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Trump claims Obama tapped his phones President Trump arriving on Friday at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland. Credit Stephen Crowley/The New York Times President Trump on Saturday accused former President Barack Obama of tapping his phones at Trump Tower the month before the election, taking to Twitter to call his predecessor a “bad (or sick) guy.” Without offering any evidence or providing the source of his information, Mr. Trump fired off a series of Twitter messages claiming that Mr. Obama “had my ‘wires tapped.’ ” He likened the supposed tapping to “Watergate/Nixon” and “McCarthyism.” Mr. Trump’s aides declined to clarify whether the president’s explosive allegations were based on briefings from intelligence or law enforcement officials or on something else, like a news report. A spokesman for Mr. Obama did not immediately respond to a request for comment, though officials from his administration called Mr. Trump’s accusation shocking and untrue. They pointed to longstanding laws and procedures intended to ensure that presidents cannot wiretap a rival for political purposes. Mr. Trump’s decision to lend the power of his office to such a claim — without offering any proof — was remarkable, even for a leader who has repeatedly shown himself willing to make assertions that are false or based on rumors. It would have been difficult for federal agents, working within the law, to obtain a wiretap order to target Mr. Trump’s phone conversations. It would have meant that the Justice Department had gathered sufficient evidence to persuade a federal judge that there was probable cause to believe he had committed a serious crime or was an agent of a foreign power, depending on whether it was a criminal investigation or a foreign intelligence one. In one message, which Mr. Trump sent from his Palm Beach, Fla., resort at 6:35 a.m., the president said he had “just found out” that his phones had been tapped before the election. Speculation online quickly turned to the possibility that Mr. Trump had been reading an article on the Breitbart News site or listening to the conservative radio host Mark Levin; both have embraced the theory in recent days. The Breitbart article, published on Friday, claimed that there was a series of “known steps taken by President Barack Obama’s administration in its last months to undermine Donald Trump’s presidential campaign and, later, his new administration.” One former senior law enforcement official who worked under Mr. Obama said that it was “100 percent untrue” that the government had wiretapped Mr. Trump, and that the current president should be pressed to offer any evidence for his assertion. Ben Rhodes, a former top national security aide to Mr. Obama, said in a Twitter message directed at Mr. Trump on Saturday that “no president can order a wiretap” and added, “Those restrictions were put in place to protect citizens from people like you.” nytimes

Life is never perfect and we know this to be true. Why then, do we continue to complain about its imperfections?

Trump

Are you taking anything for it A man and a woman were seated next to each other in the first class section of an airplane. The woman sneezed, took out a tissue, gently wiped her nose, and then visibly shuddered for ten to fifteen seconds. The man went back to his reading. A few minutes later, the woman sneezed again, took a tissue, wiped her nose, then shuddered violently once more. Assuming that the woman might have a cold, the man was still curious about the shuddering. A few more minutes passed when the woman sneezed yet again. As before, she took a tissue, wiped her nose, her body shaking even more than before. Unable to restrain his curiosity, the man turned to the woman and said, “I couldn’t help but notice that you’ve sneezed three times, wiped your nose and then shuddered violently. Are you OK?” “I am sorry if I disturbed you, I have a very rare medical condition; whenever I sneeze I have an orgasm.” The man, more than a bit embarrassed, was still curious. “I have never heard of that condition before,” he said. “Are you taking anything for it?” The woman nodded, “Pepper.”

The World's Healthiest Diets The traditional Japanese and Mediterranean diets are often considered the healthiest in the world, with proven links to increased life expectancy. A number of studies in recent years have confirmed that both diets are directly linked to a reduced risk of numerous diseases. So what is the secret? Both diets could not be more different when it comes to ingredients, preparation and flavour, but they both share the same key nutrients, which can help healthier lives and us to live longer. Whether its ramen or paella, hummus or sushi, the Japanese and Mediterranean diets are both packed full of the same essential goodness we need every day. And they're both delicious! The Japanese Washoku and Mediterranean diets are part of the world's intangible cultural heritage. UNESCO, 2014. Regions that follow these diets have some of the highest life expectancy in the world. World average 72 years. Mediterranean region 79 years. Japan 85 years. Acciaroli. The village south of Naples where 10% of residents are over 100 years old. Okinawa. The island is home to the greatest proportion of centenarians anywhere in the world. Highway to Health. Note: The Mediterranean region is considered to be any land which borders the Mediterranean sea, from Spain in the west to Israel in the east. This infographic explores the nutrients which make these diets so powerful, the dishes in which they can be found and the practical steps you can take towards healthier eating habits.

