The Marchioness disaster was a collision between two vessels on the River Thames in London in the early hours of 20 August 1989 that resulted in the deaths of 51 people. The pleasure steamer Marchioness, with about 130 people on board, sank after being hit twice by the dredger Bowbelle. The Marine Accident Investigation Branch blamed a lack of lookouts, but it was criticised by the families of the victims for failing to interview anyone on Marchioness or Bowbelle. A formal inquiry was finally held in 2000; its report concluded that "The basic cause of the collision is clear. It was poor lookout on both vessels. Neither vessel saw the other in time to take action to avoid the collision." Further criticism was aimed at the owners of both ships, at the Department for Transport and at the Port of London Authority. The collision and the subsequent reports led to increased safety measures on the Thames, and four new lifeboat stations were installed on the river.

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

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1707:

The first Siege of Pensacola came to an end with the British and Creek abandoning their attempt to capture Pensacola in Spanish Florida. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Pensacola_%281707%29

1920:

The American Professional Football Association, a predecessor of the National Football League, was founded. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Football_League

1988:

The Troubles: The Provisional Irish Republican Army bombed a bus carrying British Army soldiers in Northern Ireland, killing eight of them and wounding another twenty-eight. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ballygawley_bus_bombing

1989:

The final stage of the O-Bahn Busway in Adelaide, South Australia, was completed, becoming the world's longest and fastest guided busway with buses (example pictured) travelling a total of 12 km (7.5 mi) at maximum speeds of up to 100 km/h (62 mph). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/O-Bahn_Busway

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

gamin: (dated, also attributively) A homeless boy; a male street urchin; also (more generally), a cheeky, street-smart boy. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/gamin

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

The behavioral and cognitive disciplines are leading the way to a more valid framework for all science. Although the theoretic changes make little difference in physics, chemistry, molecular biology, and so on, they are crucial for the behavioral, social, and human sciences. They don't change the analytic, reductive methodology, just the interpretations and conclusions.   --Roger Wolcott Sperry https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Roger_Wolcott_Sperry