It's been nearly a week since Harambe, an endangered silverback gorilla at the Cincinnati Zoo, was shot and killed after a four-year-old boy fell into his enclosure. The incident sparked a firestorm of debate across the internet, with critics saying zookeepers made the wrong decision in killing the 400-lb. primate, while supporters claim the child's safety necessitated the extreme measure.

In light of the controversy, we wanted to know what people would want a zoo to do if their child fell into such an exhibit. So, we decided to conduct an unscientific poll of our Facebook fans.[intermarkets_ad]

We simply asked, "If your child fell into a zoo exhibit with a 450 lb. gorilla, what would you want the zoo to do?"

The answer options were: 

1. Shoot the gorilla

2. Tranquilize the gorilla

3. Nothing, wait for the gorilla to move away

4. Something else/not sure

Of the 3,584 respondents, 75 percent picked, "Shoot the gorilla."

While the Left continues to use the Washington Redskins as a symbol of cultural appropriation and oppression against Native Americans, the reality is 90 percent of them just don't care.

A new poll conducted by the Washington Post, a notoriously anti-Redskins publication, shows that 9 in 10 Native Americans aren't offended by the Redskins name.[intermarkets_ad]

The survey of 504 people in every state and the District reveals that the minds of Native Americans have remained unchanged since a 2004 poll by the Annenberg Public Policy Center found the exact same result. Responses to The Post’s questions about the issue were broadly consistent regardless of age, income, education, political party or proximity to reservations.

The admission by the Washington Post that feelings have gone unchanged is surprising considering all the attention it has received in recent years. Also, it must be hurtful to the publication that has been on a quest to change the name for years.

The 2004 poll was indeed identical, with only 9 percent of those polled finding the mascot offensive.

When Director Rob Reiner appeared on MSNBC's Morning Joe Thursday to discuss his new film, "Being Charlie," the infamously liberal director couldn't stay away from politics. The conversation quickly turned to Donald Trump, and Reiner didn't hold back his true feelings.

Morning Joe co-anchor Willie Geist asked Reiner, "There are millions and millions of people who do not watch this show that actually like what they hear from Donald Trump. And they aren't taking messages and orders from us in the media. But they listen to what he says for themselves and vote for him. How do you explain that?"[intermarkets_ad]

"There are a lot of people who are racist," Reiner quickly replied.

Joe Scarborough was shocked, remarking, "Oh my God, did you just say that?"

Watch the whole exchange:

This alligator must think he's so funny.

In Moncks Corner, S.C. a man walking his dog caught the reptile playing ding-dong-ditch on one of his neighbors.

Apparently, seeing alligators is a common occurrence in the area. But this incident is one for the ages.[intermarkets_ad]

Who knew reptiles could be such practical jokers?

Chuck Todd: "Why are you against the consumption tax in Philadelphia that would pay for Pre-K? Hillary Clinton is for it."

 

Bernie Sanders: "I'll tell you why. Because it's a totally regressive tax. At a time of massive wealth inequality, many pay an effective tax rate lower than working class people. You have large corporations not paying a nickel. That's where you get the money. Somebody making $20,000 a year and buys a bottle of soda, I don't think you charge them 30 cents more for that soda. The goal of universal health care, child care, something I agree on and applaud the mayor there for coming forward, but raise the money in a way that is progressive, not on the backs of low-income working people."

 

Todd: "You must be against cigarette taxes, too?"

 

Sanders: "Cigarette taxes, there's a difference between cigarettes and soda. I'm aware of the obesity problem in the country."

 

Todd: "I don't think Michael Bloomberg would agree with you."

 

BS: "That's fine. He can have his point of view.

The Brighton and Hove City Council in the United Kingdom caused outrage recently when it sent a letter to parents urging them to help their kids, some as young as four years old, determine their gender identity. This letter came a few months after pupils at Blatchington Mill School in Hove were given a gender survey with 25 different options to choose from, including girl, boy, "genderqueer," and "tri-gender."

