When I was growing up, I knew a lot of Brians. In eighth grade, I once was one of five Brians in a class of about 30, leading to all kinds of confusion. (I wasn't even the only Brian H.) There is, of course, a Monty Python movie of a certain name. And in France, I recently learned, in many English language classes, Brian was once the default name for an American boy.

And now I share a name with a spider.  

Scientists in Australia announced the discovery of a new species this week, Dolomedes briangreenei, or the Brian spider. This type of water spider waits on the surface until an insect, small fish, or tadpole comes near. The spider races to