To avoid these problems, I would rephrase the statement to:
"96 % of the world's population uses SI for most everyday purposes, and the
remainder use it for many ordinary purposes (seconds of time, millimeters,
liters, watts, volts, amperes, etc.).
> -----Original Message-----
> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On
> Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Sent: 2001 January 1 Monday 11:29
> To: U.S. Metric Association
> Subject: [USMA:10142] (fwd) Measuring metrication
>
>
> Another response to my Times letter:
>
> >Sir, I was intrigued to read Mr Keenan's claim that 96% of the world's
> >population used metric measures - has, by chance, the USA been
> omitted from
> >the counting? A breakdown country/population to verify the
> figure claimed
> >would help.
> >
> >There are certain things metrication cannot change e.g. much conversion
> >machinery (in paper,plastics etc) runs on 3 inch bearings: it would not
> >improve production to change this from 76.2 to 75mm. Which brings me to
> >organs.
> >
> >All organs, to my knowledge, are made with the stops marked in
> feet, with 8'
> >at middle C, 4' and 16' an octave above and below. In the
> specification of
> >the Martinskirche in Kassel, amongst the stops (some of which
> have more than
> >one rank of pipes) are:-
> >
> >Pedal
> >Basszink 10 2/3rds', 6 2/5ths '
> >Hintersatz 4f 5 1/3'
> >
> >Ruckpositive (I Manual)
> >Siebenquart 1 1/7th', 16/19ths'
> >Terznone 1 3/5th' 8/9ths'
> >
> >Oberwerk (III Manual)
> >Obertone 3f 1 1/7th'
> >Sifflote 1 1/3rd'
> >
> >How is it proposed to metricate this? Either one transposes the
> measurements
> >precisely to metric, in which case one loses the measure and
> relationship of
> >the harmonics, or the whole pipe system is re-jigged with an 8ft
> pipe changed
> >to 2 or 3 metres and so on. Would the resultant cacophony from
> that be music
> >to a metric enthusiast's ears?
> >
> >The discussion should be on whether the scale used should be
> enharmonic or
> >well-tempered, and metric measurements have no contribution to
> make there
> >either.
> >
> >The real issue is whether a forced system of measurement is relevant and
> >practical.
> >
> >Yours sincerely,
> >
> >
> >Paul Gregory
>
> >Note to Editor - I will be faxing through the stop list of the
> Martinskirche
> >organ, as an e-mail can't show the fractions properly.
> >
> >Also, some enharmonic instruments have been built
> >
> >I don't have any idea why the authorities are not stopping the
> sale to the
> >public of organs marked in imperial if metric is the rule.
>
> Naturally I have set him straight on the population issue ;-)
>
> Chris
> --
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