The United States has slipped further down a global ranking of the world's most competitive economies, according to a World Economic Forum (WEF) survey released on Wednesday. The world's largest economy, which was placed 5th last year, fell two positions to the 7th spot - marking its fourth year of decline. A lack of macroeconomic stability, the business communityâs continued mistrust of the government and concerns over its fiscal health were some of the reasons for the downgrade, according to the annual survey. "A number of weaknesses are chipping away at its competitiveness...the U.S. fiscal imbalances and continued political deadlock over resolving these challenges," said Jennifer Blanke, Economist at the Geneva-based WEF. http://www.cnbc.com/id/48905756
LOL I had temporarily forgotten about Obama's chooming ways. The president was a pothead growing up in Hawaii. When he and his smoking buddies got high, they called it "chooming." According to a new biography about the president, Davis Maraniss' Barack Obama: The Story, Barry Obama was the head of the Choom Gang. The young Obama was known for his rules of marijuana engagement, such as "total absorption," which penalized premature exhaling. "Your turn was skipped the next time the joint came around," Maraniss writes. "Roof hits" are described as, "When they were chooming in a car, all the windows had to be rolled up so no smoke blew out and went to waste. They tilted their heads back and sucked in the last bit of smoke from the ceiling." One friend recalls, "Wasting good bud smoke was not tolerated." So then Obama knew the fine arts of coughing-till-you-get-off and hot-boxing, but he also practiced the less acceptable technique of intercepting: "When a joint was making the rounds, he often elbowed his way in, out of turn, shouting, 'Intercepted!' and took an extra hit." Not cool, Mr. President, dude. http://www.celebstoner.com/20120526...oomer-in-chief-obamas-early-years-on-pot.html
Obama loons/apologists must be proud. Although frankly that "interception" thing make me believe he grew up with a sense of entitlement. I wonder how that happened.