied:
where EBVikl = the estimated breeding value for number of lambs born of ewes at one, two and three years of age, for a ram born in year k, with genotype l; μ = overall mean of the trait; BYk = the fixed effect of the kth birth year of ram (1994-2008); Gl = the fixed effect of genotype l (GG, GA and AA, respectively) and ekl is a random error term ~ N(0, Iσe2), where I is the identity matrix and σe2 is the residual variance. The birth year effect was included to account for significant (p < 0.001) genetic change over time, caused by other genes than the SNP in question.
Competing interests
The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
Authors' contributions
DIV did the GWAS analysis, supervised the GDF9 gene analyses and wrote up the first draft of the manuscript. MH sequenced GDF9 and did the sequence analysis. MPK was responsible for the Illumina 50K genotyping and the subsequent quality analysis. GK contributed to the initiation of the study together with IAB and DIV and did the statistical analyses of the genotypic effects in collaboration with IAB. IAB provided the BLUP EBVs and also the phenotypic data for the GWAS analysis. All authors contributed to the writing of the paper, and have read and approved the final manuscript.
The project has received financial support from the Norwegian Research Council (190217), the Agricultural Agreement Research Fund, the Foundation for Research Levy on Agricultural Products, Animalia - Meat and Poultry Research Centre and the Norwegian Association of Sheep and Goat Breeders (NSG). We will thank Thor Blichfeldt from NSG for stimulating and useful discussions regarding the manuscript.
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Zero Tolerance
Pussy Cats 3 (Zero Tolerance)
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Pussy Cats 3 (Zero Tolerance)
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Directed by:
Courtney Cummz
Celeste Star
Courtney Cummz
Roxy Reynolds
Roxy Deville
Aiden Starr
Lexi Belle
Sara Faye
Alexis Texas
Jandi Lin
Georgia Jones
Sochee Mala
Charlotte Vale
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Reviewed by
Courtney Cummz, Alexis Texas, Georgia Jones, Roxy DeVille, Roxy Reynolds, Lexi Belle, Sara Faye, Celeste Star, Charlotte Vale, Aiden Starr, Jandi Lin, Sochee Mala
Courtney Cummz
�Courtney�s Pussy Cats Volume Three� features six scenes of girl-on-girl action as captured by actress / director, Courtney Cummz. The motif here involves Courtney setting up pairs of ladies for toy-less, realistic, sexual encounters. Three of the scenes feature some of the best, most intense lesbian action around, while the other three are all quite solid, as well. The couplings that are too steamy to miss are those of Alexis Texas and Roxy DeVille, Georgia Jones and Celeste Star, and Courtney Cummz and Roxy Reynolds. The women are all enthusiastic, and the camerawork is excellent. There is a realism to the sex in this material that is often missing from other titles in this genre, and I would highly recommend it if hot girls getting into each other and having real orgasms is something that you�re even remotely interested in. Overall, this DVD delivers and is worth the money.
Inserting the Disc / Main Menu
Upon inserting the disc, we go through the standard items, such as the compliance statement and the Zero Tolerance logo animation, before arriving at the Main Menu. There are five options in the Main Menu: �Play Movie�, �Chapters��a typical scene selection mechanism, �Behind the Scenes�, �Photo Gallery�, and �Trailers�. The last three items will be covered at the end of this review, but for now, let�s get things started by going with �Play Movie�.
Opening Credits
The opening credits roll with clips from the movie playing underneath. The actresses� names are matched to black-and-white photos that come up and overlay the action from the scenes. It should be noted that Courtney Cummz is not only an actress in this work, but she is also the director. From what we see of the action, we can anticipate a lot of steamy, sapphic loving between beautiful, sexy babes in our immediate future.
Scene One
The scene begins with Sara Faye, who is wearing a leopard-print skirt and has shoulder-length brunette hair, descending some stairs and sitting at a table with Courtney Cummz. Courtney and Sara begin to discuss the new actress who will be Sara�s partner that day�an �exotic�-looking woman named Sochee Mala. Courtney notes that she has pictures of her on her computer, and there is a cut to Courtney and Sara looking at Courtney�s laptop and commenting on the pictures. Sara appears to like what she sees, and there is another cut to a room with a large, fancy wooden bed with gold sheets on it.