The letter read, in part:

We recognise that not all children and young people identify with the gender they were assigned at birth or may identify as a gender other than male or female, however the current systems (set nationally) only record gender as male or female.

Please support your child to choose the gender they most identify with.

Or if they have another gender identity please leave this blank and discuss with your child’s school.

Many parents were obviously outraged. Facing a backlash, a spokesperson for Brighton's equalities committee released this statement:[intermarkets_ad]

We have inserted the additional text about gender identity in response to calls from families, young people and schools to show an inclusive approach.

There are increasing numbers of children and young people nationally identifying as trans.

We will review this to see whether we can make it clearer that we consider discussions around gender identity to be an option for parents rather than an obligation.

By acknowledging the range of gender identities in our school communities we are helping ensure schools are safe spaces for everyone.

In honor of Tax Freedom Day, Freedom Partners has put together a list of the most absurd taxes by state.

Varying from year to year, Tax Freedom Day “is the day when the nation as a whole has earned enough money to pay off its total tax bill for the year.” This year, Tax Freedom Day comes at 114 days into the year, meaning American workers must work for 114 days to pay off their total tax obligation to the government.

It's clear the government has taken some questionable liberties as it tries to earn revenue, but some of these are just ridiculous. We've put together a list of the most egregious taxes from the Freedom Partners list:

#5 Tethered Balloon Tax

If you use a hot air balloon in Kansas, it will be taxed if it's tethered to the ground. If you release the tether, you don't have to pay a tax because it is considered transportation.

[intermarkets_ad]

#4 Toilet Flush Tax

It's hard to pick the most absurd tax coming out of Maryland, because they have so many. But the "toilet flush tax" just might be the most asinine. It's based on water consumption, and if you flush too much, you must pay.

[intermarkets_ad]

Upon its release, Ambiancé will be the longest movie ever released. How long? Thirty days.

You read that correctly. This movie will last for 30 days.

Swedish director Anders Weberg plans to release the film on Dec. 31, 2020. This movie is described as a story where "space and time is intertwined into a surreal dream-like journey beyond places."

In reality, it's two actors on a beach somewhere in Sweden, and it has no cuts.[intermarkets_ad]

For the record, I've watched ten minutes of the trailer in the background as I write this blog. So far, there is just surreal music, no dialogue, no color, no action, and no point -- that I can see, anyway. But what do I know? Weberg hopes his month-long film will be considered artistic and make a grand point about cinema.

According to the film's website:

Ambiancé is 720 hours long (30 days) and will be shown in its full length on a single occasion syncronised in all the continents of the world and then destroyed.

There will always be longer films and there is but this one will be the longest film made that doesn’t exist. A totally different thing.

This will be Anders last film he will ever make.

To celebrate this monumental achievement (?), Weberg has just released a 439-minute trailer for the movie. He plans on releasing an even longer trailer that will last 72 hours in 2018. Last year, he released one that lasted 72 measly minutes.

The pollsters all agree that Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump will win the New York primary.

The most recent polls show each party’s frontrunner in a commanding position. A CBS News/YouGov poll puts Trump over Ohio Gov. John Kasich by 33 points, while an Emerson University poll puts Trump up by 34 points. In both surveys, The Donald commands over 50 percent of the overall vote.

FiveThirtyEight, a statistical news site, puts the odds of a Trump victory at greater than 99 percent.[intermarkets_ad]

If Trump can win all 95 of New York's delegates, it could put capturing the 1,237 delegates he needs for the presidential nomination within his grasp.

But Trump has to be nervous. Because while he may win the primary, he may simultaneously lose his chance to win the nomination outright before the convention. How so?

Well, each of New York's 27 congressional districts has three delegates to award. If Trump clears 50 percent of the votes in a district, he gets all three delegates — but if he falls short, he collects two delegates, and the runner-up takes one.

A recent Politico poll suggests that Cruz and Kasich could scoop up as many as 24 of the state’s 95 delegates.

On the Democratic side, polls show Clinton leading Bernie Sanders 57 percent to 40 percent. A double-digit loss by Sanders could put any chance of his nomination out of reach.