scrutator (skroo-TAY-tuhr) noun
One who investigates. From Latin scrutator (searcher), from scrutari (to examine), from scruta (trash).
This is from A Word A Day, a little e-mail germ I get, as you might suspect, every day. I like this word, scrutator, because you can see scrutiny in it, and tator, as in commentator, but where the hell does trash come from? Scruta is trash? Who knew?
So I went in search of an appropriate picture and as I followed my nose through Google, I tried "garbologist" and came up with this little gem.
There's a guy in Washington, an artist, (that's him up there) who picks up trash and puts it into plastic balls that he then sells in gumball machines.
This is from the Washington Post article:
"...he collects a losing lottery ticket, a cigarette butt and a packet of parmesan cheese. He stoops over for a clear candy wrapper and holds it up for inspection.
'Obviously, this is a very banal piece of trash,' Goodwin says. 'But I kind of think everything deserves a second look. . . . Someone designed this, manufactured it, used it and tossed it away."
It's called Trashball and you can learn more about this guy here.
File today's post under "Shiny Objects." Life is always surprising and often, like today, it surprises in a good way. It's a small wonder, to be sure, but I'll take it.
5 comments:
What's the word for a guy who posts blogs about stupid words?
I'm alos looking for a job like this guy minus the trash, plastic and gumball machines.
Jim
Jim,
I think the word you're looking for is "desperate."
You blog once a week, I got readers clamoring for fresh content on a daily basis. It's exhausting.
And if you get that job, can I be your assistant?
I'm not sure if this says more about the Romans or me, but why is it that so much Latin sounds dirty?
Scrutator. I'm sorry, but that just sounds like a scrotal rash. Or a really horrifying county fair fried potato on a stick thing.
Either way, you're doing wonders for my diet.
Stephen,
I have to say, the first time I saw it I thought of vegetable porn.
I'm afraid to think what that reveals about my subconscious.
Oh, and when I say vegetable porn, I mean cartoon vegetable porn. Otherwise, that would just be sick.
Whatever you say, Mr. Rusty Trombone.
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