t's like a story out of the dim distant past; Pirates of the Indian Ocean. There has been a growing torrent of hijackings in the Gulf of Aden. The past fortnight alone has seen at least eight attacks. These Somali pirates currently hold at least 17 ships and over three hundred crewmen for ransom. It won't be long before shipping companies revert to the far longer and more expensive route, going via the Cape of Good Hope. The Indian Navy appears to be the most responsive and successful of fighters against these criminals of the high seas, who come from a country which has lacked any trace of a civilized or controlling government. Massive multi-million ransoms are being demanded and in some cases paid. In one of this week's attacks the Indians have released 'photos of their swift and successful attack on the criminal vessels. The UN should be involved immediately. And besides ,with the world's largest fleet, by far, why are we not attacking the criminal element that seems to be raking in a small fortune for themselves.

Despite advances in medicine, Americans are less healthy than we used to be, and the next generation may be even worse off. How to reverse the trend before it's too late? Those words appear on the cover of the current issue of Time magazine. It shouldn't be that way. We still have a higher infant mortality rate than many other developed nations. In fact we rank just 34th in the world of life expectancy. We spend more on healthcare than any other nation. We import nurses and doctors from many other countries. Within the next decade healthcare costs are expected to reach one fifth of our economy. There are experts who believe that for the first time the current population of children will have a shorter lifespan in the USA than their parents. We are still spending more on healthcare than any other nation in the world, but despite the money, we don't live healthy lives. Smoking, that pernicious killer, has been on the decline, yet despite that tobacco is taking well over 400,000 lives a year. Again, we are still the world's top spender on health care per capita. However, millions of our fellow citizens are at real risk because they don't have insurance or easy access to a doctor. May I recommend you get hold of the Time edition dated December one; it outlines the sorry state of American health and suggests many answers.

More names are emerging in the Obama quest for a cabinet of talented and experienced people. It still isn't entirely clear whether Sen. Hillary Clinton has the job of Secretary of State, if she wants it., But it is appearing more and more likely. I feel she would be an excellent selection. With women under consideration, it was good to hear that the president -elect wants Arizona's governor, Janet Napolitano, for the position of secretary for homeland security. Another good and experienced choice. Then Tom Daschle ,the former Senate majority leader ,is almost certain to become the secretary for health and human services. Thus far just one contender for his cabinet was ruled out, Penny Pritzker, a well-known Chicago billionaire business-woman. She dismissed speculation that she would become commerce secretary. By the time he becomes president and moves into the White House as our president, he will have assembled an excellent and talented cabinet.