The most thought-provoking conference of the year - TED - kicked off this week in Long Beach, Calif. TED 2011: The Rediscovery of Wonder united cross-disciplinary leaders in technology, entertainment and design.

"For 2011, we are assembling a cast of characters capable of stirring the imagination as never before. Explorers, storytellers, photographers, scientific pioneers, visionaries and provocateurs from all parts of the globe. And we won’t be forgetting the other, harder-edged meaning of wonder -- where “I wonder” equals “I ponder.” We’ll be adding in strong servings of thoughtful insight, so that the possibilities we dream of are anchored in reality."

Check the TED 2011 website for news and as always check in with TED.com throughout the year as they post videos from this year's conference.

We <3 TED!