The Carowinds amusement park in Charlotte, North Carolina, just introduced a brand new rollercoaster, called the “Fury 325.”

According to the park, the Fury 325 will be the fastest and largest roller coaster of its type once it opens March 28, but you don’t have to wait until it opens to experience the ride — and you certainly don’t need to travel down to North Carolina, either. 

Carowinds is letting the internet take a test ride of its next monster coaster, which notably includes a 81-degree initial drop and top speeds of 95 miles per hour.

The video is below — but be warned, if you’re afraid of heights or you don’t like roller coasters at all, this video might not be for you.

Named after its peak height of 325 feet, the Fury 325 is technically a “gigacoaster,” since it includes a drop between 300-400 feet, and completes a full circuit, and as such, it will be the tallest and fastest gigacoaster in the world once it's open. It will also be the longest steel roller coaster in the US, with a total length of nearly 1.3 miles.

SEE ALSO: Everyone is losing their minds over this new virtual reality headset

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NOW WATCH: Here's What It Will Feel Like To Ride The World's Tallest Roller Coaster

The new trailer for "Veep" shows Selina Meyer still adjusting to her new title as POTUS.

The HBO show stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Tony Hale and Anna Chlumsky, and will also feature a guest appearence by Hugh Laurie this season. Season 4 begins on Sunday, April 12. 

Video courtesy of HBO

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WARNING: SPOILERS.

In the third season of "House of Cards," President Frank Underwood attempts a clever scheme to fund his $500 billion America Works jobs program.

Kevin Spacey's character plans to declare unemployment an emergency and use this as justification for seizing money from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)— an agency normally concerned with natural disasters — and he kicks thing off by getting the mayor of D.C. to declare on emergency on a municipal level. 

Simultaneously, he tries to convince Congress to cut Social Security drastically. The fictional president aims to reallocate all that money to fund the biggest jobs program since Roosevelt's New Deal.

Leaving aside whether this is a good idea, we wanted to know if it would be possible. The answer we got from a number of legal experts was surprising.

Could FEMA fund a jobs program?

FEMA, for its part, doesn't seem to think so. 

Not so fast: The Stafford Act, which established many of the rules for FEMA, leaves things open.

"The Stafford Act is probably one of the broadest grants of discretion afforded to the president," says ex-FEMA lawyer William Cummings. "It is completely discretionary ... no one would have standing to sue him." 

Cummings, who founded a nonprofit that analyzes emergency management and homeland security issues after retiring from FEMA, explained that an economic emergency like the fictional one declared in the nation's capital could in fact be used to re-appropriate FEMA funds, the same way a terrorist attack or an environmental disaster commands immediate funding.

As the act reads:

"Emergency" means any occasion or instance for which, in the determination of the President, Federal assistance is needed to supplement State and local efforts and capabilities to save lives and to protect property and public health and safety, or to lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe in any part of the United States.

Underwood's crazy plan is looking good so far, even if doing this would be extremely controversial.

How about tapping Social Security?

Gutting Social Security and using the money for a jobs program would require Congressional support, and the show gets that much right. It would be difficult to get that support — but it would be possible.

Laurence H. Tribe, a Constitutional law professor at Harvard and a devoted fan of the show, explains how hard this would be:

If money for a program like Social Security has been appropriated by a Congressional enactment, there is only one Constitutional way for the Treasury Department, under the direction of the President, to spend it on some different program, like the hypothetical “America Works” of the imaginary Underwood administration in House of Cards.

However essential and worthy a program like “America Works” might be, the only Constitutionally permissible way to divert any of the Social Security money to that new program would be for Congress to pass a new law (whether labeled an amendment to the Social Security Act or bearing some other name) expressly authorizing the redirection of the money – and then to appropriate the desired sum for the new program.

Neither the House of Representatives acting alone, nor the Senate acting alone, nor the two acting together by a mere concurrent resolution (i.e., a resolution not presented to the President for signing), or a Committee of either House, nor a bicameral joint Committee, nor the President by Executive Order or otherwise, can constitutionally accomplish the result that President Underwood accomplished on "House of Cards "— of which, by the way, I’m a devoted fan.

Even if Underwood got Congress to play along, the action could face judicial checks, though it could survive those, too.

"If the deed is done before the courts can get around to ordering the hypothetical President Underwood to cease and desist and put the money back in the federal piggy bank, then any lawsuit over the matter … would become technically moot,” Tribe says. "In practical political terms, if the President’s violation of the Constitution is sufficiently popular, the prospects of impeachment and conviction are obviously slim to none."

Of course, this action wouldn't exactly be popular.

