I have currently lousy lighting and need to get a stand up lamp QUICK or go blind. That said I can never and I mean ever thread the needle if the front plate is open (the one that covers the bulb?).. its so darned bright I cant find the hole in the needle. Grr.. if its not one thing.. its my mother! That is a whole different story for a different day. At 90 this May she can be anything she wants to be. The trick is to not be near her when she figures it out!