ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times

DATE: Saturday, January 18, 1997             TAG: 9701200094
SECTION: EDITORIAL                PAGE: A-9  EDITION: METRO 
                                             TYPE: BRIEFLY PUT 

HOT AIR AND HOT CHOCOLATE

* SEVERAL commentators have noted parallels between the recently intercepted phone call involving House Speaker Newt Gingrich and, some years ago, an intercepted call involving Virginia's then-Lt. Gov. Doug Wilder.

Both calls were by cellular phone, which easily can be intercepted by accident. Tapes and/or transcripts of the private conversations landed in the hands of political opponents. Legal and ethical questions arose when the opponents subsequently disseminated the conversations' contents.

Less noted is another parallel: The conversations themselves amounted to no more than a blip, if that, on the scandal meter. Wilder was "caught" gossiping with a supporter about his efforts to undermine political rival Charles Robb. Gingrich was "caught" in a conversation among allies about how to minimize damage from publicity about the speaker's tax-dodging political "charities." The latter may be a scandal; politicians talking politics is not.

* NEWS WE didn't need to hear: Chocolate reduces stress.

So reports a British researcher. As if chocoholics needed an excuse to break old New Year's diet resolutions.

But wait. There's more chocolate news from England we didn't need to hear: Though the cocoa supply is more than adequate for current consumption, analysts believe there may not be enough in the next decade to supply the demand.

The Chinese, you see, may develop a craving now that Western chocolate manufacturers are peddling the delicacy to China's 1.2 billion people.

To prevent a catastrophe, a British research team is studying the genetic composition of cocoa trees in quest of breeding secrets that could lead to higher cocoa yields or even genetically engineered cocoa.

But suppose the research is unsuccessful. Suppose we're facing a future of worldwide chocolate famine. Those left jittery by the prospect may need to consume some stress-reducers soon.

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