#ibwm

by Sean Crossey

SEVRES, France — At its recent General Conference, the International Bureau of Weights and Measures (IBWM) chose to define the kilogram — roughly equal to about 2.2 lbs and the base unit of metric mass in standard scientific measurements and calculations — to be precisely 1/100th the mass of Travis Phillips, a warehouse manager for a Chicago-area Best Buy distribution center.

After two decades of debate, physicists have chosen to assign the most widely used scientific measurement as being exactly one-hundredth the mass of Phillips who, despite frequent attempts to get in shape, has been stuck at a consistent weight of 100 kg, or 220.42262 lbs for over 12 years.

Since the IBWM’s inaugural meeting in 1889, when the committee was charged with maintaining the uniformity of the international system of units, the kilogram has been defined as equal to the mass of a particular cylinder made from a platinum-iridium alloy, which is kept in a vault near Paris.

Unfortunately, physicists for the international advisory group have measured slight variations in the cylinder’s weight, making it unreliable.   Because many units in the SI system are defined relative to the kilogram, its precision is necessary for scientific research around the world.

Bernard Colliex, a project leader for the Standards Committee for the IBWM, explains the decision to take advantage of Phillips’ unwavering mass as a breakthrough in maintaining scientific consistency, ensuring that all fields of investigation will henceforth hold perfect agreement over reported measurements.

“We have such confidence that Phillips will never make his weight goals, despite many failed and pathetic attempts at dieting and exercise,” Colliex said, “that we are willing to peg the exalted kilogram to the constant mass of this frustrated yet consistently obese man.”

The committee expressed confidence that using Mr. Phillips as reference point will give them the highest degree of precision to date. They noted that while Phillips has been known to walk a couple of miles over lunch break, he subsequently rewards himself with a McFlurry on his drive home from work, rendering any weight changes indistinguishable to 10 decimal places.

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100 faces, 100 talents, 100 names to remember

Our friends over at IBWM have launched their annual 100 - an analysis on their thorough selection of 100 youth players from across the globe.

The players have grown, unless they haven't. The 100 returns.

Expansive. Insightful. As good as you remember. For the second year running, our friends at IBWM have released their signature 'The 100' list. It's a selected study of football's most talented and brightest prospects. All are born after the 1st of January 1990, ranging from Jack Wilshere to Atletico Madrid's Courtois to Brazilian born Lucas Moura.

The 100 has been compiled by the IBWM team, writing over 100,000 words, scouting all players in action, receiving insights from several football experts and incorporating stats from Opta. Once again, it's a grand piece of work.

IBWM: The First Two Years

Football vividly captured, illustrated and written in gold.

In Bed With Maradona (IBWM), is certainly not your average football site, nor are they only obsessed about 'El Pibe' or the Brazilian midfield maestro Sócrates. They're leaders in a growing direction of a football writing that transcends time, which we often like to call 'philosofooty'. IBWM explores the cultural heart of the game, extracting stories that are unlikely to be found anywhere else.

Since our own inception, we have worked with the passionate writers and artists who contribute at IBWM, bouncing off one another as recurring references for innovative ideas. Like Ronaldinho, they've hit a high bar time and time again, and now they have released the IBWM book.

The book's format features a strict selection of their best articles from their first two years, 26 to be precise. Alongside these great reads and discoveries of football, which includes writing from Iain Macintosh, Jack Lang and Chris Nee, amongst others. IBWM also showcases snippets of their finest photography, design and artwork from an array of talents. Dan Leydon, Steve Walsh and Daniel Nyari are a few names whose creativity adds a touch of eloquence to this expansive book.

IBWM: The First Two Years can be purchased from through the publisher Ockley Books, which is run by IBWM co-editor (and top bloke), David Hartrick.