Initially, I was planning to put up a food post today, with recipe of course. But then, THREE people over the weekend complained to me that the recipe I had given them was written in metric measurements to be weighed on a scale. METRIC. They were used to imperial, as in cups and spoons and all that, and I gave them GRAMS. 
A little history: at this point, the US is I think the only industrialized nation NOT using SI, or the “International System of Units”. That said, American measurements such as the foot, the pound etc. are defined in terms of metric units, and have been since the mid-1900s. Back then, the US was actually on the forefront of metrication, believe it or not. But in the early 21st century, while everybody else is using SI, the US can at best be described as a “soft metric” society.
My guess is that people are just so used to measuring this way, it is hard to switch. And since it is not mandated anywhere but to my knowledge within the government itself, nobody will give it up easily. Just some good American patriotic stubbornness – a trait for which I actually love this country. :-*
Nevertheless, I grew up with metric and I think it is BY FAR superior to imperial. Three simple reasons:
1. More precise (100 g of sugar = 100 g flour = 100 g of butter etc.).
2. Easier to scale.
3. Easier to handle – just fill up the bowl, zero out the scale, add the next ingredient. No switching of utensils required.
1. comment on this post and tell me why you would like to win it. OR
2. “like” my fan page and tell me on the wall that you’ve seen this post, and why you would like to win the scale. OR
3. (re)tweet this on twitter, and if you’re not a follower, yet, please become one (my twitter handle is @thegermanfoodie).
On 3/19/2012 I will randomly select a winner and will need to get in touch with you, so make sure I know you’re here.
Hi, well first of let me tell you that I absolutely agree with you. My Mom taught me how to bake with a scale since I was a kid
And I would love a new one 
thanks for leaving a comment! much appreciated
I always wanted to buy one scale…never got chance though
let’s see if I win somehow
Grishma @ ZaikaZabardast recently posted..Roasted spiced chole – Perfect snack time treat
Thanks for leaving a comment! I wouldn’t know what to do w/o my scale… totally lost…
So my husband and I are huge foodies. Over about the last year we’ve been working on Asian cuisine and now we really want to move on to European food, but we’re finding it’s near impossible without a scale! And rightly so, you just can’t get the same precision measuring by volume. I would love to win the scale so we can start our next food adventure!
Thanks for stopping by! And totally agreed, you can’t get the same precision!
So far I’ve received LOTS of great comments, and reasons why you would like a scale. I’m almost tempted to give away this one and a slightly cheaper one…
Kitchen scales are great. More precise than cups, sure. More precise than ounces? Just change the conversion (1 oz = 28.349 grams) and it depends on where you’re starting from. As far as I know (despite what shows like Cupcake Wars would have us believe) most professional bakers and cooks (when they even measure!) use scales. At least, all the kitchens in which I worked did. Nice giveaway.
Jessica | Oh Cake recently posted..Double Chocolate Stout Beef & Lamb Stew
Hello there! Thanks for stopping by, busy woman that you are!
And you’re right, most serious bakers (just look at the thread here) use scales! Yay all of you!
Ya even I come from the country that uses Metric system. I am into baking offlate and a scale would be of great use to me. Hope I win Sophie!
Vijitha recently posted..Warm lentil stew for breakfast – South beach diet for vegetarians
Thanks for stopping! I mainly use it for baking, too!
I totally understand your frustration, Sofie. I remember when they were going to make the conversion to metric. I knew I’d have a rough time for a while but then I would get used to it. But now it’s a constant frustration. Maybe someday they’ll switch over…when I’m too old and senile to remember it
Anita at Hungry Couple recently posted..Heavenly Cheesecake Brownies
LOL I’ll just have to spend more time on my recipes, ‘s all.
I honestly do think it’s partly American stubbornness – you know, we’ve always done it this way. Through just this post alone I’ve learned to my great astonishment that more people out there seem to be using scales than I thought, and good for y’all!! 
I remember all the talk about the US going metric in the 70′s…we’d all be used to it by now if it had happened! Nice giveaway!
Liz recently posted..Oreo Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookies~
Thanks – for the comment and the observation! I’ve always thought that if they had actually followed through, we wouldn’t have these discussions.
I got a scale this Christmas and was super excited. I am totally with you. I find the measuring much more accurate using my scale than cups etc. No need to include me in the giveaway but I am sure who ever wins the scale will be very happy.
Susie recently posted..Birthday(s), Birthday Cake and a Gift For You
Aw, thanks for stopping by anyway! And I’m glad to hear that so many of my blogger friends totally concur w/ me as far as weighing goes. You guys ROCK.
I already have a scale, so I don’t need to win another one. But I totally agree with you! Measuring by weight makes such a difference, especially with baked goods like bread!
Jen at The Three Little Piglets recently posted..Roast Chicken with Tomatoes and Olives with Ann
A friend of mine just said the same thing – I don’t know how one can bake w/o one, honestly, and not just b/c I’ve been used to it forever.
I am a new convert to using baking scales–my husband just bought me one for Valentine’s Day.
