The Morning Call from Allentown, Pennsylvania • 35

INSIDE: Local Favorites, D4 Weekend Winners, D5 Television, D8 Religion, D9 Advice, D8 MAGAZINE Satuiiday SATURDAY, JANUARY 27, 2007 THE MORNING CALL SECTION 1. On Hie Side Sheepishly clever 1 Since some knitting needles are not mar' with their size, it's often handy to be able to find this out. This helps if you're going for a particular number of stitches per inch, and could affect the size of pit. whatever you're knitting. A gauge ruler is just the ticket, and often comes in the form of A i a straight metal ruler with labeled holes that correspond to the sizes of the mostly commonly i LJLs: (Mm UkV WW- used needles.

But this one comes in the stylized form of a sheep. Wool. Knitting. Get it? 'Nw mm. Stick the needle in the hole and you'll learn its size.

Often a gauge ruler will also have an L-shaped hole in it allowing you to measure your gauge swatch accurately. For more on knitting, see LOCAL FAVORITE on page D4. Daughtrs No. 1 If i s- UV- f. 1 i Chris Daughtry, fourth-place finisher on last season's "American Idol," continues to rewrite the popular show's standards for success.

Already the most successful contestant not to finish as winner or runner-up on the Fox series, Daughtry's self-titled debut CD grabbed the No. 1 position on the Billboard album charts in its ninth week in release. According to Nielsen SoundScan figures, "Daughtry" sold 65,000 copies for the week, edging the soundtrack for "Dreamgirls" by fewer than 150 copies, reportedly the smallest margin ever between the top two albums on the chart. "Daughtry" premiered at No. 2 with sales of 259,000 and, buoyed by the success jir of the single "It's Not Over," the disc has remained in the 2 Top 15 ever since.

For more TV rockers making it big, see PAGE D7. E-y Josh Kun Spcoal to The Momng Call It's the middle of a sun-blasted after-" 'L -f Ci'j? is siiEing in aa cij-ry hffi banquet room, Chanel btg by ni.ie. Sh. trying to talk about bui mi- lit back to 5 1 h.ii'iico tinker Caiaaron da r-. -i' vol.

uri't usuaKy carry i brs. ra-A, trasl and dead a 5 -v tl s.iaai of 5 i i a CldCL- 'i ir it sLteJ i'jh'i i i i i.j dr? it up. I A'j 1 i ji of 'La r.i' surs i ,1 .5, j-T ho ofovtT of a -i it be an moc i- to ion of i 'i, i ii i i.WMt"e WATCHING PEOPLE Back in the USA In a rare conference call, Michael Jackson emerged with his spokeswoman Friday to confirm to The Associated Press that he is back in the United States after more than a year in self-imposed exile following his acquittal in a high-profile child molestation trial that ended in June 2005. They also said he is on the comeback trail planning a pair of "fan appreciation events" in Japan in March, one of which will charge $3,300 for the opportunity to meet the Gloved One. "I can confirm that he is in the United States," spokeswoman Raymone K.

Bain said. "We don't give "I PCE out information regarding our JET client's whereabouts because of safety, and this is just an ongoing policy." "He. 1 During the brief conference call, Jackson read a statement prepared for The Associated Press about his plans to visit i Japan and allowed only one question: How are you? 'ne' tnan' yu" 4 Ln THE DET was his reply. mm Starting young A 10-year-old boy who directed a short film starring Kevin Bacon sued a woman who helped finance the movie, saying sheNunfairly demanded creative control and distribution rights. Dominic Scott Kay, a child actor who was the voice of Wilbur the pig in "Charlotte's Web," claims in a lawsuit filed on his behalf What: Spanish language comedy drama explores the interactions among three generations of women and the spiritual presence of their long-dead mother.

Star: Penelope Cruz 11 Director: Pedro Almodovar li Where: County Theater, Doylestown. Through Feb. 4, 19th Street Theatre, Allentown Awards: Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations for Best Actress, Penelope Cruz; Golden Globe nomination for Best Foreign Language Film; Winner, Best Foreign Film, National Board of Review i i Sony Pictures Thursday that he came up with the story for the short film "Saving Angelo." The movie is based oh Ji Kay's real-life effort to nurse an abandoned, badly injured dog back to health. The lawsuit filed in Superior Court alleges that Conroy Kanter, who sunk about $11,000 into the REALITY BYTES Bethlehem working it on 'Idol' 4 Locals on other reality shows sent packing mtmmwmmmmmmmmmmmmwnw mmmmmmmm 'i project, demanded creative control, including the right to decide where the film can be shown. She "has threatened to sue Kay a 10-year-old! if he finishes editing the film without her consent," the lawsuit says.

Kanter's lawyer contends she gave the money as a charitable contribution and that the lawsuit stems from a dispute between Kanter and Kay's mother over who should benefit from the film. SEE MARISA AND G-CHILD LIVE! MARISA RHODES 81 Saturday, 3 and 9 p.m., Leiths-ville Inn, 2006 Leithsville Road, Hellertown, 610-838-8155. $10; $5, ages 4-13. Rhodes will sign autographs and pose for pictures. Wednesday, Crocodile Rock, 520 Hamilton St, Allentown, 610-434-4600.

Benefit for Park Street fire victims, 35 acts. 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. $12, door; $10, advance. G-CHILD Wednesday, Crocodile Rock, Allentown.

Benefit for Park Street fire victims. (Details above.) G-Child scheduled to perform p.m. By Gabrielle Salerno Of The Morning Call It isn't every week that a hometown crooner heads to Hollywood to compete on the most-watched program on television. But two of them? Contributed photos TIM MARCHETTO makes it in Memphis A Guarini's Idol' comeback Doylestown-raised Justin Guarini, 'American Idol' Season 1 runner-up, is now an "Idol' commentator. Guarini has joined the cast of TV Guide Channel's 'Idol a live show which previews 'American Idol' each week with Bethlehem residents Marisa Rhodes, 22, and Tim Marchetto, 28, made it through the preliminary auditions to compete in the next round of "American Idol." Both were seen on the FOX show this week waving their golden tickets.

interviews and analysis. i uudnni lost to neny i Clarkson, who went on to i sTaroom wni uuar ni na gins at 8 p.m. Feb. 8. Watch to see if they make an appearance.

While reality TV gained two local faces, it also lost two this week. Allentown's G-Child, aka Gina Morganello, was axed from "Ego Trip's (White) Rapper Show" on VH-1 Monday. And Cara Hille, a Mount Bethel resident who recently relocated to Los Angeles, was sent packing Sunday from "Grease: You're the One That I Want" on NBC. INTERVIEWS ON D2 -V I' I it, "American Idol" audition rounds continue at 8 p.m. -3 Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

The Hollywood round be- struggled more than any other 'Idol' runner-up. His debut CD tanked and he has appeared in some television shows and on Broadway. Lead co-hosts are Kimberly Caldwell, a second- MARISA has her RHODES: She golden ticket" season 'Idol' finalist, and Rosanna Tavarez, a winner of the WB's "Popstars.".