I am not so much interested in the topiary-scaling skills of this Jack Russell terrier, impressive as they may be. No, what really gets me about this clip is the giggle of girlish glee emitted by broadcaster Dara Brown as the tape unspools. Brown, of course, runs the weird animal story desk for "Today"; those of us with an enthusiasm for eccentric critter tales have long appreciated the seriousness with which she approaches the beat. It's not just competent professionalism—when Dara Brown introduces a piece about a baby tiger who believes he is a baby elephant, you know that Dara Brown takes that story just as seriously as you do, that she understands the importance of the weird animal story as a crucial part of our media diet. So when Dara Brown, who has seen more canines climb shrubs than many of us have had warm baths, cannot help but chuckle approvingly during what should be an absolutely routine recounting of sapling ascension by a plucky pooch, it says something very profound about the human capacity for joy. Perhaps especially in these troubled times, we too often reflect upon the more gloomy aspects of our nature; it is nice to be reminded that there is also, within every darkened heart, a place in which the laughter lives. Dara Brown is proof. Also, check out that dog! It totally climbed that tree!

Through the miracle of time-lapse photography, some guy captured the transformation of an acorn into an oak tree. Or, at least, a baby oak tree. What do you call it, a sapling? I am not an dendrologist, so what do I know? Anyway, this seems remarkably reminiscent of the filmstrips they would show the children of the '70s. It's kind of trippy and chill or whatever. Enjoy. Maybe ponder the wonders of nature while you're at it. Actually, just handle it however you want. I trust you.

Great. Now even the trees are going to destroy the planet. A major bummer of an article in Nature explains that, due to global warming, trees are growing farther north than they have before. And how, because tree-tops are darker than barren land, they have less "albedo" (that's a cool word!) or "reflectiveness," and so the earth with absorb more heat from the sun. "When the vegetation moves in, there will be an amplification of the warming," says Inez Fung, an atmospheric physicist at the University of California, Berkeley. If you're now wondering whether we're supposed to do with trees-chop them down or not-it doesn't matter, apparently. The article goes on to say that the Arctic is changing faster and more dramatically than scientists thought it would, and, that, basically, we're fucked. "Asked what her team's findings might mean for the international climate negotiations going on in Copenhagen, Fung says she is impatient to see progress. But she also sounds somewhat fatalistic. 'Whatever they agree to," she says, "is not fast enough to stop the changes that we are seeing.'"

Looking north from the intersection of St. Nicholas and Amsterdam Avenues toward 163rd Street in Washington Heights, you might notice what appears to be an exceedingly large tree. And as the August heat radiates off the surrounding pavement, you might say to yourself: WTF, is that a mirage? Because really, there's nothing about the neighborhood-replete with liquor stores, decaying apartment palaces, abandoned lots and vacant storefronts-that would seem to lend itself to hosting such a magnificent specimen. READ MORE

A family in Stockton, CA, claims the image of Michael Jackson made itself manifest on their tree stump on the day of his death. "'Michael Jackson was an icon to us,' said one neighbor. 'To Stockton, Michael Jackson meant more to us than Jesus, to some people. I think they're both about even.'" MSNBC talking head/Awl photojournalism correspondent Ana Marie Cox, who was scheduled to appear on the tree prior to Jackson's passing, had no comment.