The spectacle of our federal government this fall struggling to fund its operations and pay its bill is only one of the latest bit of STRANGENESS in what has been a STRANGE time in our country.  7 million jobs added in past 3 years, but the economy shed 8 million jobs during the downturn.  Rising home prices have pushed up net equity holdings by $2 trillion in last couple of years and stock gains have pushed total household worth to an all-time high, although concentrated in a small % of the population.  On an average, home owners have a median worth of nearly $200,000 & renters $4,000 & these ranks are GROWING.  From Lawrence Yum, chief economist of the National Association of Realtors.  So, we are living in the STRANGEST OF TIMES.  Let’s see what 2014 brings