Adinkra are African symbols widely found in Ghana, a West African country situated between Cote d'Ivoire and Togo. Created by the Asante tribe, each symbol has a meaning derived from a proverb, a historical event, human attitude, animal behavior, plant, or an inanimate object.

In order to educate the world about adinkra, welltempered.net created a website that provides numerous symbols, along with definitions and meanings, which are available at no cost for educational, personal, and non-profit use.

For examples of adinkra, refer to this article’s graphic, where you will find 4 numbered symbols gathered from the welltempered.net site.  Below are their names, meanings, and significance:

1. Soromma or "Child of the Heavens [stars]" is a symbol of guardianship. A reminder that God is the father and watches over all people.
2. Hye Won Hye or "That Which Does Not Burn " is the symbol of imperishability and endurance. This symbol gets its meaning from traditional priests that were able to walk on fire without burning their feet, an inspiration to others to endure and overcome difficulties
3. Akoko Nan or “The Leg of a Hen" is a symbol of nurturing and discipline.The full name of this symbol translates to "The hen treads on her chicks, but she does not kill them." This represents the ideal nature of parents, being both protective and corrective.
4. Dwennimmen or "Ram's Horns" is a symbol of humility together with strength. The ram will fight fiercely against an adversary, but it also submits humbly to slaughter, emphasizing that even the strong need to be humble

To learn more about adinkra visit 

http://www.welltempered.net/adinkra/

The Pearl Brewery, a San Antonio landmark established in 1883, has deep roots in the city's history and is now becoming a beacon for its future.  The brewery began producing Pearl Beer in 1886 with their core products Pearl, Pearl Light, Falstaff and 900 Malt Liquor.  Over the years, the success of this small brewing company aroused the curiosity of larger breweries, who tried to buy out Pearl.  In June 2001, S&P Company closed the Pearl Plant in Texas and Pabst brewing took over the Pearl brands. Production of Lone Star and Pearl beers, along with other Pabst brands was moved to the Miller Brewing Company in Fort Worth.

For some time the brewery stood as a milestone without any true functional purpose.  With the looming threat of demolition, investors backed renovations that are currently underway.  The vision is to develop the facility into a vibrant urban oasis along the river.  Master planners Laks/Flato Architects and developer Silver Ventures Inc. are heading the project.   

The Aveda Institute and Texas Farm to Table restaurant have already moved into the location and a branch of the renowned Culinary Institute of America and the Esther Vexler Yoga school are soon to join the neighborhood.  The finished product will reveal a  gathering place where urban living, education, great food, culture, art and commerce converge linked by gardens, plazas, pathways, open spaces, and tree shaded streets. 

Gay Pride Month in June celebrates the GLBT community and serves as a call to action for its members to come 'out of the closets and into the streets'.  October is Gay and Lesbian History Month with a mission to teach GLBT history, to provide role models, to build community and to highlight the GLBT community"s important national and international contributions.  The month of October was chosen in order to commemorate the anniversaries of the first two gay and lesbian marches on Washington, October 1979, which drew over 200,000, and October 1987, which drew over 500,000 and had the first public viewing of the NAMES Project AIDS Quilt, as well as the fact that National Coming Out Day is on October 11^th.  Since its beginnings, the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, Human Rights Campaign, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, and other national organizations have endorsed Gay and Lesbian History Month.   

Visit the Out In San Antonio website, a local portal for people who are, or have interest in the San Antonio GLBT community or Q San Antonio for the latest GLBT news, events and other pertinent information.