On top of the sheets are Sara�still in her leopard print skirt�and Courtney, who is wearing a loose, black outfit. Their eyes are trained on Sochee, who enters the scene from the left-hand side. Both ladies greet her, and Sochee immediately begins to kiss and make-out with Sara, pulling down the top of her skirt and her underlying, light-pink bra. Sochee wastes no time in going after Sara�s perky, natural breasts, as she begins to lick and suck them. Sochee is wearing a loose, black top / tight miniskirt combination that shows off her jet-black hair, light-brown skin, and tight, thin frame quite well. Appearing as though she could easily be from Brazil or a nearby area, Sochee is definitely �exotic�.
Sochee pulls down her black top, revealing her nicely-sized, natural breasts complete with tan-lines, as Sara quickly moves in and begins to suckle them. As the two hastily grope and make-out, Sochee lowers the top of her skirt further so that it is hanging about her midriff, while Courtney helps Sara out her entire outfit, save her small g-string. Sara then lifts Sochee�s skirt over her head and tosses it aside, leaving Sochee in only her tight, black panties. The two begin to make-out some more�again, all of this very fast-paced and erotically-charged�and it isn�t long before the ladies� panties come down / off, revealing a very tightly trimmed cooch for Sara and a trimmed patch of black hair above shaved lips for Sochee. The full-blown lesbian action begins shortly thereafter, with Sochee beginning to pleasure Sara both orally and with her fingers. The favor is soon returned by Sara, of course, and a wide range of girl-on-girl activity ensues. Some of the highlights in all of this are: Sara rimming Sochee�s tight rosebud; the mutual crotch-grinding in which the two partake; the bit of heavy spanking on Sochee by Sara; and the spitting / minimal light-choking that occurs. Throughout, both actresses are quite into each other, and the scene never really loses its erotic charge or its heat. The festivities end when Courtney reappears in the shot (topless; pierced nipples on perky, natural breasts), as Sochee and Sara are making out in post-sexual bliss. Sara and Courtney both agree that Sochee is �a keeper�.
As a quick side-note, one thing that serves to mildly break the �exotic� motif occurs when Sochee goes from hardly saying anything to full-on, no-accent dirty talk. This isn�t really a big deal, but it does stick out just a bit. Also, both ladies have tattoos�Sochee�s Native American work on her arm doesn�t really distract from the goings-on, but Sara�s ink-work and its placement does to some degree. Again, this is only a very mild issue. Overall, this is a very solid and intense scene.
Scene Two
This scene starts out with Courtney Cummz and Roxy DeVille walking up a long set of cement stairs that have a lot of greenery all about them. They are talking about an actress that Courtney has brought in to do a scene with Roxy, who is clearly excited about the prospect. As they discuss this mystery woman, they take a seat on one of the steps, and Courtney notes that she is well-known for her derriere. Roxy, having long dark hair and wearing a leopard-print miniskirt, thinks about it for awhile and obviously has someone in mind who she hopes it is. Courtney briefly admires Roxy�s attire, as well as her see-through, black panties, and then there is a cut to Roxy and Courtney sitting on an immaculate, red, bed-like sofa.
Roxy�s eyes are closed with anticipation, as Alexis Texas� round, beautiful ass is put right in her face. Curvy, blonde Alexis is wearing a white-tiger-striped miniskirt that she has hiked up to reveal her backside. She also has a black thong on. When Roxy is allowed to open her eyes, she is clearly exuberant about�and somewhat surprised at� who her partner for the scene will be.
