Wow. Prime Minister Stephen Harper has extended the life of his minority Conservative government until the new year after Governor General Michaelle Jean today granted his request to suspend Parliament. recedented decision after a lengthy meeting with Harper this morning at Rideau Hall. Her consent to prorogue Parliament means the work of the Commons has been discontinued, allowing Harper’s Conservatives to escape a confidence vote next week that would have meant the defeat of his government. Okay, obviously there’s ...

tags: governor general michaelle jean, rideau hall, unprecedented decision, stephen harper, conservative government, prorogue, parliament, new year

http://www.ted.com Science writer Richard Preston talks about some of the most enormous living beings on the planet, the giant trees of the US Pacific Northwest. Growing from a tiny seed, they support vast ecosystems -- and are still, largely, a mystery.

tags: us pacific northwest, giant trees, richard preston, writer richard, tiny seed, science writer, pacific northwest, ecosystems, ted, mystery