Beauty

By Dr. Jim Ferguson If you’re not careful, you will miss the beauty in the world that is right beside you. Lately, due to the daily drumbeat of  hatred from the media, the alt-left, alt-right and some in between, I have found it difficult to remain positive and...

The Swamp

By Dr. Jim Ferguson Washington, D.C. is a beautiful city, at least on the surface. You might be surprised to learn that it was built on swamp land unsuitable for farming or much else. The layout for the city was done by Pierre L’Enfant, who left France to fight in the...

Blueprints

By Dr. Jim Ferguson My daughter’s adopted home is Portland, Oregon and so I pay special attention to what goes on there. And Portland is again in the news. Portland is like Knoxville in a lot of ways, including being a haven for the homeless. However, Portland is a...

The Inward Eye

By Dr. Jim Ferguson We have finally moved into our new downsized home built on the back of our small farm property. We call our new home, New House, as opposed to the Big House where we lived for thirty-seven years and raised our girls. Our daughters are now grown and...

Medicalese

By Dr. Jim Ferguson I’m often asked to comment on or explain what another doctor told a friend or family member. However, I’m careful to comment, other than in general terms, because I have incomplete information. Doctors call superficial opinions “curbside...

Communication

By Dr. Jim Ferguson Communication is a delicate art, and unfortunately, too often taken for granted. Do words adequately convey our thoughts? You can read my words, but they are, at best, a reflection of my thoughts. Plato’s illusion of the cave comes to mind. Direct...