Cucina49 recently posted..Tea and Strumpets
He IS a sweatheart, I dare say! Nothing says “I love you” like a scale… LOL No, seriously, I am so happy to hear that – mine got me nothing…
Hello!
Siriously people, the internet can convert anything, just google it (or win the goodie, might help u too). Thats why I like india, any conversion is accepted and easily understood. =)
Is the giveaway global?
I could need it, since I cant by a sclae like that here. =)
I know, the conversions are all out there – but most folks won’t even look. Yes, the giveaway is global, I don’t really care WHERE I ship it.
I would love to win this since it’s a great way to show how much you are actually eating! You can’t fudge an exact number
Nope, you can’t! LOL
Yay! I JUST found your site last week and I’m so excited! My husband’s family is from Germany and he loves German food ! The last nice German restaurant around here closed, so I’m diving in and learning how to cook it I started via baking,but now want to branch out! I also have been using it as a way to help learn the language. (and I’m not ashamed to admit that I also watch Sesame Strasse)
I would love to win the scale because I think it would make my cooking a bit more precise as well make things so much easier in following recipes! Thanks for the opportunity!
I’m SO thrilled you stopped by! Thank you for taking a look! (BTW, nothing wrong w/ Sesamstrasse…
)
I have a scale at home, is not a super precise one, but it works just fine for baking and all so don’t count me for your drawing, but I wanted to say: Imperial system sucks!!!
PolaM recently posted..Chocolate covered cakes
AMEN, sista! Amen.
I just got married and am now starting to try my hand at baking! My husband and I were talking about getting a scale and it would be a blessing to win!
Thank you for stopping by! Yes, a scale is a must-have, which is why I decided to give one away…
Hey Sofie!! I already have a kitchen scale that I LOVE, so don’t count my reply in your drawing. I just wanted to comment and say how much a scale has changed my life in the baking arena. Mine has both metric and US measurements so its very versatile and usable for any recipe I encounter. Way to go giving a scale away!!! You are going to change someone’s life for sure! My favorite thing is that I don’t have to really measure things anymore, just dump them in the bowl until it reaches the correct weight. Also I love that it gives me more consistent baked goods. Hope all is well. Just catching up on the blog world right now after my race!!
Maggie @ Kitchie Coo recently posted..Run for the Luck of It 2012
YOU’RE MY HERO!
One of the few and the proud! 
Hopping over to your blog now to see how the race went…
Having a new kitchen scale would make it so much easier to make the recipes that my German Oma gave me. I do find it strange that the rest of the world is long metric but the U.S. lags behind. I think metric is the standard in the car industry…or mechanics would go bananas having to have two sets of tools and switch back and forth depending on where a car/truck was made.
I found my way here by chance, but once here I started to browse through your earlier posts. I’m so glad I did that that. I really like what you are doing here and I will be back often. Have a great day. Blessings…Mary
Mary recently posted..Cullen Skink – A Smoked Fish Soup
I am so glad you stopped by! Thanks for taking a look.
I would love to win a scale! I’d like to improve my baking skills (learn to make macaroons!), and I think a scale is pretty necessary.
I’m here from Chef Dennis, I loved your guest post and can’t wait to make the apple pockets, but I will have to get around to those pesky conversions.
The problem w/ going from gram to volume is that none of the ingredients in volume actually WEIGH the same. And if I give them to you in ounces, you’ll STILL need a scale. That’s the reason I can find gram-to-ounce converters galore, but nobody has actually written one for volume. It is – sorry to say it – a pain in the neck.
If you want to convert things right now, check this out: Gourmet Sleuth.
I know, it’s so funny-apparently they tried to make a national effort to convert awhile back, but people just were too stubborn and it was too annoying to change. But yeah…it’s obviously going to have to happen sometime. I would love a scale-because I know it’s the most accurate way to measure for baking and I don’t have one yet
Kayle (The Cooking Actress) recently posted..Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Muffins
I think it takes about a generation to change over, but then everybody thinks is “normal”.
Reading about metrics actually took me back to school, where we had to do all these conversions and what not….:-)
I would love to win this electronic kitchen scale cos I have a cheap one which gives me all wrong weights and messes up my baking! So this can rescue me from bad baking!
Suchi recently posted..Murgh Malai Tikka/ No Spice, Creamy Chicken Kebabs
The first one we ever had was a “mechanical” one, I still have it but using it is driving me nuts. I just keep it for backup.
I want to win because come on, I am German and this non-metric stuff is driving me nuts
Kiri W. recently posted..In Vitulinam Elixam – Ancient Roman Boiled Veal
I don’t know what I would do w/o mine…
I want to win it! I dont have kitchen scales at home and this will definitely be used a lot
Raymund recently posted..Camaron Rebosado
I don’t know how you do it w/o one! I’d be so lost!
I would LOVE a kitchen scale, just last week I made a pumpkin loaf that was all in grams so I had to guestimate what the conversion was to cups….I also added some ingredients that soaked up some of the excess pumpkin but it was not as perfect as it could have been if I had a kitchen scale.
The way I convert back and forth right now is some websites that are set up for it. It IS a pain…