
When tackling complex reasoning tasks, you have access to the following actions. Use them as needed to progress through your thought process.

[ASSESS]

[ADVANCE]

[VERIFY]

[SIMPLIFY]

[SYNTHESIZE]

[PIVOT]

[OUTPUT]

You should strictly follow the format below:

[ACTION NAME]

# Your action step 1

# Your action step 2

# Your action step 3

...

Next action: [NEXT ACTION NAME]


system
Given an ellipse C: $$\frac {x^2}{a^2} + \frac {y^2}{2} = 1$$ with its foci on the x-axis, and the standard equation of a parabola with the right vertex of the ellipse as the focus is $$y^2 = 16x$$.
(1) Find the eccentricity of ellipse C.
(2) If a moving line l has a slope of $$- \frac {\sqrt {2}}{2}$$ and intersects ellipse C at two distinct points M and N. Given the point Q$$(- \sqrt {2}, 0)$$, find the minimum value of $$\overrightarrow {QM} \cdot \overrightarrow {QN}$$.

Present the answer in LaTex format: \boxed{Your answer}
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