19 Things That Feel Bizarrely Good (And Aren’t Sex) 1. That glorious release of peeing when you’re super drunk. Honestly, it’s a close call what feels better when drunk: sex or peeing? #TeamPeeing 2. That exciting moment when the lights first dim in the movie theater and everyone stops talking. 3. When the lights come back on in the movie theater after seeing a truly amazing film and the entire audience just sits together in awe. Then someone starts clapping and it quickly spreads until the whole room is vibrating with applause. 4. The first bite of a “cheat” food when you’ve been eating super healthy. Hell, even just smelling it does the trick. 5. Sitting down to take a test and realizing your studying ACTUALLY paid off and you know the answers. 6. When a random baby smiles at you. Even those with the Grinchiest hearts, they can’t deny the ooey-gooey feeling from a beaming babe. 7. Sticking your fingers in candle wax and having it create some tiny finger mold. 8. When that hottie you had a MASSIVE crush on in high school casually “likes” something of yours on Facebook or Instagram. It’s like a sudden time warp and you are sixteen all over again. 9. Driving somewhere and hearing the PERFECT song come on the radio that exactly fits your current life situation. In fact, you’re semi-convinced the song was straight up written for you. 10. Groping yourself, but in a non-pleasure-seeking way. Just sitting with hands down your pants, chilling. Or maybe you’re watching TV, casually holding your breasts. So relaxed! So comfortable! 11. When it’s disgustingly hot outside and then a GOD SENT breeze blows through and you feel, even if only momentarily, refreshed and revived. 12. Introducing your best friend to a song you are currently obsessed with and them loving it just as much. 13. Walking down the street while listening to “Feeling Good” and pretending this is your big moment in a movie, complete with an empowering soundtrack. You just dumped that asshole or earned that big promotion and you are ON FIRE. 14. Hearing the words: “Don’t worry, it’s already been paid for.” 15. That electrifying moment RIGHT before a first kiss. Your lips haven’t touched yet, but it’s as if there is an invisible magnet drawing you towards each other and it’s one of the sexiest feelings…maybe ever? 16. Getting into your bed and sleeping in freshly laundered sheets. Mmmmmmmmm, so clean and cozy. 17. Checking your bank account and seeing that direct deposit went through. OH YEAH, WE GETTING EXTRA GUACAMOLE TONIGHT $$$$$ 18. Finding out that you’re doing better in life than someone who used to routinely bully you. Heh heh heh. 19. Not. Having. To. Set. An. Alarm. Clock. PRAISE!!!!! Ari Eastman