"Congress has tried to put Social Security in a 'lockbox,'" Charles Tiefer, professor at the University of Baltimore School of Law, told Business Insider. "In theory, it can pass a statute cutting benefits and shifting funds non withstanding the 'lockbox.' In reality, the 'lockbox' raises the visibility of such an action, and, if it had any life in the first place, utterly dooms it anyway."

But the upshot is that seizing Social Security money — as with FEMA money — for a giant jobs program is possible.

Thankfully, Underwood isn't real.

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"Hannibal" fans have been waiting a long time to learn when season 3 of the cult favorite will return. 

Well, we finally have a date!

The series, featuring Mads Mikkelsen and Hugh Dancy, will return to NBC June 4, 2015.

Yes, that means "Hannibal" is moving from the dreaded Friday night death slot to Thursdays evenings.

As we noted back in July, the series about the twisted serial killer (Mikkelsen) gets high praise from critics. It also a strong fan following referred to as fannibals. However, barely anyone has been tuning into the show Friday nights at 10 p.m.

Maybe now on Thursday evenings, the cult favorite will hit its stride.

It's time to feast, fannibals.

SEE ALSO: Why no one is watching one of the best shows on TV, "Hannibal"

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NOW WATCH: This Sports Illustrated swimsuit rookie could become the next Kate Upton

I don't know much about virtual reality.

I had a brief experience with the Samsung Gear VR, which is literally just a Samsung Note 4 or Samsung Galaxy S6/S6 Edge in a casing, at the company's developer conference last year. But the couple of demos I did, including a particularly unsatisfying Pacific Rim-themed one, left me unimpressed. I didn't give virtual reality much, if any, thought since.

This week, though, something changed: HTC announced its Vive VR headset, developed in conjunction with Valve Software.

Valve, for those who don't know, is to video gaming what Apple is to mobile — famously secretive, slow to release, almost entirely in charge of the distribution channel, and dedicated to obsessive detail. If anybody could get it right, it was Valve. 

Business Insider's Steve Kovach got to try a full demo of ViveVR earlier this week, calling it the "most mind-blowing virtual reality experience ever." So when the offer came in to try a demo at this week's Game Developers Conference 2015, I jumped.

But first I wanted a a sense of the competition, so I scheduled a demo of the most recent Oculus Rift VR headset beta, codenamed Crescent Bay.

An Oculus rep walked me to a soundproofed, darkened room, had me stand on a mat, and hooked me in. Several demos whizzed by, immersing me in the very impressive virtual world.

In one, a gleaming film noir city sprawled below me as I stood perched on a rooftop, looking at zeppelins flying overhead. The Oculus rep dared me to step off the virtual roof, which I did, suspending me over the high-res streets. (You can see Business Insider CEO Henry Blodget's reaction to the same demo in this video.)

Soon, I was in a museum hallway, cowering as a T-Rex walked towards me, looked at me, and then walked past. In yet another, I watched a platoon of high-tech cops run down a futuristic city street in slow-motion, exchanging fire with a killer robot. I saw bullets and debris fly by my head. 

It was very cool. But something was missing. I reached out to touch the virtual dinosaur overhead, and nothing appeared on the screen. I looked down while floating over the city and couldn't see my feet. I waved at a robot and nothing would happen.

For somebody who doesn't know much about virtual reality and didn't really know what to expect, it was a little disheartening.

Then I tried the HTC Vive VR. 

I got a five-minute demo called "TheBlu: Encounter," created by WEVR. I stood on the deck of a submerged ship and watched as a Beluga Whale swam by, very close and super impressive. It was a lot like the Oculus demo for a newbie like me — immersive and highly engaging. 

Except the Vive has a laser-tracking system powered by base stations that keeps track of your position in the room, and two paddle-like controllers that let you interact with the world.

Here's what the gear looks like:

The mask goes on your head, the handles in your hands.

As I walked around the deck of the ship, I could see silhouettes of my controllers, one in each hand. Suddenly, my hands matched to real, physical things that I could see. A "chaperone," or grid of white panels not unlike the walls of Star Trek's Holodeck, kept me from bumping into anything when the laser grid detects an obstacle. 

There wasn't much to do with them in this demo, other than wave them around to scare fish. But just that awareness of what my hands and body were doing added so much to the sense of place.

That's why the HTC Vive VR has my vote for the next big VR sensation. Enthusiasts can compare specs and resolutions and the benefits of field-of-view, but for my money, it's going to be body sense that really makes VR what it can be.  

SEE ALSO: Everyone's losing their mind over this new virtual reality headset

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Patrick Willems is a New York-based director who makes geek humor short films on YouTube. He released his biggest viral video this week with "What if Wes Anderson directed X-Men?" which has racked up millions of views and dozens of blog posts.

