I have lived most of my life in Littleton, Colorado, a southern suburb of Denver, graduating from Littleton High School, and earning a BA degree in biology with a minor in chemistry from the University of Colorado in Boulder, CO. I completed a Masters of Science in molecular genetics from Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, AZ. I have taught biology and physical science at the high school and college level. I currently am employed at the Denver VA Medical Center and provide data analysis, database management, computer support, and quality management reporting for the Cardiac Surgery Team.
I have always been interested in science, and in understanding how things work, whether it is a radio or the universe. I was very annoyed a number of years ago when trying to locate useful information on the internet about drinking water and water treatment options. Most of the information I found was quite exaggerated, very biased, or just plain wrong. The number of sites containing accurate information about drinking water is far greater today than when I started my site (probably in 97), but there is still a tremendous amount of exaggerated, biased, and just plain wrong information on the web.
With a solid background in science, research training (both experimental and library), and a strong interest in education and statistics, I decided to distill everything I knew or could find out about drinking water and build my own reference site. I try to find several reliable sources for everything I publish and then make certain it is consistent with the knowledge I already have. As I discover new information I try to post it.
I hope you find the information collected on my web sites useful.
Randy Johnson, MS - Biology
Some additional personal information and interests below:
That's me
engaged in one of my favorite activities these days - on the risers singing with
the 100 voice, men's a cappella chorus I am privileged to be a member of, Sound
of the Rockies (SoR) out of Denver, Colorado. SoR is
a competitive member of the Barbershop
Harmony Society, and this picture was taken on the International Stage in Montreal, Quebec,
July 5, 2003 where the
chorus placed 7th in a field of 20
other district
champion
choruses from the United States, Canada, and England.
The
summer of 2007, the chorus placed third at International Competition in our
hometown, Denver, CO.
You can view a
larger picture here or watch the 2007 Sound of the Rockies contest
performance
here.
There are
over 800 chapters of the Barbershop Harmony Society
in the United States and Canada. In many cities and towns these chapters,
which often consist of an a cappella chorus and several quartets, provide
top-quality, family entertainment opportunities in their
communities. I would strongly encourage anyone who loves music to
check the BHS
listing of chapters, determine if there is a nearby chorus and/or quartet,
contact them to find out when/where they will be performing next, and plan to
attend a concert. On a whim, my wife and I attended a SoR concert in
November of 2001, and I was so amazed by the sound and energy coming from the
stage, that I determined to become a part of the group. You can read this
story at YourHub.com
(you may need to register).
Listen
to the chorus (1.4MB MP3 file)
On a different note: Besides singing and work - and updating websites, I keep busy with a variety of activities and interests which include:
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Astronomy
and cosmology - I am fascinated by the universe we inhabit, and
periodically, on dark nights (which are sadly becoming rarer as light
pollution increases), I drag my telescope out to look at the planets and
an assortment of deep space objects. I can only marvel at the images
that the Hubble
Space Telescope has brought to the world. |
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Geology and amateur rock and mineral collecting - Living in Colorado provides some fun locations for mineral and fossil collecting with my wife and son. We spent one afternoon, for example, collecting calcite crystals and chipping plain opal out of a hill near Grand Junction. |
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Gardening - Although the recent Colorado drought has put a crimp in this activity, I enjoy growing, harvesting, cooking and eating the produce of my garden. I enjoy planting varieties of giant pumpkins, that if properly cared for, can produce several hundred pound pumpkins. Mine have yet to top 100 pounds, but I keep trying. |
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Novice Vintner - An attempt ten years ago to brew wine from concord grapes picked in a neighbor's yard effectively killed any desire to repeat the experience - - - until recently. My wife and I enjoy a good bottle of wine and we just (4/07) decided to try several of the varietal wine kits on the market - started with a Cabernet Sauvignon (which will take several years to mature) and will soon start brewing a Chardonnay (because we can't wait several years to begin drinking the fruits of our labor). |
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Web and graphics design - I put this drinking water information site together, and I help with creating and managing the Sound of the Rockies' site and developed a series of web pages to promote my Dad's new book, A Thread of Gold, a historical- fiction adventure novel about the search for a lost gold bonanza in the the Colorado Rockies, which is scheduled to be published in summer 2005. |
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Cooking - My wife and I enjoy, when time allows, digging into the spice rack and creating culinary masterpieces. We processed 50 pounds of chokecherries we collected along the nearby Highline Canal (Aug 03) for making jelly, and perhaps some wine. |
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Photography - I enjoy trying to get just the right balance of light and composition in a photograph. |
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Folk singing and guitar playing - I have been singing and playing the guitar since high school. My guitar has been a good companion over the years at home, off at school, and on camping trips. |
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Reading
and collecting antique books & magazines - I enjoy
frequenting local book sales looking for interesting old books and
magazines.
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Yours in Harmony
Randy Johnson
Everything
You Always Wanted To Know About Drinking Water
Everything
You Always Wanted To Know About Selecting A Drinking Water Treatment System