With a joy similar to someone who has just found a long, lost friend, Roxy hugs Alexis and then plays with her bulbous cheeks for a bit. This is followed by the two making out on the sofa, during which time, both girls� natural, perky breasts are bared by the dropping of the top portions of their miniskirts. Alexis spends a good deal of time suckling and working Roxy�s breasts before she begins to sensuously kiss and lick her skirt-hiked, thong-clad backside. After a small bit of this, both women get involved in some barefoot foot-play/worship with one another, starting with Roxy working on Alexis. There is a lot of sucking and licking here, and it should make anyone with a foot fetish quite happy. Alexis then pulls her skirt off over her head and moves in on Roxy�s crotch, pulling aside her panties and beginning to perform oral sex on her. Roxy has shaved lips and a tightly-trimmed landing strip, and Alexis takes care of her quite well, licking her clitoris in a very sensual manner. Roxy�s panties eventually come off, and Alexis continues to work her over, both digitally and orally. Finishing off this activity, it�s Alexis� turn, and her panties are removed as is Roxy�s skirt. These are gorgeous women�especially Alexis, who has creamy and soft skin, along with a trimmed thatch and shaved lips�to some degree, she reminds me of a young Amber Lynn. Her round, bouncy ass, of course, is a welcome exception to this analogy.
The two ladies make-out a bit, as Roxy grinds on Alexis and then makes her way down to her soft, waiting femininity to return the oral and manual favors. The action that follows remains quite sensual and intense, as both women enjoy one another in various ways. Among the highlights here are the four-finger fucking that Alexis performs on Roxy (with Roxy adding in four of her own fingers, as well, for part of the time) and the sticky, doggie-style finger-work that Roxy does on a very turned-on, wet, and dilated Alexis. The scene, which scorches for the last number of minutes, ends shortly after this last bit of activity.
Overall, this segment of the movie is incredible, particularly at the end. It builds up heat throughout and then reaches a critical mass at its grand finale. Only the most jaded of viewers would not find this action arousing, even those who generally don�t like girl-on-girl action much. Both women are beautiful, sexy, and into it. This scene alone would make the DVD worthwhile.
Scene Three
This scene begins with Courtney Cummz walking up a set of stairs toward the camera, followed by Celeste Star and Georgia Jones. Celeste is wearing a pinkish-purple bustier-half-top and denim miniskirt, while Georgia is wearing a long-sleeve, dark-purple half-shirt and denim short-shorts. Courtney and Celeste take the time to admire brunette Georgia�s physique, which is youthful and thin, yet still curvy. She is an early-twenties type, and she is indeed stunning.
There is a cut as the three move into a bedroom with a large, wooden canopy bed. All of them take a seat, with Celeste in the center, and begin to rub one another. After a bit of discussion about what might be to come, Courtney exits the picture and leaves Georgia and Celeste to their own devices. It isn�t long before the pair begins to make-out and feel each other up ,which leads into Georgia getting her hand between Celeste�s thighs from behind and rubbing her cooch through her pinkish-purple panties. As this petting goes on, Celeste pulls one of her breasts out of her top, and Georgia suckles and licks her nipple. She then pulls aside Celeste�s panties and gets into some pretty intense finger-work that culminates in what looks like a nice climax for Celeste.
After this, they both sit up on the bed, and Georgia removes Celeste�s top, revealing her beautiful, natural breasts. Her mini-skirt is next, leaving her in only her panties, while Georgia licks, suckles, and even lightly bites Celeste�s nipples. Georgia works her through her panties again, as Georgia�s own top is removed, giving us our first full view of her natural, youthful chest (think: Keri Sable of years-past). Right after, Georgia goes down on Celeste�s shaved-but-for-a-tightly-trimmed-landing-strip womanhood. Celeste is clearly enjoying the activity, as her panties come completely off, and the oral / digital manipulation continues. Included here is a doggie-style / backside fingering of Celeste that causes her to cum hard twice. This is very sexy and arousing action.
Next up, it�s Georgia�s turn, as Celeste removes her shorts, exposing Georgia�s dark landing-strip and shaved, tight lips. There is a bit of making out before Celeste gets started working Georgia�s pussy with her mouth and hands. This action takes place with Georgia on the side of the bed, and Celeste on her knees on the floor. It gets really steamy as Georgia is brought to an intense and wet / creamy orgasm. This is followed immediately by two more climaxes for Georgia, the last of which being from a doggie-style finger penetration that appears to literally send her over the edge. By the end of this activity, which essentially finishes off this portion of the DVD, Celeste has totally turned Georgia�s hot, young body out. The eroticism here is beyond compare, and so is the heat. This is excellent material�amongst the best around in this genre.
