[phileysmiley]

<img src="http://parcom.pronetworks.org/images/0725mw.JPG" align="right" alt="michael welch"></img><font color="maroon">by Larry Richman </font>
<font color="gray" size="1">November 12, 2008 6:49 PM</font>

As readers of this blog know, I've been following the exploding career of young actor Michael Welch for several years here. In February, PROnetworks was <a href="http://www.pronetworks.org/forum/story101293.html" target="_blank">the first online to announce</a> that he had been cast in the role of Mike Newton in <em>Twilight</em>, the highly anticipated Summit Pictures release of the film based on Stephenie Meyer's popular novel. <em>Twilight</em> is due in theaters on November 21.

As excitement about the film, and Welch's role in it, began to grow, an odd episode that can only be called "the socks affair" began to unfold. Allow me to explain.

On March 12, 2008 <a href="http://www.twilightlexiconblog.com/?p=668" target="_blank">Twilight Lexicon</a>, the unofficial internet authority on all things <em>Twilight</em>, came up with a seemingly simple proposal.

Now on to something fun, frivolous, and