Floaters

The Urban Dictionary defines a floater as: 

"...a social mastermind who wavers between members of one ... [or more] clique[s] ..., pitting people against one another and leeching out information without seeming like a threat."

Urban Dictionary, Floater

The dictionary also identifies a floater fecal matter (aka "shit") that floats in the water. Beware the Floater. 
 
If you like to walk along the shores of the many creeks in Kansas, you will come across Floaters. The Floater is the most common large species of mussel in Kansas. Its shell can reach 6 to 10 inches, a tasty meal for a raccoon or an egret. The discarded shells of the Floater mussel can be found in Kansas along muddy creeks and in lakes. It gets its name from the fact that when it dies, the shell rises to the surface of the water and floats.

Floater mussel

This one was a recent victim of a predator, possibly an egret who left his white feather behind.

Egret feather Floater mussel

What fascinates me is the iridescence of the inner shell. It is called nacre, also known as mother of pearl, the same organic-inorganic material that goes into pearls. We are all rich if we only see it.




Pretty cool.