Scene Four
The scene gets under way with Courtney Cummz on her cell phone with Lexxi Belle. She invites Ms. Belle over to do a scene with a new girl (Jandi Lin) that she thinks would make for a good coupling with her. There�s a cut to a room with all three women in it�Courtney, Lexxi, and Jandi. The room is equipped with a large, tan cushioned arm chair and has an Asian theme to it.
Lexxi is a thin, cute strawberry blonde whose lithe, natural frame is covered with a half-white (top) and half-purple (bottom) miniskirt. Jandi is described as Chinese and is wearing a loose-topped, black miniskirt with a waist-level �neckline� and essentially no back. This skirt shows off her tattoos�one on the front between her small, yet sexy breasts, and another gorgeous one covering her back and part of her butt. The tattoos become an early conversation piece between the two, as Lexxi and Jandi both show theirs off to each other. This banter leads to Lexxi checking Jandi out more, as she turns her around, gets down level with her derriere, hikes up her skirt, and removes her bright blue panties. During this time, Lexxi kisses Jandi�s tattooed cheek, and then begins to lick and finger her smooth, shaved Asian womanhood. Courtney, who has removed her own top�giving an unhindered view of her perky, natural breasts with pierced nipples�comes over and lends Lexxi a bit of a hand with things.
Lexxi then pulls Jandi�s skirt up and over her head, allowing for a full look at her thin frame, and immediately kisses her small breasts and nipples. Courtney comes up from behind Lexxi and does the same with her skirt, putting Lexxi�s nice-sized, natural breasts and cute body on display. Jandi begins to admire Lexxi�s physique, and as she does so, she licks her thong-clad behind. Before long, Lexxi�s panties are removed (fully-shaved), and Jandi gives her some quick rimming action.
From here, the full-on lesbian action between Jandi and Lexxi ensues, with a cut to a bedroom shortly into the festivities. Included is some light slapping and choking, as well as plenty of making out and pussy eating / fingering. There is also some crotch-on-crotch grinding that is quite hot, as well as a good deal of rimming (mostly Jandi on Lexxi). The scene ends after Lexxi brings Jandi to orgasm, followed by some kissing, a queef (Jandi), and some more kissing. Courtney, who has made herself scarce for the vast majority of the action, re-enters during this last bit of activity for a post-sex discussion with the ladies.
Overall, this portion of the movie is very good. Both women enjoy each other, and the coupling gives a nice contrast featuring two disparate racial groups. Jandi�s back tattoo-work is extremely hot and well done. The actresses really rock each others� worlds here, though it isn�t quite up to the standards set in the previous two scenes. It is still quite solid lesbian action, though.
Scene Five
The scene starts out with Courtney Cummz, who is topless and wearing black bottoms, in between Aiden Starr and Charlotte Vale. All three are seated on the floor of a library-like room. Aiden is a strawberry blonde and is wearing a bright blue miniskirt, while brunette Charlotte is wearing a purplish miniskirt. Courtney introduces the two women, and Aiden has Charlotte take down her top, revealing her nice-sized, natural breasts with pierced nipples. Aiden and Charlotte begin to make-out after some initial fondling of Charlotte by Aiden and Courtney. Charlotte is instructed to show off her ass next, as she stands up, turns around, and hikes up her skirt. The two ladies inspect her round, beautiful, g-string-clad behind, and then have her turn around to exhibit her clit piercing, as her panties are pulled aside. Courtney then exits the shot, and Aiden pulls off Charlotte�s miniskirt; the two begin to make-out.
