The 158th Boat Race, an annual side-by-side rowing race between crews from the universities of Oxford and Cambridge along the River Thames, took place on 7 April 2012. Despite Cambridge having the heavier crew, Oxford (pictured after the race) were pre-race favourites after a successful preparation period, including a victory over Leander. Cambridge won the toss and chose to start on the Surrey side of the river. Partway through, with the boats level, the race was temporarily halted to avoid injury to a protester, Trenton Oldfield, who swam in front of the two crews. After the race was restarted, one of the Oxford crew suffered irreparable damage to his blade following a clash of oars with the Cambridge boat, ending Oxford's chances of victory. The race was eventually won by Cambridge by four-and-a-quarter lengths, in a consolidated time of 17 minutes 23 seconds. Immediately after completing the race, a member of the Oxford crew collapsed, but later recovered. Oldfield was later jailed for six months for causing a public nuisance, and as a result of the disruption, security for subsequent Boat Races was increased.

Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Boat_Race_2012

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1544:

Italian War of 1542–46: French and Spanish forces fought a massive pitched battle in the Piedmont region of Italy. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Ceresole

1888:

The Concertgebouw concert hall in Amsterdam was inaugurated. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concertgebouw

1921:

Emir Abdullah established the first centralized government in the recently created British protectorate of Transjordan. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emirate_of_Transjordan

1945:

World War II: American forces liberated the Buchenwald concentration camp near Weimar, Germany. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buchenwald_concentration_camp

1963:

Pope John XXIII issued Pacem in terris ("Peace on Earth"), the first papal encyclical addressed to "all men of good will", rather than only to Catholics. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacem_in_terris

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

covenstead: 1. (Wicca) A permanent circle or temple used to meet for rituals and to store religious items, often a mundane location. 2. (Wicca) A Wiccan congregation. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/covenstead

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

If I should ever die, God forbid, let this be my epitaph: THE ONLY PROOF HE NEEDED FOR THE EXISTENCE OF GOD WAS MUSIC.   --Kurt Vonnegut https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Kurt_Vonnegut