Ed wrote on Sun, 21 Nov 2010 14:20:48 -0500:


> "James Silverton" > wrote
>> Have you tried buying, say sliced meats, at a delicatessen
>> counter? You can't ask for ounces since the scales read in
>> 1/100ths of a pound; a quarter pound *sometimes* works and
>> I've had some amazing variations on "point two" and "point
>> three" pounds etc.
>>
> It has been decades since I worked at a deli counter, but I've
> never heard anyone in the store order by ounces. Always
> quarter, half, or pound. I did hear one lady order 6 slices
> though.

>I did have a few encounters in Europe ordering a quarter kilo or 250
>grams though.

Of course, the "pfund" for half kilo has not died in Germany yet but I
seem to remember ordering delicatessen in 100 gram units. While not
really accurate, 100g is near enough to 4 oz for most purposes.

--

James Silverton
Potomac, Maryland

Email, with obvious alterations: not.jim.silverton.at.verizon.not