I often heard that this was an echo of Genesis 3:6, i.e.:
When the woman saw that the tree was good for food (lust of the flesh --
that which the flesh hungers for and desires) and that it was a delight
for the eyes (that which the eye sees and desires), and that the tree
was desirable to make one wise (pride of life, i.e., what one can be or
attain to in life -- or possibly, since BIOS in I John 3:17 means
earthly goods, hH ALAZONEIA TOU BIOU may mean pride of [one's]
possessions or what one possesses with respect to making a showing in
life)....
Re: reporters. I have had two BAD experiences, and they will hopefully
be my last. One reporter's misunderstanding and misquoting of me (even
after I had spent over an hour carefully and methodically explaining
myself to her) made me sound like a fool; the second incident for a
while made me think it might cost me my job (again, I was misquoted,
only in this case maliciously and deliberately so -- and I had thought I
was helping the reporter and the State by being open and honest about a
touchy political/financial issue we were dealing with that was coming to
light). NEVER AGAIN!!!!! (Unless I have written full authority to
proofread, edit and approve what is to be printed.)
CHARIS