Matt Damon's Great Wall Bombs in the U.S., Loses $75 Million The film’s $171 million haul at the China box office is way less than investors had anticipated for the biggest-ever U.S.-China co-production. Across his two decade career, Matt Damon has proven to be a bankable box office star. In the last few years alone, The Martian opened with $54.3 million in 2015, and his Jason Bourne return in 2016 made $59.2 million during its first three days. But his most recent vehicle, The Great Wall, has failed to pick up the same kind of momentum. It earned a solid but lower-than-anticipated $225 million overseas, and the Zhang Yimou-directed action epic has floundered domestically. It’s notched a lackluster $34.8 million in North America, and it’s overwhelmingly poor critical reviews won’t help knock it back into favor. Industry pundits have already tied its disappointing returns to a less than promising future for U.S.-China co-productions — an unfortunate outcome considering its $135 million price tag makes it the most expensive production shot entirely in China. Making matters worse, THR has now reported that the film will likely end up with losses of more than $75 million, and distributor Universal Pictures will be on the hook for at least $10 million. According to THR, the studio funded only 25 percent of The Great Wall‘s production budget, with the rest coming in equal parts from Legendary Entertainment, China Film Group, and Le Vision Pictures. But Universal also covered the movie’s global marketing expenses, conservatively estimated at $80 million-plus. The Great Wall is expected to top out at $320 million globally, which is far below what investors had expected for a project targeted to the two biggest movie markets in the world. Luckily for Universal, its share in the deficit will likely be curtailed by ancillary revenue, including a 10 percent distribution fee from all theatrical revenue (between 40 percent and 50 percent of the total box office), box office rentals, TV, and home entertainment, the latter of which THR pegs at up to $40 million internationally. Still, The Great Wall‘s failure has largely reinforced the skepticism that has long trailed Sino-American pictures, despite the potentially massive market opportunities they present. Past tentpoles like Paramount’s Transformers: Age of Extinction and Disney’s Iron Man 3, were briefly planned as co-prods before their producers realized the depth of Chinese involvement and script control, leaving collaborative efforts to low to mid-budget period pieces including World War II drama The Flying Tiger and ’30-set Edge of the World. The Great Wall, in particular, caught flack for framing Damon’s character as a white savior of the Chinese world, so perhaps more culturally sensitive efforts will find greater success. Alas, The Great Wall will just make it that much more difficult to convince studios to take the risk.

Oscars Producer Compares Awards Flub to the Titanic Days after the best picture mix-up at Sunday's Oscars, producer Michael De Luca is still recovering, taking time to explain what happened in the aftermath, how he thinks it all should have gone down and what filmmaker called him for a "pep talk" in a conversation with The Hollywood Reporter's Kim Masters on KCRW's The Business radio show, which aired March 2. Breaking down the Oscars night flub, when presenters Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway announced La La Land as the best picture instead of the correct winner, Moonlight, De Luca says he was "heartbroken" over the moment. "We really had empathy, being producers ourselves," he said of himself and his co-producer, Jennifer Todd. "Just what that must have felt like for the La La Land team, and then the Moonlight team being robbed of their full moment in the sun, it was heartbreaking." "It’s one of those mistakes that everyone says will never happen," he added. "We didn’t in our wildest dreams think we had to have a conversation about what if the worst thing that could ever happen happens. Even when someone brought up, what if this happens? Everyone’s like, 'Don’t worry about it, they have protocols, it’s a fool-proof system. "It’s one of those mistakes that everyone says will never happen," he added. "We didn’t in our wildest dreams think we had to have a conversation about what if the worst thing that could ever happen happens. Even when someone brought up, what if this happens? Everyone’s like, 'Don’t worry about it, they have protocols, it’s a fool-proof system.' I think they said the same thing about the Titanic and icebergs. It’s fine, it’s never gonna happen, don’t worry about it.’" After the mix-up and amid the chaos, De Luca says the scene backstage "became like a Murder, She Wrote, instantly, of like, how did this happen?” And in the blame game that began shortly after the onstage mistake, De Luca commends Beatty for how he handled things. "I actually think Warren Beatty is the unsung hero here, completely heroic," he said. "I think he was showing her [Dunaway] the card, like, 'hey are you seeing what I’m seeing? I think a mistake’s been made here.' To me, they are heroes and completely in the clear." Addressing how he would have handled things if he were in the accountants' shoes, he says that he learned after the fact that the two accountants in charge of the envelopes also memorize each category's winner just in case. "If I was in that job, and I know I’m Monday morning quarterbacking, which I detest, but I feel like if it's my one job, if I heard the wrong name, I’d walk directly to Warren Beatty and say 'you got the wrong envelope, here’s the right envelope,' and make a charming moment out of it." And the day after the confusion, he says he got plenty of emails congratulating him on a well-run show, but one phone call came immediately. "I did get one instant phone call from Steven Spielberg, who said he watched the show with friends at a screening room and thought it was great, and it was a real pep talk. I love him for it, it was really appreciated." “I would have loved the story to be Moonlight, this little film that has nobody traditional in it but celebrates African-American LGBT culture, won best picture. It’s a tremendous landmark and underdog story, and that should have been the lead story.” hollywoodreporter In Defense of Warren Beatty at the Oscars Beatty was not the culprit in Sunday's best picture fiasco, though many were quick to jump on him in an ageist rush to judgment. By now it’s becoming clear that Beatty really was a victim of this epic fail. PriceWaterhouseCoopers has apologized to him, to Dunaway and everyone else. Yet, somehow, I suspect this will follow Beatty, and it’s not fair. He held on to that wrong envelope, to prove that he had been dealt a bad hand. Once the error was cleared up, he stepped up to the microphone and explained — with, for him, uncommon clarity and fluency — what had gone awry. The shame of it is that the whole fiasco was deeply unfair to all involved with La La Land and Moonlight. We would have loved to see the pure moment of a Moonlight victory. Instead, there was confusion and embarrassment all around. “It’s hard to feel joy in a moment like that,” said Mahershala Ali, who won for best supporting actor. And that is really a pity. We can only hope that those involved with both films ultimately can take the full measure of joy in their achievements which were, despite the chaos, recognized by their peers.

