the bread machine is Panasonic so, it must be originally metric... but the manual was prepared for US; they probably think that Americans know some tricks to weigh 21 3/16 oz on electronic kitchen scale.
I will think of submitting my story to Panasonic... Or requesting a metric manual... Or maybe search the internet for one... (calling to Panasonic reminded me of calling to Weight Watchers in the past requesting access to metric measurements to use for their online program. It is metric for New Zealand, but you can't register from US on New Zealand Weight Watchers site). I got upset, gave up on Weight Watchers, and end up with the bread machine instead. ;-) ________________________________ From: John M. Steele <[email protected]> To: U.S. Metric Association <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, March 26, 2013 1:54 PM Subject: [USMA:52553] Re: frames of reference in the metric world While your math and method are exactly right, it seems an odd amount of flour. It is actually 600.7 g of flour and the 0.7 is proabaly the result of an original conversion from metric, rounding off in Customary, and back converting to metric. My electronic scale has a switch between metric and Customary. The metric range is frankly easier to use. The very odd amount would make me think the recipe was originally metric. and I would convert it back to metric and roundoff. ________________________________ From: Natalia Permiakova <[email protected]> To: U.S. Metric Association <[email protected]> Sent: Tue, March 26, 2013 11:52:58 AM Subject: [USMA:52552] Re: frames of reference in the metric world Absolutely. if someone's height is 1.6 m and the refrigerator specification says 167 cm height, we think that the refrigerator is 7 cm taller. In fact, Russian kids and adults have a habit to access quantitatively everything in their heads, which is extremely easy. My daughter here in US, even if she really needs to do some math in her head, stops without even trying. (I could see anti-metric people's argument here : "so, what good it brought to Russia?". Maybe they are right - maybe once US goes metric instead of improving math and science and becoming superpower US will simply become Russia?) my latest disappointment with customary system: my bread machine manual recommends to measure ingredients by weight (instead of cups) to get better results. I used electronic kitchen scales to measure 21 3/16 oz of flour. I switched my scales to oz and started to pour flour to get 21 3/16 oz. But once it reached one lb, the scales showed me 1 lb 8.3 oz . I got puzzled how to finish my measuring without getting to the computer to convert 1 lb 8.3 oz. I end up taking some flour off the scale and pouring it back catching the moment when oz turn to lb on the display, which taught me that 1 lb is 16 oz. (i am nervous now because if i confuse 16 to 12, 15 or 24 one day, i will have to throw away a bad batch of bread) then i decided that 3/16 is about 1/5 which will be 0.2 on my scales. so, i stopped pouring the flour when the scale showed me 1 lb 5.2 oz. so, 21 3/16 oz is equal to 1 lb 5.2 oz. what could be easier? I am proud of myself because i was able to do that without washing my hands and turning on my computer. (God forbid internet would be down, i would have to call my friends for help) Natalie ________________________________ From: Paul Trusten <[email protected]> To: U.S. Metric Association <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, March 23, 2013 7:18 PM Subject: [USMA:52544] frames of reference in the metric world In her article http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mobileweb/2013/03/21/metric-system_n_2923997.html,ila Nordstrom states that she believes customary units are better for estimating the dimensions of things in everyday life. How do those of you in countries where the metric system predominates think and speak in meters? What language do you use? If, for example, you are comparing the height of a refrigerator to your own height, do you think of it as being "several centimeters" different from you height? Paul Paul R. Trusten Registered Pharmacist Vice President and Public Relations Director U.S. Metric Association, Inc. www.metric.org [email protected] +1(432)528-7724
