hoverboard

We've been burned before, so we collectively need to take this with the tiniest grain of salt possible in this news.

What do we know?

Sometime yesterday Lexus International posted this 40 second video of some dude skate boarding, gives a quote by one of their engineers saying "Nothing is impossible..." then shows a SUPPOSED hoverboard.

Then, that dude lightly puts his foot on it.



Lexus even has a shiny website declaring their impossible success.

On it they claim...

The Lexus Hoverboard uses magnetic levitation to achieve amazing frictionless movement. Liquid nitrogen cooled superconductors and permanent magnets combine to allow Lexus to create the impossible. Wrapped in a design that is uniquely Lexus, the Hoverboard features the iconic Lexus spindle grille signature shape, using materials found in the luxury car brand, from the high tech to the natural bamboo.

We have seen this time and time again. And it's either some elaborate, cynical marketing campaign or some $10,000 nonsense machine that can only glide for four seconds on a surface paved with pelts of endangered animals.

So let's all just calm down.

For one, Engadget has already smashed part of my heart, exposing this thing's limitation:

We got in touch with Lexus, and confirmed that like the other examples we've seen, there is a metal surface underneath the skate park shown here -- it's real, but you won't be riding this thing just anywhere.

See! This thing barely works! Or is a hype campaign!

I'm going to go weep for my imaginary future now.

IS IT LOST!?!?!?!

"Beau had two loose teeth he's been talking about pulling forever. Finally we tied floss to them and a chair, put him on a hoverboard, and he planned to go backwards really fast. His older brother Tate was filming and decided to just pull the floss and get it over with because Beau was taking too long! We're happy we captures Beau's reaction of pure excitement, nervousness, and then worry that we lost his teeth!"

Looks like the Catholic Church is faster to punish a Priest for riding a hoverboard than touching alter boys.

The Diocese of San Pablo wishes to address an issue involving one of its clergy. Last December 24, 2015, before the final blessing of the Christmas eve mass, as a way of greeting his parishioners, the priest sang a Christmas song, while going around the nave standing on a hoverboard.

That was wrong.

The Eucharist demands utmost respect and reverence. It is the Memorial of the Lord's Sacrifice. It is the source and summit of Christian life. It is the Church's highest form of worship. Consequently, it is not a personal celebration where one can capriciously introduce something to get the attention of the people.

The priest said that it was a wake up call for him; he acknowledged that his action was not right and promised that it will not happen again.

He will be out of the parish and will spend some time to reflect on this past event.

He would like to apologize for what happened.

Ok so it's not a Hoverboard, but it does look like terrifying fun!

Hoverboards now invading Halloween Costumes

Hendo is introducing the world's first real working hoverboard.

So where does the HENDO hoverboard stand today? Well, about 1 inch off the ground. As you can see from the video above, the prototype is real and it works! But to see it hover in person, and better yet, to defy gravity by riding it, is something you need to experience as well.

With the support of the Kickstarter community, we all can. We need your help to put the finishing touches on the Hendo Hoverboard, to help us produce them, and to create places to ride them.

Hendo is looking for $250,000 in funding to refine the working technology from the prototype and start production. Pledges start at $5, but if you want your childhood dream to come true $10,000 will get you a real working Hendo Hoverboard.

"Do you trust me? Then believe me when I tell you that riding together on this isn't safe." Not quite as romantic as Disney made it seem.