It's a familiar part of the calendar of British life, one of those events that holds a mirror up to this society, with all its strange traditions and odd new habits.
This year, it was more revealing than usual, when the losing Oxford crew complained that several of its members had come down with stomach bugs, thought to be related to the high levels of E coli in the river as a result of sewage dumping.
The more it rains in England, the more the water companies pour sewage into the rivers. This year, it has rained almost incessantly. February and March were among the wettest months on record. Which means rivers are more polluted than ever.
Of course, water companies aren't supposed to pour sewage into rivers. They do it because if they get caught, it's cheaper to pay the fines than to invest in the infrastructure required to avoid polluting rivers.
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Diese Geschichte stammt aus der April 20-26, 2024-Ausgabe von New Zealand Listener.
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First-world problem
Harrowing tales of migrants attempting to enter the US highlight the political failure to fully tackle the problem.
Applying intelligence to AI
I call it the 'Terminator Effect', based on the premise that thinking machines took over the world.
Nazism rears its head
Smirky Höcke, with his penchant for waving with a suspiciously straight elbow and an open palm, won't get to be boss of either state.
Staying ahead of the game
Will the brave new world of bipartisanship that seems to be on offer with an Infrastructure Commission come to fruition?
Grasping the nettle
Broccoli is horrible. It smells, when being cooked, like cat pee.
Hangry? Eat breakfast
People who don't break their fast first thing in the morning report the least life satisfaction.
Chemical reaction
Nitrates in processed meats are well known to cause harm, but consumed from plant sources, their effect is quite different.
Me and my guitar
Australian guitarist Karin Schaupp sticks to the familiar for her Dunedin concerts.
Time is on my side
Age does not weary some of our much-loved musicians but what keeps them on the road?
The kids are not alright
Nuanced account details how China's blessed generation has been replaced by one consumed by fear and hopelessness.