The seemingly mysterious ability of magnets to influence motion at a distance without any apparent energy source has long appealed to inventors. However, a constant magnetic field can do no work because the force it exerts on a charged particle is always at right angles to its motion; a changing field can do work, but requires energy to sustain. A "fixed" magnet can do work, but energy is dissipated in the process, typically weakening the magnet's strength over time. Thus, when a magnet does work by lifting an iron weight, potential energy is converted to kinetic energy. Once the iron hits the magnet its kinetic energy is converted to heat and sound. In order to release further energy, the iron must be moved away from the magnet. This converts the energy of your arm to potential energy again. Since the energy of parting the magnet and iron is identical to the energy released as the magnet and iron come together, no net energy can be gained by changing the iron – magnet distance.

but it makes sense to me that some genius could figure out how to make a perpetual motion device using the free energy of a magnet.
http://www.aeonia.com/universal-content-ta...ssed-technology

Sorry to be indelicate, but I find that the invention of perpetual motion machines, which necessitates a perpetual source of the inflow of energy to overcome its own friction, is akin to the concept of inventing a new technique for masturbation. It is of great curiosity to the inventor, of rapt interest to a few onlookers, and viewed with skepticism by the rest of the community, as it has been tried by many people in many different ways already, and there is likely nothing new under the sun, or under the covers, either.

(SNIP)The good news, or bad, is that it will probably become a red giant and swallow the Earth, before it dies completely.