We got in touch to ask how hard it is to make money doing this. First, check out the brilliant video:

Willem, a 2010 graduate of Oberlin College, has released around 150 YouTube videos since 2011, also including "What if Ingmar Bergman Directed The Flash?" "Breaking Bad Jr.," and "Beyoncé's new Backup Dancers." The videos are well-made and fun to watch, and a bunch have more than 100,000 views.

But is there any money in this passion project? Willem broke down the reality over email:

Willem isn't actually making any money directly from his viral "X-Men" since it contains a copyrighted song:

There's no pre-roll ad because this video isn't monetized. There's a copyright claim on a song I used in it ("Powerman" by the Kinks), which has caused it to be blocked in most countries outside the U.S. (that's why I put it on Vimeo as well) and doesn't allow me to monetize it. Even though I've used license music in videos before without any companies claiming it, I knew this was a possibility. And in this instance I felt having that song made the video so much stronger that it was worth giving up any money I might make from it.

... YouTube actually required me to agree not to disclose my earnings when I joined the Partner Program, but it doesn't matter here because this video isn't generating any revenue at all. It is leading to more traffic for older videos I've made, so I'll make a little from that.

SEE ALSO: Yes, you can make six figures as a YouTube star ... and still end up poor

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NOW WATCH: This is what it takes to get famous on YouTube

Amal Clooney, the accomplished human rights lawyer married to some guy named George, may be teaching at Columbia Law School in the spring, according to Page Six. 

"She will lecture on human rights law at Columbia Law School this spring as a senior fellow with the Law School’s Human Rights Institute," according to the Post. 

Clooney, née Alamuddin, is not yet listed as an adjunct on the Columbia Law website, nor on the school's Human Rights Institute website.

The Lebanese-born British barrister got her English law degree from St. Hugh's College at Oxford, and an LLM from NYU before clerking for Sonia Sotomayor, who was then a United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, and the International Court of Justice.

A Reuters biography of her from the time of her engagement listed her accomplishments as a human rights lawyer: 

Alamuddin has advised United Nations former secretary-general Kofi Annan on Syria, represented Ukraine's ex-prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko in challenging her detention before the European Court of Human Rights and has also represented WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange in extradition proceedings.

Wonder how she feels about adjunct pay at Columbia...

SEE ALSO: Goldman Sachs just tweeted about millennials in a string of emoji — here's what it means

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NOW WATCH: George Clooney's New Wife Is Helping Greece Rescue Ancient Sculptures From Britain's Clutches

"Atari" used to be synonymous with video games — the Atari 2600 console wasn't the first home video game system (that was the Magnavox Odyssey), but it was the one that brought it into most people's living rooms.

But the video game market crashed in 1983. Atari never recovered.  

At this week's Game Developers Conference 2015, the Videogame History Museum celebrated the first big video game company with a showcase of Atari artifacts from back in the day.

"Atari started it all. Atari is what brought video games into the mainstream," says Sean Kelly, director of the Videogame History Museum, which plans on opening its doors to its first permanent location in Frisco, Texas later this year. 

You're not going to believe some of the stuff they've got. 

The collection paid special attention to the Atari 2600, the company's biggest hit. "The Atari 2600 was the s**t, bar none, in that period," Kelly says.

When the Atari 2600 — initially known as the Atari Video Computer System (VCS) — came out in 1976, it caused a massive Atari craze, including entire lines of merchandise, including t-shirts, frisbees...

...and Halloween costumes.

On his show Thursday night, Jimmy Fallon made a crack that blows a hole in the idea Hillary Clinton is headed toward an inevitable victory in the 2016 presidential election.

Fallon's crack alluded to recent speculation that the controversy over Clinton's use of private email while she was at the State Department could boost her likely challenger in the Democratic primary, former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley. The comedian went on to point out that this was not the first time Clinton was seen as the overwhelming front-runner against a long shot.

"There's rumors that former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley may enter the race and challenge Hillary for the Democratic nomination," Fallon said. "Yeah, Hillary's not worried. I mean, who's going to go from being totally unknown to beating her for the presidency? … How would that ever happen?"

As Fallon spoke, a picture of Clinton's 2008 rival, then-Senator Barack Obama, flashed across the screen.

Watch Fallon's quip below.  

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Oscar-winning director Alex Gibney (“Taxi to the Dark Side,” “Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room”) remembers how he reacted the first time he was offered the chance to do a film on the Church of Scientology.

"I turned it down," he told Business Insider recently at HBO's New York City offices. Like many filmmakers who wanted to investigate Scientology, the uncertainty of doing it without getting bogged down in an expensive legal battle turned him off of the project.

But two years ago the offer came back around and this time he couldn't turn away.

