Mr Dion has had more success with his improvised idea for an emergency meeting of federal and provincial leaders to come up with a government plan for the economy.

ECONOMIST: Economic fears ambush Stephen Harper��s hopes of a majority

But his big ears and resourcefulness also serve him well in more open, less-structured improvised settings.

NPR: Summing Up Drew Gress' 'Irrational Numbers'

On his hands and knees, he had painstakingly searched a ditch, often with little more than his fingertips, for improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

BBC: UK forces' Operational Awards honour battlefield bravery

He said troops were making progress finding and clearing improvised explosive devices because the more battle-hardened, savvy insurgents in this area were being arrested.

CNN: Al-Zarqawi video 'act of desperation'

The percussion-based band consists of 17 musicians, and each show is completely improvised, led by a conductor who uses more than 70 hand, finger and body signals to tell the musicians what and how to play.

BBC: Buenos Aires�� must-see music event

Sonic Youth's latest album, Rather Ripped features shorter, more conventionally structured and melodic songs with less guitar-based, improvised noise.

NPR: Sonic Youth's B-Sides Are Worthwhile and Strong

Mr. Gates scrapped much of the Army's multibillion dollar Future Combat Systems, after it became clear that its lighter, faster, more fuel-efficient vehicles would not do much to protect soldiers from the threat of improvised explosive devices.

WSJ: A General for Afghanistan