I got your point, John. I just wanted to point out that the subdivisions of pounds are hundredths, and not ounces.
This means that, should the use of metric units in supermarkets become a reality, there would be no excuses based on an inability to convert the equipment. I already inquired, long ago, whether there was an external switch. There isn't. However, I suspect there's a DIP switch or jumper than can be reset to make the change. (Another possibility is that they can recalibrate, using a reference mass.) As for asking for meat in grams, I have occasionally done so jokingly. Sometimes they know the equivalent in Fred Flintstone units; mostly they don't. Bill Potts, CMS Roseville, CA http://metric1.org [SI Navigator] >-----Original Message----- >From: John S. Ward [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] >Sent: Tuesday, October 07, 2003 22:23 >To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; U.S. Metric Association >Subject: Re: [USMA:27129] Re: Groceries > > >Hi Bill, > >My point is that the butcher won't weigh out 500 grams of lean ground beef >because his electronic scales don't measure grams. The original >post was not >about converting scales, it was about what units Americans buy >food in today. > >Have you asked for meat in grams at your local butcher or >supermarket? What >was the response? > >John > >On Tuesday 07 October 2003 21:42, Bill Potts wrote: >> John S. Ward wrote:. >> There are also electronic deli scales. Once again, pounds and >ounces only, >> no >> grams or kg. >> >> Not quite, John. Deli scales and cash register scales are pounds and >> hundredths (expressed decimally). As they are electronic, conversion to >> metric would be quite straightforward. >> >> Bill Potts, CMS >> Roseville, CA >> http://metric1.org [SI Navigator] >