What was different was the involvement of journalist Lawrence Wright — who Gibney previously worked with on “My Trip to Al-Qaeda” — and his latest book, “Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood & The Prison of Belief.”

Gibney couldn't put the book down and so started a two-year journey making “Going Clear,” opening theatrically in limited release March 13 and on HBO March 29.

The documentary highlights the church’s origins by creator L. Ron Hubbard, the celebrities who made the religion intriguing to the world, and the horrific stories of abuse from former members. But Gibney says for him the entry point was not the sensationalism but rather the people who seeked out Scientology to find better lives.

"I was like Larry, he wanted to find out what people got out of it," said Gibney. "And from my previous films (“Mea Maxima Culpa: Silence in the House of God” and “We Steal Secrets: The Story of WikiLeaks”) I got very interested in noble cause corruption and how when people are convinced of the nobility of the belief system they can do the most appalling things."

First, Gibney had to decide which stories to investigate from Wright's book.

Knowing he couldn't touch on all of them in a two-hour film, he homed in on some of the major stories: Scientology's battle to be recognized as a tax-exempt religious organization, how the church has used movie stars like John Travolta and Tom Cruise to heighten its profile and in some cases manipulating them so they stay in the church, and the high-level members who left Scientology and were willing to speak out, like Oscar-winning director Paul Haggis.

Haggis had already blown the lid off the inner workings of Scientology when he talked to Wright for The New Yorker in 2011, which is what sparked Wright to write his book. 

Scientology, however, has built a reputation for not only going after people who try to uncover church happenings but also tormenting members who leave it either by surveillance or harassment. Aware of this, Gibney says he took very cautious steps to ensure the safety of those who spoke in front of his camera. He would never film the former members at their homes, and Gibney would never arrive at meeting places at the same time as his subjects.

Gibney’s approach to secrecy came from his talks with Wright, who used similar methods when he interviewed former church members for his book. “I often used throw-away phones and encrypted e-mail,” he said. “People were so frightened.”

Gibney would discover that fear also spread to the media. Licensing footage of anything related to Scientology for his film through the major news outlets turned out to be impossible. “They all declined to license it to us for legal reasons,” he said, which forced him and his team to declare fair-use, permitting limited use of copyrighted material without acquiring permission.

But the biggest battle is the one Gibney and HBO are currently facing.

Since the film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January, Scientology has gone on the attack to discredit Gibney and the film. The church bought out a full-page ad in The New York Times before it screened at Sundance, comparing Gibney and his work to the now infamous Rolling Stone story about rape at the University of Virginia.

In February, the Church released a video on the YouTube page of its publication Freedom denouncing the film’s claims about the horrible living arrangements for its Sea Organization members — the clergy of Scientology who sign billion-year contracts to serve the church — instead showing lush locations they inhabit and the beautiful facilities the church offers members.

Gibney told BI that he did reach out to Scientology to comment for the film, as well as Travolta and Cruise, but all declined. HBO Documentary Films president Sheila Nevins has said the production company has around 160 lawyers looking at the film. 

Gibney believes that all of these tactics done by the church to discredit his film are intended not for the general public but for the members of Scientology (which, according to the film, is around 50,000 people).

“They are playing a PR game with them to say, ‘Look at these evil people who are attacking us. Look how valiantly we are trying to defend our organization,’” he said.

But, says Gibney, "There is this palpable sense that the storm is turning," he said. "Something is changing."

"Going Clear" opens theatrically in limited release March 13 and on HBO March 29.

SEE ALSO: Here's why HBO's Scientology documentary is so critical of Tom Cruise

MORE: 6 Crazy Things Revealed In HBO's Explosive New Scientology Documentary 'Going Clear'

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NOW WATCH: The trailer for 'Veep' Season 4 is out and it's everything you hoped it would be

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Dwayne Johnson recently went back to his wrestling roots when he made an appearance at the WWE Royal Rumble. 

He has come a long way since those early days.

In fact, most people today recognize Johnson for his big blockbuster movies, not his wrestling alter ego. Thanks to franchises like "Journey to the Center of the Earth" and "Fast and the Furious," Johnson has been able to seamlessly make a massive career transition.

He has been very successful, too. His movies combined have made over $1 billion, which is not an easy feat for anyone, former wrestling superstar or not.

Frank Pallotta contributed to an earlier version of this slideshow.

Before he was "The Rock," Dwayne Johnson was born May 2, 1972, in Hayward, California.

Source: Biography

Wrestling is in Johnson's blood. His father, Rocky "Soul Man" Johnson, was a member of the first African-American tag-team champions and his grandfather, Peter Maivia, was one of the first Samoan wrestlers.