It isn�t long before the top part of Aiden�s outfit is lowered, and her apparently-enhanced, large breasts are exposed. Charlotte suckles them a bit before the two rub their bosoms together and continue to kiss and fondle each other, first in a standing position and then lowering down to floor level. The oral breast-work and making out continues on both ladies� parts until Charlotte�s panties are removed, and she takes a seat on a cushioned, wooden arm chair that is nearby. At the same time, Aiden�s skirt and panties come off (landing strip), and she begins to eat Charlotte�s smooth, shaved pussy. Aiden looks as though she is truly enjoying her work, as her tongue flickers over Charlotte�s pierced, glimmering clit.
From here, a variety of lesbian activities follows, amongst which are a good deal of finger-work and pussy eating. The highlights include Aiden finger-fucking Charlotte to a series of wet, rapid-fire orgasms; Aiden performing some hot rim-job action on Charlotte; and Aiden�s dirty talk about Charlotte�s loose, easy ass-hole. Aiden really knows how to work a woman over and turn up the heat. The scene ends after Charlotte finishes up some oral work on Aiden, and the two kiss into a fade.
In the sum total, this is another quality scene that delivers the heat well. Although much of it is fairly standard, the highlights above are very intense and arousing, and they�re enough to raise it up a notch. The women are also attractive and into it, which makes a big difference, as well.
Scene Six
This scene begins with Courtney Cummz and Roxy Reynolds seated on a soft, blue-gray couch and watching some of Courtney�s footage on a video camera�s view-screen. Roxy, an African American actress with long, black hair and a beautifully thick body, is wearing a pair of denim short-shorts and a white/striped blouse-like shirt that is opened halfway. Courtney is wearing a black halter top that shows off her midriff and a blue, denim miniskirt; she has brown hair with heavy blonde streaking and is quite attractive. While watching the footage, Roxy pulls one of her breasts (nice-sized) out and begins to fondle herself. Roxy has pierced nipples, much like Courtney, and also has a tattoo on the upper part of her left breast.
Upon putting the camera down, Roxy and Courtney remove Roxy�s shirt altogether, allowing Courtney to move in and begin to orally work over her breasts. Next off is Courtney�s top, revealing her perky, natural breasts, and Roxy returns the oral favors. Shortly, Roxy�s shorts come off, giving a view of her beautiful, round backside, as it pops out from her black panties at the top and bottom.
Roxy gets down on her knees on the couch and leans on the back cushions. Courtney comes in from behind and spanks her a couple of times before pulling her panties aside and doing some quick rimming(?) and pussy eating. Courtney takes Roxy�s panties off (clean shaven), the two kiss a bit, and then Roxy removes Courtney�s panties (landing strip; pierced clit). Courtney�s skirt is still on, however, as she lies back on the couch, spreads her legs, and Roxy begins to eat her out. During this sequence, Courtney�s dirty talk is very arousing.
From this point, heavy girl-on-girl action follows, and the viewer is treated to a number of sapphic activities, including: oral sex, finger-work, crotch/clit-grinding, and masturbation. During the action, Courtney�s skirt comes off completely, as well. It should be noted that there is a tiny bit of apparent anal thumb-work on Courtney by Roxy, in addition to a good deal of anal-fingering by Courtney on herself. The scene ends with a kiss and a cut to the credits.
In total, this scene is very intense, energetic, and erotic. Both actresses have a lot of chemistry, and the contrast of the two body types, as well as skin tones, adds a good deal to the visuals. Even though this is a spectacular portion of the DVD, it is still edged out by the action in Scenes Two and Three. This is a close second to those, however.
Bonus Materials / Other Options
Other than the options associated with the movie itself (i.e., �Play Movie� and �Chapters�), there are three other Main Menu choices. There is a �Photo Gallery�, which plays a slideshow of stills from the movie. There is a �Trailers� choice that plays a trailer for the Zero Tolerance website, as well as a number of the company�s movies. Finally, there is a �Behind the Scenes� feature that shows a variety of goings-on from the making of the DVD. This is a pretty fun segment and is fairly informative.
Closing Statement
Courtney Cummz is not only a spectacular actress, but with films like this, she is making a name for herself as a director, as well. The action here is realistic, sexy, and intense, and even without the use of toys or any meaningful anal or group play, this DVD delivers the goods. Overall, I give this a strong recommendation.
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