A Few Zen Thoughts For Those Who Take Life Too Seriously Save the whales. Collect the whole set. A day without sunshine is like, night. 42.7 percent of all statistics are made up on the spot. Honk if you love peace and quiet. Remember, half the people you know are below average. He who laughs last, thinks slowest. Depression is merely anger without enthusiasm. The early bird may get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese. I drive way too fast to worry about cholesterol. Support bacteria. They’re the only culture some people have. Monday is an awful way to spend one-seventh of your life. A clear conscience is usually the sign of a bad memory. Get a new car for your spouse. It’ll be a great trade! Plan to be spontaneous….tomorrow. Always try to be modest, and be proud of it! If you think nobody cares, try missing a couple of payments. How many of you believe in telekinesis? Raise my hand… If everything seems to be going well, you have obviously overlooked something. Hard work pays off in the future. Laziness pays off now. Everyone has a photographic memory; Some just don’t have film. If Barbie is so popular, why do you have to buy her friends? Eagles may soar, but weasels don’t get sucked into jet engines. Why do psychics have to ask you for your name? Inside every older person is a younger person wondering “WHAT THE HECK HAPPENED?!!!”

6th Grade Science Teacher The 6th grade science teacher, Mrs. Parks, asked her class, “Which human body part increases to 10 times its size when stimulated?” No one answered until little Molly stood up and said, “you should not be asking 6th graders a question like that! I’m going to tell my parents and they will go tell the principal, and you’ll get fired!” She then sat back down. Mrs. Parks ignored her, and asked the question again, “which body part increases to 10 times its size when stimulated?”….little Molly’s mouth fell open and she said to those around her, “boy, is she gonna get in big trouble!” The teacher continued to ignore her and said to the class, “anybody?” Finally, Jimmy nervously stood up and said, “The body part that increases to 10 times its size when stimulated is the pupil of the eye.” Mrs. Parks said, “very good, Jimmy.” She then turned to Molly and continued, “as for you, young lady, I have two things to say: first, you didn’t read your homework. And second, one day you are going to be VERY, VERY disappointed.”

5 Pearls of Scottish Wisdom Money cannot buy happiness but, somehow it’s more comfortable to cry in a Mercedes Benz than in a Yugo GV. Forgive your enemy, but remember the bum’s s name. Help a man when he is in trouble & he will remember you when he is in trouble again. Many people are alive only because it’s illegal to shoot them. Alcohol does not solve problems, but then neither does milk.

This devoted mother otter found a novel way of keeping her newborn pup dry by letting the baby ride on her belly. Nature photographer Suzi Eszterhas, 40, spotted the adorable pair of southern sea otters swimming in Monterey Bay, California. The mother otter lifted the pup out of the water and on to her belly to keep it warm and dry. The loving mother also blew air into the young pup's fur to groom it.