Yes folks! The best actor awards in every male category at the 2009 Academy Awards have been revoked. And the new winner is....Ruben! (And during his acceptance speech the mic was on and something which SHOULD have been said privately between two people was overheard..the money wrenching, I mean, heart wrenching story of dropped health insurance.) You shoulda seen the judges. They voted for him AGAIN AFTER HIS ACCEPTANCE SPEECH EVEN THOUGH HE HAD ALREADY WON!! How could they not feel obligated after that cleverly placed tear jerker performance!

Sonographer...
YOU are VERY funny...you make me laugh! Especially the whole "voted for him again after he won"...LOL Keep the hits comin'!

That insurance comment was the one step too far. I work on health care reform, so, frankly, we are all one illness away from possible bankruptcy and John is cancer-free for now. Thankfully.

I've understood all his emotions, ability to express them, and to be P.C., have appreciated their loving, long term relationship helpful for all to see. But, really.

Maybe the whole show deserves an Oscar. We get promos with spliced judge and dancer comments shifted to toy with us for the week. Now we get previews of Pinky's injured ankle, only Shayla and Ruben atop the scales, and the Facebook DYAO page asks who of the three will win.

That suspense is high drama.

Wow...you really dislike Rueben

If you mean me, I'm a fan of Ruben's dancing, his grabbing hold of his life and changing it, and applaud the weight loss. Even the matter of act loving support with John.

Still there is an air of entitlement, and maybe a little manipulation of John's condition. I'm sure they need the money, but all the contestants could.

As I said, anything can happen on the health front, and we're all unprepared.

I don't dislike Ruben but I really, really dislike him playing his partner's illness for sympathy. At least half my friends don't have health insurance. It's just the way it is, if your employer doesn't offer it or it's too expensive, people do without. It's a risk, sure, but many people don't have a choice.

He's manipulated the judges into voting for him out of sympathy when it should be based on skill. Sure, I applaud his weight loss but he's not THAT great of a dancer.

You missed the whole point of the insurance comment. Ruben and John were well aware of how the comment would escalate the pity party. It's not about a callous attitude on anyone's part, it's about appropriateness and fairness of winning in an honest fashion. As for writing health care reform, look on the Facebook cause "Emergencies are for emergencies," and you'll understand that medical waste and fraud needs to be addressed BEFORE throwing money into the entitlement bonfire with a healthcare reform bill. Yep, it's my money that's always being generously thrown around. One gets tired of being on the cleanup crew. I see waste and cheating every day as an ultrasound tech AND especially when I'm on call for the ER. Gotta be in the trenches to see the reality of it all. Of course I work in the medical field because of my love and devotion to helping people and never begrudge the truly needy. My coworkers in radiology, physicians and nurses feel the same. I see dedicated physicians working long hours and my hat is off to these professionals who are thought to be raking in the dough but mathematically speaking, their hourly rate is way below what they deserve for their profession. In addition, controlling frivolous lawsuits would help ease the number of extra testing physicians are forced to order to protect their licenses. One can never tell when the serial lawsuit patient will roll into the door.

Also, from my experience, one never knows the mask that people wear. Maybe one of the other contestants has their own story, a more heart wrenching story they keep private because they are committed to winning fair and square. Put yourself in the other contestants shoes and you'll understand their perspective.

Contestants talking about relationships and stories related to their struggles as an overweight person IS appropriate. Evoking sympathy, which is not in the spirit of the show (which is to EARN points honestly with dancing scores and weight loss) is unethical.

You missed the whole point of the insurance comment. Ruben and John were well aware of how the comment would escalate the pity party. It's not about a callous attitude on anyone's part, it's about appropriateness and fairness of winning in an honest fashion. As for writing health care reform, look on the Facebook cause "Emergency rooms are for emergencies," and you'll understand that medical waste and fraud needs to be addressed BEFORE throwing money into the entitlement bonfire with a healthcare reform bill. Yep, it's my money that's always being generously thrown around. One gets tired of being on the cleanup crew. I see waste and cheating every day as an ultrasound tech AND especially when I'm on call for the ER. Gotta be in the trenches to see the reality of it all. Of course I work in the medical field because of my love and devotion to helping people and never begrudge the truly needy. My coworkers in radiology, physicians and nurses feel the same. I see dedicated physicians working long hours and my hat is off to these professionals who are thought to be raking in the dough but mathematically speaking, their hourly rate is way below what they deserve for their profession. In addition, controlling frivolous lawsuits would help ease the number of extra testing physicians are forced to order to protect their licenses. One can never tell when the serial lawsuit patient will roll into the door.

Also, from my experience, one never knows the mask that people wear. Maybe one of the other contestants has their own story, a more heart wrenching story they keep private because they are committed to winning fair and square. Put yourself in the other contestants shoes and you'll understand their perspective.

Contestants talking about relationships and stories related to their struggles as an overweight person IS appropriate. Evoking sympathy, which is not in the spirit of the show (which is to EARN points honestly with dancing scores and weight loss) is unethical.

Just a quickie, but we can't wait for improved access to health care to instead work on fraud. More a hand in hand at the same time. I know this administration is more motivated to work on fraud and regulation than the last, which gave us a mixed Medicare which was wasn't paid for.

Too many people aren't covered at all to delay, and are losing everything because of bills they can't play if they get treatment at all.

Trusting insurance to regulate will never happen; they promised in '93. If we put reforms into law, who is to say they won't pass on costs. As much as rates have increased and execs make windfalls, premiums are set to double in ten years; we need cost savings at the same time.

We need a good public plan with more access than currently offered, but all those industry scare tactics have done their best to misinform and reduce the option.

Single payer was off the table for reasons that were perceived would backfire. Considering fear of any change, but should fear inaction more, may have been correct.