Blog Archives
Mastering the Hustle
Chess is a game that can drive anybody crazy.
Chess is also a game that reveals crazy cool moments.
One of the best scenes in Searching for Bobby Fischer was when young Josh returned to the park with his mom to reunite with street hustler Vinnie. In this moment, Josh rediscovered his passion of playing fast and playing for fun.
Speed chess does that because it forces you to react and not overthink the labyrinth of complexities on the checkered board. You prepare as best you can, go out and give it your best shot.
And it’s a genuine thrill to witness it, especially when a chess grandmaster casually sits down for a game with someone running his mouth a tad too much.
This video was recorded and posted by chess grandmaster Maurice Ashley. Here’s his video description:
“I was schooled by the best hustlers back in the day! This was actually in Washington Square Park where the late great Vinnie Livermore used to beat my ass at that same table!”
Check that out, mate.
The Pursuit of Levitation
Apparently, now is the right time to hover.
Scheduling my ride on the first-ever hoverboard last Friday was born out of availability and great airfare. It never dawned on me that the subsequent week would reveal the first glimpse of the world’s second hoverboard: SLIDE.
Utilizing similar principals of magnetism, the specialized design group at Lexus has dipped its toe into the water (well, technically in the air) of hover technology following Arx Pax and their pioneering Hendo Hoverboard. Still, the specific components between the Hendo and Lexus hoverboards are distinguishable enough.
“Lexus said the test hoverboard in its “Amazing in Motion” campaign generates magnetic levitation by combining the effects of liquid nitrogen-cooled superconductors and permanent magnets” (USA Today).
Appearance wise, the hoverboard by Lexus is sleek and appears consumer-ready. Functionality wise, however, is still a lingering question. Looks like October 21st of this year will reveal that verdict, the same day Marty McFly quickly found out the answer to this question. Also, Hendo does not use liquid nitrogen-cooled superconductors, which is important to note for a couple reasons. First, both companies have legitimate claims to creating original hovering technologies, however similar the role magnets are to flotation. Second, it’s wonderful to see there is more than one way to build a hoverboard.
The creative minds at Hendo and Lexus, developing this desired mode of transportation out of nostalgia for the future (it makes sense), are in the alpha stage. Envisioning what the beta stage and beyond will produce is exciting as reductions in cost (Hendo’s board costs $10,000), battery life improvements and infrastructure will undoubtedly become focal points of business plans going forward. Perhaps this leads to a small skate park with magnets built underneath in the next few years (Lexus did that for the video above), then a long pathway around a park and then Marty’s daring and boundless flight throughout a town square will be reality soon thereafter.
Except over water.
The power of movies (and love for the BTTF fan) is inspiring for many reasons. Despite living in 2015 without most of the cool advancements featured in Back to the Future Part II, those scenes have clearly made a permanent impression on fans and innovators alike as a future to strive for and build towards. That’s incredible. The sparks of innovation can literally come from anywhere.
And Lexus seems to be opening a future debate: Will consumers buy a luxury car or a luxury hoverboard?
They may be surprised by the answer.
Happy Monday!
This past Friday was heavy.
One my lifetime dreams came true just three days ago: I rode a real-life hoverboard! Donating to a Kickstarter campaign last year to Hendo Hoverboard, which is owned and operated by the hovering technology firm Arx Pax in Los Gatos, California, provided me the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to do something in the realm of what Marty McFly did in Back to the Future Part II in the far-off 2015. The time spent trying to get control on this new gliding technology was a thrill and a learning experience. As I continue to try to upload pictures and footage of me riding the world’s first hoverboard, here’s that eternally cool clip we all love in the famously futuristic Hill Valley.
Can’t Wait for Nike’s Power Lace Shoes Later This Year!
Happy Tuesday!
Yesterday’s blog was dedicated to a big picture review of the box office record-shattering behemoth Jurassic World. So, today’s post will be a special Tuesday-edition of “Happy Monday!” I’m actually seeing Jurassic World again tonight, but this time in 3D. Reaction will follow tomorrow. However, the focus from that Central American theme park yesterday will respectfully shift south for a genuine thrill on the soccer pitch.
Neymar, that’s just money.
Have a Record-Breaking Week!
Jimmy's Daily Planet 