MANY OF the "THINKING IN PRIVATE" posts originally appeared in a newsletter written for a U.S. India company headquartered in the Washington, DC area. The newsletter was sent to a dozen major U.S. cities where the company had offices--I imagined myself a syndicated writer. The intent was to entertain as much as to evoke thought; to cause readers to collectively ponder a bit. The 250-350 word columns, short essays by any measure, became a popular read throughout the company. The column appeared in the newsletter for several years. The many selections ran the gamut on subject matter