Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with thread

What sex is my kitchen tap?

domeheid — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 15:05:16 -0800

What sex is my kitchen tap? I want to buy an aerator for my kitchen tap to improve the flow of water and make it soft like all those lovely taps in Zurich, Switzerland (it also reduces water consumption by up to 60%), but I don't know which kind to buy: male or female. This website says:

"For taps with a thread on the outside you need a Female Aerator. For taps with the thread on the inside you need a Male aerator."

Here is a picture of my kitchen tap. Does this mean my tap is female? I wouldn't call that a thread and I don't think I could unscrew it.

Help me thread the needle.

Powerful Religious Baby — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 17:02:45 -0800

Over the past year or two, I've noticed an increasing use of the phrase "thread the needle" in news stories and blog entries. The problem is, I don't know exactly what "thread the needle" means, and it appears in a variety of contexts that don't appear entirely consistent with each other. Lee Huang and Robert Litan use it interchangeably with the phrase "walk a fine line." Timothy Noah, similarly, thinks it means "to skillfully navigate a difficult problem." (Many people seems to be using it interchangeably with "threading one's way"--a figurative action that differs slightly, in my mind, from the figurative action of "threading a needle.") David Welna, however, thinks it means "to get something started," and Andrew Sullivan seems to think it means "to aid understanding." This dude thinks it means "broach the subject." (I'm almost certainly misreading a few of these examples, but I think that's due to the fact that the phrase is often used in a vague or nebulous way.)

It's mentioned often in connection with politics, particularly Barack Obama. Is there any consensus about the use of this phrase, or are people hearing it, instinctively filling in their own definition, and applying it however they see fit? I'm interested.

How to work with Strechy Fabric?

cmchap — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 15:04:24 -0800

For a friend: What kind of thread do you use to hem stretchy pants? Any pointers on this would help. My friend is a glorious 5-foot 1-inch tall, and has to hem her jeans. Are there special sewing skills/materials/tools that go along with hemming/sewing stretchy fabric?

Outlook 2003 Wont "include original message text" in my email replys?

complience — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 08:36:12 -0800

Why won't Outlook 2003 "include original message text" in my email replys? At work I have outlook setup in the standard manor of when replying to an email it "include original message text"

Thus keeping a message thread so everyone knows whats been said.

This works fine on 99% of my contacts.. however 1 or 2 for some reason when you try to reply, the actual message thread is automaticly deleted leaving just their message header (to and from etc) and their footer. Ive looked at the email and theres no hidden HTML code or anything, it seems to be some kind of default Outlook setting.

If I access my emails via our online webbased service and try replying to the same messages then the message thread is not deleted.

does anyone know what could cause this?

Help me not sew my own finger by mistake

Sijeka — Sat, 09 Jun 2007 16:11:32 -0800

Help me not sew my own finger to the machine! I recently bought a Singer 99 model from the 30s (I think) and can't get it to work for the life of me. I bought a Singer 99 sewing machine on ebay - electric, has a light, probably made in the 30s as far as I can tell.

It came with a manual, but alas I am afraid I'm not getting the instructions at all. Do any of you know where I could get clear instructions as to how to thread the bobbin properly and start sewing? Or maybe do any of you know how to do it and could help me out? I am putting the thread through all the rights holes, but I start sewing in only makes holes in the fabric, and the thread doesn't go in. Should there be two bobbins working at the time?

I am so sorry about the vagueness of my explanations, I am an absolute novice, currently confused and frustrated. As far as I can tell, not a piece is missing and the machine *should* work....

I googled for 30 mns and didn't find anything to help me :(

Occam's Razor hypocritical? Discussion links request.

vanoakenfold — Tue, 13 Feb 2007 00:36:18 -0800

Deceptively unchatfilter =P I am looking for good discussions on Occam's Razor -- which I think is obscenely absurd. Looking for links to discussions, not necessarily petitioning comments (although welcome). Mostly I'm looking for links to discussions that have already taken place (as in, not currently taking place) or perhaps chat logs, or something of that nature -- discussing the validity of Occam's Razor. I've already seen the wiki.

I just think that trying to whittle down as few assumptions as possible when trying to find an answer, may in fact be the most absurdly irrational assumptions one could possibly make. It's like throwing out all possibilities that involve doing a lot of research (perhaps out of one's field) for the sake of not having to go look stuff up. Is it not largely a way to get out of doing a lot of work?

Extra points if the discussion became so confounded to be ended by Godwin's Law (but not necessary, I just like those) =D

When it falls off, your wish will come true

nekton — Sun, 25 Jun 2006 18:26:09 -0800

I recently decided to re-visit one of my favorite summer activities: making friendship bracelets. I am looking to a) remember some of the techniques I used to know b) learn new and interesting bracelet patterns. I know the basics. I can make a flat band with diagonal stripes (knotting along a row of strings) and of course the tube-shaped striped pattern made by knotting around the entire bundle of strings. I once knew how to make designs in the band (like chevrons or fish). I also used to be able to do something involving loops over the fingers.

What interesting things to do with string can you teach me? (I have 12 skeins of embroidery thread ready to go...)

What does 4-40 mean when I'm looking to buy some machine screws?

anonymoose — Thu, 02 Feb 2006 23:24:17 -0800

What does 4-40 mean when I'm looking to buy some machine screws? How big is that in real units?

Sewingfilter: loops on bottom of fabric

kc0dxh — Tue, 12 Apr 2005 08:42:50 -0800

When using my sewing machine, large loops and tangles of thread are generated on the bottom side of the fabric. What am I doing wrong and what do I need to do to remedy the problem?

What was this impossibly-hard university general knowledge exam or test?

Oriole Adams — Mon, 28 Jun 2004 21:47:39 -0800

Can someone please point me to an old Metafilter FPP? It was about an annual test or exam given at a university (I believe in the UK) that was supposed to be extremely difficult. It was a general knowledge quiz, and 10 out of 10 is impossible, according to the professor who administers it. Does this ring a bell with anyone?