TED pass on eBay

A couple of TEDsters sent me this tip:

One TED2008 Main Hall Pass has just gone up for auction on ebay. It's the only remaining legal way that someone can get into the event. The auction is being done with the approval of TED, because all the proceeds will go towards the Open Architecture Network, which was created in response to TED Prize Winner Cameron Sinclair's inspiring wish.

The pass, which guarantees coveted access to the main theater where speakers present, includes three special extras:

- a first-day meeting with TED super-connector Sunny Bates

- a coffee at TED with the brilliant founder of ebay Pierre Omidyar

- and a lunch with the charming, insightful and delightful Meg Ryan

TED2008 has been sold out for more than a year, so we suspect this is going to make someone very happy indeed. It won't be cheap, but the successful bidder will be making a philanthropic contribution to an organization that's empowering architects and designers to change the world.

TED2008 is Feb 27-March 1, in Monterey, California on the theme "The Big Questions."

Here's the ebay listing: Link

• [eclectro]

  Ted for the proletariat;
  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TED_%28conference%29

  The thing that is driving up the price on the TED ticket is not the conference yapping about the future tech of tomorrow, but the date with Meg Ryan. Otherwise, it’s a $50 ticket.

  For $32K (and probably more), I would hope that it is more than Subway sandwiches.

• [Agent 86]

  TED, first brought to my attention when I saw Photosynth and Seadragon demo’d on a youtube video. I had to find more, which led me to the actual TED.com site (sad to say, I still haven’t heard when we get to buy/download either program).

  I’ve laughed, been moved to tears, and been silenced by TED speakers, and have made it a daily routine to watch one video a day before I lay me down to sleep. I was actually cheating today and watching an extra TED video when I noticed this post.

  You got my hopes up till I saw the price tag!

• [Moon]

  Is it this TED?

  http://tedjesuschristgod.org/

  /No, thanks!

• [Mark Frauenfelder]

  Haw haw haw! No, it’s http://ted.com

• [Moon]

  You can see how I was confused. They are both: Inspired talks by the world’s greatest thinkers and doers!

  :D

• [ployntabs]

  what the frick is TED?

• [jeffjonez]

  If you think that post is worthy, then this link is three times as good: http://www.tedtedted.com/

• [cotonico]

  look this: http://www.spymac.com/details/?2334927

• [mdhatter]

  I just found the TED website about 2 months ago, I think it was through a link from here at BB!.

  I was deeply skeptical. Then I noticed there was no attempt to sell me anything except maybe tickets to the conference. Seems like clever people sharing bright ideas, in 18 minute blocks of time, gratis.

• [oddboy]

  If you are interested in TED but don’t win the auction take a look at BIL, an open-invitation and free conference being held in Monterey around the same time.

  Where TED is top-down, hierarchical, exclusive and expensive, BIL is open-source, grass-roots, egalitarian and free.

  http://www.BILconference.com

• [Carl Rigney]

  After 39 bids by 14 bidders the pass went for $33,850 to alanr0776, a new ebay account.