Dear Bill,
on 2002/04/29 03.42, Barbara and/or Bill Hooper at [EMAIL PROTECTED]
wrote:
> on 4/28/2002 3:01 AM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] at
> [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
>> wines and spirits, for instance, are fixed. The
>> former may only be sold in the EU in 25, 37.5, 50, 75 cl bottles
>
> I find it surprising that the EU prescribes sizes which are 1/4 litre, 3/8
> litre, 1/2 litre and 3/4 litre instead ofsomething like 200 mL, 400 mL, 600
> mL and 800 mL.
>
> The use of the 3/8 size is especially surprising and it is also repeated in
> the allowed masses (in grams) for grains, cereals, dried fruits and
> vegetables, and perhaps others.
>
> And I am flabbergasted (really surprised) at the list for coffee:
> 57g, 75g, 113g, 125g, 227g, 250g, 340g, 454g, 500g, 680g, 750g or a
> multiple of 454g ... etc. Clearly some of this is just hidden POUND
> measurements (454 g is a pound and this leads to 227, 113 and 57 grams for
> 1/2, 1/4, 1/8 pound, and 340 and 640 grams for 3/4 pounds and 1.5 pounds).
> And 125, 250 and 750 grams are just 1/4, 1/2 and 3/4 of a kilogram.
>
> I'm finding this all hard to believe. I thought the EU was metric.
You are right, Bill. EU is metric but it is not necessarily decimal.
In this instance, gram is a metric unit that is divided into non-decimal
fractions.
Historically the transition to SI has been in three steps:
1 the change to decimal fractions
2 the change to one or other of the old metric systems
3 the change to SI
Although it is possible � now � to proceed directly from old measures (say
inch-foot-pound) to SI, a lot of people cannot give up the slower transition
cycling, forwards and backwards, through the three historical steps.
Cheers,
Pat Naughtin
CAMS - Certified Advanced Metrication Specialist
- United States Metric Association
ASM - Accredited Speaking Member
- National Speakers Association of Australia
Member, International Federation for Professional Speakers
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