Source: YouTube

Johnson didn't go straight to wrestling. His first sport was football. After starring in high school he played in college for the Miami Hurricanes. Over his tenure at the school, Johnson started just once but appeared in 39 games and had 77 tackles, and he was a part of the 1991 national championship team.

Source: ESPN

Outside of ABC's "Shark Tank" or one of its international affiliates, entrepreneurs are not going to find themselves pitching their company to a panel of five charismatic investors competing against each other.

And while that made-for-TV situation may be unique, the principles for what makes a "Shark Tank" pitch successful apply to any more traditional setting, as well.

Author Michael Parrish DuDell asked the executive producers of "Shark Tank," Mark Burnett and Clay Newbill, what every entrepreneur should know before walking into the Tank and settled on 10 tips included in his book "Shark Tank Jump Start Your Business: How to Launch and Grow a Business from Concept to Cash."

We're explaining them below with additional insight from the Sharks themselves and other experts.

1. Clearly and succinctly explain what your business is.

Though a segment on the show lasts around 10 minutes, entrepreneurs typically spend about an hour with the investors. But they have under two minutes to hook the Sharks, investor Kevin O'Leary says.

You need to articulate that there's a problem your company is solving, and that there is an opportunity for an investor to make a ton of money after it shortly scales in size. You need to instill a "fear of missing out," as renowned Silicon Valley investor Chris Sacca puts it.

"If you look at the common thread in all of the companies that got financed...," O'Leary says, they're all "able to articulate the opportunity in 90 seconds or less."

2. Know your numbers.

O'Leary says that he's seen countless pitches fall apart as soon as an entrepreneur is asked about revenues, expenses, profits, manufacturing costs, projections, and everything in between.

"If you don't understand your basic numbers, you're going to fail," investor Robert Herjavec says.

3. Research each of the Sharks.

"Do your homework and uncover everything you can about each of their personal and professional histories," DuDell writes. "The more information you have, the more targeted your pitch can be."

Knowing, for example, that investors Mark Cuban and Robert Herjavec are both extremely well-versed in tech development and prefer coaching to a hands-on approach to their investments, while Daymond John and Lori Greiner are retail experts who enjoy working directly on product and packaging design, can help you tailor your pitch to an ideal partner.

4. Prepare for all the potential questions you can think of.

Each of the Sharks have told us how much they admire entrepreneurs who can roll with the punches, and don't flinch at the most difficult questions.

Barbara Corcoran tells us that in six seasons of "Shark Tank," the best pitch she's seen has been from Cousins Maine Lobster cofounders Sabin Lomac and Jim Tselikis.

"They were smart enough before they came on 'Shark Tank' — I haven't seen it before and I haven't seen it since — they watched all four seasons of 'Shark Tank' before they came on," Corcoran says. "They role-played. They worked on every objection any Shark had ever asked an entrepreneur. Reams of paper. And they practiced the answers."

5. Be honest.

DuDell writes that being a conniving salesman is a guaranteed path to failure with the investors.

"If you don't have an answer to a particular question, it's better to be truthful and look unprepared than it is to make something up," he writes. "Don't forget, there's a lengthy due diligence process once the deal is made."

6. Explain your growth plan.

A great product is not enough to win an investor over. An investment in a business isn't an act of charity, O'Leary explains, and investors need to know how exactly their money is going to make them even more.

While not every successful "Shark Tank" product has to be revolutionary, Cuban says that the best thing an entrepreneur can do to grab his attention is to have an "operating company that has started to get real traction in a new industry that has a ton of upside."

7. Point out your weaknesses.

Every business has a weakness, and if you pretend it doesn't exist, the investors will discover it and use it against you, DuDell writes. You can, however, embrace your weaknesses and failures in a strategic way.

It's related to honesty, John explains. "Tell me about the problems as much as you tell about the opportunities, and how you may have solved some of the problems," the Shark says.

8. Communicate why you are uniquely qualified to run the business and why it's better than the competition.

"We're not investing in companies," John says, "we're investing in people. There's nothing that we've seen, that you will ever see, that is brand new. It's always going to be a new form of delivery or a new angle on it."

The investors are looking for someone who is not disposable, at the head of a company that has a "compelling differentiator," DuDell writes. "What you must prove is that there's something special that sets your business apart."

9. Be confident.

"From the moment you walk into the room, be cognizant of how you're presenting yourself," DuDell writes.

Before giving your pitch, practice effective public speaking techniques, utilizing body language and voice inflection to engage the investors. And let your personality shine through.

Joshua Rinaldi, the president of the public speaking club, New York Toastmasters, says that the fear of presenting in front of an audience dissipates with consistent practice.

10. Be appreciative.

Whether you get a deal or not, be appreciative and grateful, DuDell writes. You'll eventually be in front of 10 million prime time viewers and have a shot at gaining a high-profile, well-networked investor onto your side.

