I am Dan Moore, writing under the pseudonym nirtog. Any John Smith will know that we, with common names, prefer to avoid mixups. As nirtog, the one and only, I am distinguished from all other talented writers and fellow sojourners.

A professional career in hydraulic engineering gave me insight into one of Leonardo Da Vinci’s technical interests. Like him (albeit more successfully), I designed several instream structures to facilitate human needs, such as irrigation, fish passage, flood prevention, and recreation. I also reviewed numerous stream and watershed projects to restore or maintain natural stream functionality. Additionally, I forecasted river flows from mountain snowpacks for many downstream interests.

Leonardo Da Vinci went boldly after anything that piqued his interest. As I also try to straddle the great human endeavors of art and science, I feel inspired by his appetite for audacious inquiry into any aspect of life on planet Earth.

Other interests include the history and philosophy of science. I enjoy figuring out how we know what we know or believe what we believe (epistemology). My spirituality is Jesus centered but free from institutional boundaries, a synthesis of naturalism with belief in a Creator. I backpack, bike, run, bask, and hang out with interesting people like my wife.