House

Rented the first four eps to see what all the fuss was about. It's engaging and intelligent - sort of a cross between Sherlock Holmes (hence the name, I assume) and the ER column in Discovery magazine. I love how House's brusqueness removes what I call "Flintstoning" from scenes. In any other show, a scene where doctor confronts recalcitrant patient would have filled at least the first minute with "I'm told you're refusing treatment" etc etc, running on the spot with information we already have. House cuts straight to the point: "You're an idiot". The same scene would normally include a speech from House while the camera slowly zooms in; instead it's all fast repartee and the crucial message is conveyed in a couple of lines. Also, Hugh Laurie's American accent sounds extremely convincing to my admittedly inexpert ear. I'm impressed.

Natural History

Well! *claps hands* Which of my neglected LJ projects shall I return to first? I know - it's time for more of Mother Nature's boundless creativity! So today's phylum is the ENTOPROCTA. These are the goblet worms, about 150 species of little marine thingies that filter feed with the help of ciliated tentacles around their mouths. Rudely, their anuses are inside the ring of tentacles too - other animals sensible put their bottoms outside their feeding mechanism.

In 99% of cases, you had never heard of them before this posting. I hadn't. (I suspect that in 99% of cases, you will never hear of them again.)

And here's a picture.

Still not up to the Deuterostomes (you, me, starfish). Only five more phyla to go, though.