The 25th annual TED Conference is in full swing at the Long Beach Convention Center (we know because of the giant red balloon outside the Performing Arts Center) and already the tech-gathering is sending shockwaves through Long Beach and the nation.

One of the innovations drawing major attention to this year's conference is the Aptera 2e, an electric three-wheeled vehicle that has a 100-mile range and achieves the equivalent of 200mpg.  Yesterday, Long Beach Mayor Bob Foster continued his hobby of driving unusual vehicles by scoring a test-drive in the 2e, which Aptera says is ready for production in September and will retail in the mid-20k to mid-40k range.

Mayor Foster called the price range "reasonable" as he spoke with Aptera founders Steve Fambro and Chris Anthony, then climbed into the gullwing-door 2e for a ride.  Afterwards, he praised the car's ride quality and smoothness, and got behind the wheel to take a spin.

The Aptera 2e was named one of Time Magazine's "Best Inventions of 2008," and you can read more about it here.



Mayor Foster behind the wheel of the Aptera 2e.

TED may be all about business behind closed doors, but when those great minds need to unwind they like to let loose and... take tours of water desalinization plants.

I kid, but TED executives did take some time recently to view a demonstration of the Long Beach Desalinization Project, the most advanced seawater desalinization project in the country.  With water shortages looming in our near future, developing seawater desalinization technology is becoming an increased priority.  Below, Long Beach Water assistant general manager Dr. Robert Cheng guides a team of conference attendees.




But there have been actual after-hours parties as well, evidenced by these photos sent to us by Becky Blair of Blair Commercial.  Some sections of Pine Avenue were rented out to throw gatherings for conference attendees.




In what may be the most bizarre news to come out of TED, super-billionaire Bill Gates had an interesting method of emphasizing his point about the need to fight malaria-carrying mosquitos in Third World countries: he released a jar full of the insects into the crowd. 

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation confirmed his actions and were quick to point out that the insects were tested and none were actually carrying malaria.  But you have to wonder whether they extended the same courtesy to the guests who paid thousands of dollars to attend the conference, and tested them to see whether they may be allergic to mosquito bites. 

We've not heard reports of any backlash from the incident, so Long Beach gets a day in the national media spotlight at the very least.  TED is great.

By Ryan ZumMallen, Managing Editor

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