The 'new' X-Files

If you were a fan of the old X-Files, the new X-Files premieres January 24 on FOX.

I can't wait to see Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny slip back into their old rhythms smoothly and easily. Mulder with his sleepy twinkle. Scully powerless to resist it.

I'm looking forward to aliens, abductions and government conspiracies, hopefully even bleaker and more complex than the old ones. The paranoia ... Mulder and Scully circling each other still, prodding and then retreating; the endless dance between believer and skeptic.

When they went off the air in 2002 everyone thought 'the government's gonna save us'... but now, 13 years later, everyone hates the government again. It really seems appropriate that there are new elements that have come into our culture, that we are all being spied on and things like that.

Mistrust of the government is even more rampant than it was when the show first started, making the idea of an X-Files revival practically a no-brainer. The first episode pulls off a neat kind of trick, in that just as it uses these present-day concerns as the backdrop to launch a brand-new conspiracy -- you better believe the name "Edward Snowden" is uttered in Mulder's opening voiceover -- in its look and feel it also functions as a time capsule to a kinder, gentler era (at least through the deceptive gauze of nostalgia).

Lymphoma

Lymphoma is a type of blood cancer that occurs when lymphocytes--white blood cells that help protect the body from infection and disease--begin behaving abnormally. Abnormal lymphocytes may divide faster than normal cells or they may live longer than they are supposed to.

Lymphoma may develop in many parts of the body, including the lymph nodes, spleen, bone marrow, blood or other organs.

There are two main types of lymphomas:

• Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) (formerly referred to as Hodgkin's lymphoma) - There are six types of HL, an uncommon form of lymphoma that involves the Reed-Sternberg cells.

• Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) (formerly referred to as non-Hodgkin's lymphoma) - There are more than 61 types of NHL, some of which are more common than others. Any lymphoma that does not involve Reed-Sternberg cells is classified as non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Signs and Symptoms

Certain symptoms are not specific to lymphoma and are, in fact, similar to those of many other illnesses. People often first go to the doctor because they think they have a cold, the flu or some other respiratory infection that does not go away.

Common symptoms include:

• Swelling of lymph nodes, which may or may not be painless
• Fever
• Unexplained weight loss
• Sweating (often at night)
• Chills
• Lack of energy
• Itching

Most people who have these non-specific symptoms will not have lymphoma. However, it is important that anyone with persistent symptoms be examined by a doctor to make sure lymphoma is not present.

Lymphoma Treatment

Some form of chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or a combination of the two is typically used to treat Hodgkin lymphoma. Bone marrow or stem cell transplantation may also sometimes be done under special circumstances. Most patients with Hodgkin lymphoma live long and healthy lives following successful treatment.

Many people treated for non-Hodgkin lymphoma will receive some form of chemotherapy, radiation therapy, biologic therapy, or a combination of these. Bone marrow or stem cell transplantation may sometimes be used. Surgery may be used under special circumstances, but primarily to obtain a biopsy for diagnostic purposes.

Although "indolent" forms of non-Hodgkin lymphoma are not currently curable, the prognosis is still very good. Patients may live for 20 years or more following an initial diagnosis. In certain patients with an indolent form of the disease, treatment may not be necessary until there are signs of progression. Response to treatment can also change over time. Treatment that worked initially may be ineffective the next time, making it necessary to always keep abreast of the latest information on new or experimental treatment options.

Fruits & Veggies

I try to eat five servings of fruits and veggies everyday.

Cancer experts and registered dietitians recommend eating five or more servings of a variety of veggies and fruits each day. But in addition to choosing which foods to eat, also consider how the fruits, vegetables, and processed foods you buy were produced.

What is organic? 

Organic farming relies on crop rotation, manure, compost, biological pest control (for example, ladybugs eating aphids), and other so-called “low-input” methods to control pests, enhance the soil, and fertilize crops. Organic farmers can use some pesticides that are approved by the U.S. National Organic Standards, but the approved list is far shorter than that of conventional farming. 

How does my apple get an organic sticker? 

Buying foods with the sticker that says “USDA organic” means the product was produced by certified farms or processors using consistent, uniform standards set by the US Department of Agriculture. But beyond that, things get a little confusing. Organic farmers aren’t required to use the USDA sticker, so sometimes produce doesn’t have a sticker or claim to be certified organic by any of more than 80 other private or state-run certifying agencies. Don’t worry, any of these certifications means the producer meets and maintains the USDA criteria.

Why such strict rules about pesticides?

Pesticides were originally used to protect crops pests and mold, but as we learn more about the unintended effects of pesticides on humans and other animals and plants, many people are concerned about a link between pesticides and cancer.

Eating more fruits and vegetables is something you can do to be as healthy as possible, and buying organic foods when possible is a great way to reduce your exposure to pesticides, antibiotics, and growth hormone.

15.3 M Viewers for Democratic Debate

The Democratic Debate was classy and everyone stuck to the issues that Americans care about. Period.

Democrats were never going to have the mud-slinging bar-style brawl that's been the centerpiece of the GOP debates, so viewership expectations weren't super high. But it turns out some Americans are still interested in the issues and what Democrats plan to do about them.

CNN's Tuesday night debate averaged 15.3 million viewers, easily making it the highest-rated Democratic debate ever.

The total viewer number was much lower than the totals for both recent Republican debates, but there was still a surprising surge of interest in Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders, Martin O'Malley, Lincoln Chafee and Jim Webb's first time together on stage.

The 15.3 million total far exceeded most expectations, including among CNN executives. For comparison's sake, the previous Democratic debate record was set in 2008, when Clinton and Barack Obama squared off in prime time on ABC. That debate had 10.7 million viewers.