O'Leary says that "the entrepreneur is standing in a very valuable spot when they're presenting," and he gets tremendously frustrated if they don't show this appreciation by being prepared and respectful.

SEE ALSO: The 12 biggest 'Shark Tank' success stories

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NOW WATCH: 'Shark Tank' Investor Reveals The One Big Regret Every Entrepreneur Has

The first trailer has just been released for director Alex Gibney's explosive HBO documentary about Scientology, "Going Clear," which is based on Lawrence Wright's best-selling book of the same name.

HBO Documentary Films president Sheila Nevins told The Hollywood Reporter that the network had 160 lawyers look at the film due to fears of backlash from the church.

Video courtesy of HBO

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Gigi Hadid is only 19-years-old, but she's already climbed her way to the top of the modeling industry.

But before she appeared on the cover of this month's Vogue Spain...

Or on this month's Teen Vogue cover...

Or walked the runway for top designers at this weeks' London Fashion Week...

Gigi was better known as Yolanda Foster's aspiring model-daughter on "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills."

Gigi's mother, Yolanda, is married to mega music producer David Foster.

Her biological father is Mohamed Hadid, a real estate entrepreneur who is estimated to be worth around $200 million.

Gigi's younger sister, Bella, is also an up-and-coming model.

But Gigi's modeling career goes back further than her famous family. She began modeling for Guess at age two.

In 2011, Gigi signed with IMG Models and her career took off. By 2012, she was named the face of Guess.

And still often appears in the brand's campaigns, posting this in January:

"Sneak peek, me n my custom denim! New @GUESS campaign coming out this month. Keep an eye out - so excited for you to see the new images as they're released! Going on 15 years as a Guess Girl, this may be my favorite campaign yet! Thank you @paulmarciano for always supporting me and my career, so much love for you and the whole team."

In 2014, Gigi made her New York Fashion Week debut walking the catwalk in the Desigual show in February. 

"It was my debut. It was crazy; I got to walk with my idol Candice Swanepoel. She was in front of me in the lineup. It was just unbelievable," she said at the time.

That same month, she appeared on the coveted cover of Carine Roitfeld's "CR Fashion Book."

"Gigi is a beautiful person on the outside and the inside too. She is a warm and kind-hearted soul," fashion icon and editirix Roitfeld told The Daily. "When Stephen Gan introduced her to me, we jointly send her to see [photographer] Bruce Weber, we knew she was a star about to be born."

Also in 2014, Gigi made her Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue debut as a "rookie" model.

This year, she was one of 16 top models featured in the annual issue.

And she's already BFF with her fellow SI models, like Lily Aldridge.

Last July, Gigi starred in a campaign for Tom Ford's fragrance, Velvet Orchid.

She also appeared in ads for Tom Ford's eyewear campaign, alongside fellow Hollywood offspring, Patrick Schwarzenegger.

In January, she was named the newest face of Maybelline, the number one cosmetics brand in the world, which counts models like Christy Turlington and Jourdan Dunn among other spokeswomen.

That same month, Gigi was named Model of the Year at the Daily Front Row’s Fashion Awards.

Last month, Gigi and her 18-year-old popstar boyfriend, Cody Simpson, stunned at the Vanity Fair Oscar party.

Previously, she starred in Simpson's 2014 "Surfboard" music video.

This month, Gigi graces THREE Vogue covers — Vogue's Spanish issue and two different Teen Vogue covers.

Through it all, she's kept her sense of humor.

And with 2.1 million Instagram followers, over 259,000 Twitter followers, and over 251,000 Facebook fans, looks like 19-year-old Gigi Hadid is just getting started.

SEE ALSO: Here's what Sports Illustrated swimsuit models look like in real life

MORE: 14 photos that prove why Hannah Davis is a perfect choice for Sports Illustrated's swimsuit issue cover girl

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NOW WATCH: This Sports Illustrated swimsuit rookie could become the next Kate Upton

It's impossible to watch "Selma" in America today and not feel confronted by the striking parallels to recent turmoil.

The Eric Garner and Michael Brown grand jury decisions have brought the issue of race back into the spotlight, and the calculated response and protest by unhappy American people harkens back to Martin Luther King Jr.'s crusade for civil rights. 

"Selma" is not your typical biopic: We don't see Martin Luther King Jr.'s birth, we don't see his death, and we don't get very much in between. What we do get is a focused look at one key event that changed the course of the country for the better — the monumental Civil Rights March in Selma, Alabama that led to national attention and widespread outrage for the South's 'desegregated in name only' approach and systematic opression of people of color.

