ELECTION - THE DAY AFTER: 9:07 PM EST

Lisa and I both theorize that Ben is not dying of a spinal tumor. That he and the Others are playing mind games with Jack. Think about it: doesn't it seem too convenient that Ben's x-rays just happened to be where Jack - a neurosurgeon - would see them and be naturally interested in them? Yeah, I guess it could be argued that Ben wanted Jack to see it and naturally be sympathetic enough to do the surgery... but that still doesn't seem right somehow. Jack spotted the x-rays in the very same episode when Ben conned Sawyer with that whole "chest bomb" thing, so it's altogether possible that this tumor thing is all a big con too, to get Jack to cooperate with them willingly.

Okay, back to the show...