Homeowner and retired school teacher Faith Parker with her daughter Sandra met an enthusiastic group of supporters consisting of occupiers, homeowner advocates and social media for a press conference last Wednesday at her home. Bertha Herrera, the Chaplain whose house was boarded up just a day later, was also on hand to speak.

 On January 1st, Faith and her daughter were part of a panel at the All Saints Church discussion as part of the Occupy New Year's Day Summit with homeowner advocate Carlos Marroquin. 

Have you ever been so angry, you've... "embellished" a few negatives? Let's say someone spills coffee on your favorite shirt. Later, while venting your frustration to someone, you might exaggerate the price of the shirt, or its availability, or sentimental value. Anything to gain sympathy and to help justify your displeasure -- that's how the human brain works. Is this a flaw? Well, if it does serve to effectively garner support, then perhaps it's a tool. But in most cases, the practice of frustrated embellishment only works to perpetuate a fatalist, self-condemning future.