There are scenes throughout "Selma" — people walking in the streets, demanding justice — that parallel news coverage from the past month. Many of Martin Luther King Jr.'s famous speeches are depicted in the film, and each sentiment is more strikingly relevant than the last.

The basic notion that all of the cops in the movie are white and any threat of violence to white people seem to be valued more than excessive force against blacks evokes the deaths of Gordon and Brown after aggressive police responses. It brings certain numbers to mind, such as how Ferguson is 60% black, the police force is 94% white, and that 93% of Ferguson arrests in 2013 were people of color.

One of the most memorable scenes is when protesters (without MLK Jr.) descend upon the bridge towards Selma and are accosted by ruthless, angry white southern police officers as well as a slew of spectators eagerly cheering them on. This scene depicts a watershed moment and major turning point in the movement, as news cameras and photographers were able to bring the issue into the homes of Americans nationwide. Martin Luther King's comments following the first march on the bridge was a national call-to-arms for people of all races.

Countless African-Americans are beaten and a few killed by the police during the marches, and the film does not shy away from the sheer brutality that was on display during this era. When King notes that none of the white police officers were convicted or tried for their awful crimes, more connections to the present are revealed and it's hard to swallow.

The march on Selma itself is emblematic of the larger problem we still face today. While blatant beatings orchestrated by law enforcement in broad daylight may be a thing of the past, the protests in Ferguson (and to a lesser extent those breaking out across the nation) and the overzealous militarized response are not far off. Sure, you can spin it and put the blame on the small subsection of protesters who were looting and causing a ruckus, but there were thousands protesting peacefully who were tear-gassed all the same. The parallels to the "hands up, don't shoot" movement are striking and shocking. 

David Oyelowo plays MLK Jr. with such a dignified grace and commanding presence that at times it's hard to believe you're not watching footage of the man himself. It's a subtle performance in which he says just as much with his eyes and demeanor than he does with words, and it's one of the year's best — even in a year of many wonderful performances.

"Selma" is a timely, important and magnificent film that proves no matter how far we've come towards equality in America, we still have a long way to go.

SEE ALSO: It's Clear That Race Is America's Deepest Problem

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Marvel released a third full-length trailer for "The Avengers: Age of Ultron" Wednesday, and it may be better than the first two.

We get a good long look at the film's new villain, Ultron (James Spader), an awesome shot of the Avengers team assembling in an action sequence, and a tease at a new superhero who will join the mix.

Like the previous two trailers, this one also contains the harrowing slowed-down overture of "I've Got No Strings" from Disney's "Pinocchio."

It looks great.

If you haven't seen the trailer, check it out here.

"The Avengers: Age of Ultron" is still over a month away from its May 1 release date, but its sure one of the highest-grossing films of the year. The first film, released in 2012, made over $1.5 billion in theaters. Now that you're caught up, let's dive in and overanalyze the final trailer. 

We open up to a gorgeous scenic overlook, and are introduced to a giant castle teased in previous trailers.

If we're to believe this is the same space, new villain Ultron's hanging out here with some new friends.

That's Quicksilver (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) and his sister the Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen).

What's the deal with the towel covering Ultron's face? Why is he being so mysterious? Is he trying to keep his identity secret ... because the robot hands are a total giveaway. 

(A reader points out this is a nod to Ultron's first disguise the Crimson Cowl.)

For those unfamiliar with Ultron, he starts off as part of a peacekeeping project Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) designs. As Ultron explains in his monologue, he was designed to save the world. He was supposed to be a sign of hope.

Ultron's not into that.

He wants more from life.

Cue the destruction. 

"There's only one path to peace, their extinction." It's not clear whether Ultron's referring to the Avengers or the entire human race, here. Probably both.

Hello "Avengers" tower!

Tony Stark's feeling really awful about this whole Ultron mess. If it wasn't enough that Ultron went rogue, it looks like he has taken control of Stark's entire fleet of Iron Man soldiers from the peacekeeping program.

As a result, Stark's putting the blame on himself. (Are we laying the groundwork for "Captain America: Civil War"? You bet.)

"I tried to create a suit of armor around the world, but I created something terrible."

Cut to scenes of the Ultron / Iron Man figures and Captain America looking on helplessly as these two cars dive off a bridge.

For those who were hoping for a Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) / Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) romance, it looks like that isn't happening. Black Widow looks awfully close to the Hulk (Mark Ruffalo). 

Gillette product placement!

I can't be the only one who thought of Wolverine at this scene. Yes, those look like some sort of retractable claws. 

Awesome action shot of the Avengers assembling.

Um, is this Tony Stark with Loki's scepter?

Flashback to "The Avengers":

Motorcycles dropping from aircrafts? "Furious 7" already did that, but it still looks cool.

Samuel L. Jackson is back as Nick Fury!

Here's a great shot of Ultron shooting lasers from his fingertips.

It looks like he's teaming up with Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch.

A voiceover from the character promises, "We can tear them apart from the inside."

This is followed by images of the Hulk fighting Iron Man in the anticipated Hulkbuster armor, the Scarlet Witch using powers of manipulation on Black Widow, and Quicksilver facing off with Captain America.

There will also be a scene where Thor, Captain America, and Iron Man meet face-to-face with Ultron, Quicksilver, and the Scarlet Witch.

It looks like Captain America is just getting thrown around this entire movie.

They'll have a few fight sequences together. 

Here's a closer look at that final shot.

The Scarlet Witch shows off some of her powers.

Geeze. Captain America is getting tossed around in this film. 

Thor: "Is that the best you can do?"

No, Thor. Ultron has a giant army of bots.

Captain America throws some serious shade at Thor.

The Avengers are going to need all the help they can get.

Look closely at the above photo, and it appears the Scarlet Witch may be helping out the Avengers team at this point in the film.

You can see her elsewhere in the background of this fight sequence.

What are those? It looks like these may be an extension of Black Widow's gauntlet bracelets which deliver high voltage shocks.

You won't like the Hulk when he's angry.

The best reveal is at the end of the trailer though as we get our first look at new hero Vision (Paul Bettany), who will be introduced in the sequel.

SEE ALSO: More on Vision, the new superhero in "Age of Ultron"

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Friday, Netflix released its new comedy series, “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.” 

The series, comes from Tina Fey, and follows 29-year-old Kimmy (Ellie Kemper of “The Office”) as she adjusts to life in New York City after being saved from a Doomsday cult. 

The majority of lead characters on the show, Kimmy (Kemper), Logan (Adam Campbell), and Jacqueline (Jane Krakowski), all use Apple’s iPhones regularly on the series. 

Warning: There are minor spoilers ahead. 

At the start of episode nine, there’s a quick dig taken at the company. 

While speaking on the phone with Kimmy, Logan explains a new iPhone is coming out that same day, which means that all their old ones are going to break.

The dig is a reference to how quickly Apple puts out new products.

Since the release of the first iPhone in 2007, there has been a new one released each year.

the first iPhone: June 29, 2007
iPhone 3G: July 11, 2008
iPhone 3G S: June 19, 2009
iPhone 4: June 24, 2010
iPhone 4S: October 14, 2011
iPhone 5: September 21, 2012
iPhone 5C and 5S: September 20, 2013
iPhone 6 and 6 Plus: September 19, 2014

SEE ALSO: How Netflix snagged "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt" from NBC

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At 3:10 p.m. on October 2, 1998, 13-year-old Gregory Witman returned home from school. Seven minutes later, his 15-year-old brother Zachary dialed 911 to report finding Gregory brutally murdered in their laundry room. What followed was five years of appeals, scant evidence, and botched trials that eventually resulted in Zachary's being charged with killing his brother. He was sentenced to life in prison without parole. This documentary follows parents Ron and Sue Witman, 15 years after their lives were turned upside down.

Video courtesy of Shannon Sun-Higginson& Joe Lee

To learn more about the Witmans and their trial visit witmanproject.com

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It's been a long winter for New Yorkers, and "Saturday Night Live" cast member Leslie Jones has had enough of the cold, among other things.

Jones, who moved from Los Angeles to New York to join "SNL" last year, expressed her many issues with the city on last night's "Weekend Update."

She first took issue with how much walking New Yorkers do:

Everything is hard in New York. Why does it need to be this cold? Why? And I'm tired of walking. I gotta stretch before I even go to the store. And New Yorkers don't know how to give directions, a 'couple of blocks' ends up being FIVE MILES. I went to meet a man at a restaurant that you New Yorkers say 'is a couple of blocks' and I almost froze to death like Jack Nicholson in 'The Shining.' These avenues is killing a bitch. Lord, why does the avenues have to be longer than the blocks? I've been on Fifth Avenue for ten hours! When is it going to turn to Sixth?

And stop trying to explain this East/West stuff to me, okay? Because I'm not going to get it. The last East/West thing I understood was Biggie and Tupac and that did not end well.

She then tackled the dirty subways:

And the subway? The subway just nasty. I was standing on the subway platform one day and a breeze came through and I wanted to kill EVERYBODY. Did rat feces dust just fly into my mouth? And my date, this guy who I thought I liked, is standing there like 'Ooo doesn't the breeze feel good?' and I'm like, 'No, shut up. We just died here, we just caught rat AIDS.'

For more, watch the full "Weekend Update" clip below: 

SEE ALSO: 'Dinner in NY' photo series reveals how New Yorkers really eat in their cramped apartments

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