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Cornell case sheds light on 'voluntary intoxication' loophole in NY rape law. What is it?
The renewed investigation into the alleged 2024 gang rape at a Cornell University frat house has propelled a broader conversation about consent — and laws surrounding it, including in New York. A former Cornell student, identified only as Jane Doe in court documents, told campus police in November of 2024 that she was sexually assaulted, then discussed it with the university's internal investigators as part of Cornell's disciplinary process.The initial investigation closed with no criminal charges filed (although some of the accused were suspended, some expelled and others tasked with writing an essay).But the case, gained renewed interest when last month, the woman filed a lawsuit against seven frat brothers, the university, the Chi Phi frat and others alleging she was plied with drugs and alcohol, then subjected to sexual acts by a group of men while she was partially or entirely incapacitated. One of the men sent a social media message to other fraternity members alerting them to what was happening, and inviting people to take part, according to the lawsuit.Lawyers for two of the men she is suing have denied they participated in a sexual assault. One said his client hadn't touched the woman. Attempts by The Associated Press to reach the other men or their representatives have been unsuccessful.Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten reopened the investigation following the lawsuit. He has since been bombarded by criticism that he abandoned the original investigation too quickly.On Thursday, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul took Van Houten off the case and assigned the attorney general will oversee the investigation and, if warranted, present evidence to a grand jury, Hochul said.Van Houten didn’t immediately respond to Thursday messages seeking comment.What is the ‘voluntary intoxication exclusion’ loophole?Experts say there is a legal “loophole” in not only New York but nearly two dozen other states, when it comes to rape laws and consent: it is nearly impossible for victims to seek justice if they voluntarily consume drugs or alcohol and then are sexually assaulted.As it stands now in New York State law, a person is incapable of consent if they are “mentally incapacitated” which is defined as a “person is rendered temporarily incapable of appraising or controlling his conduct owing to the influence of a narcotic or intoxicating substance administered to him without his consent, or to any other act committed upon him without his consent.”The loophole is that in order for there to not be consent, a person has to be drugged or given an intoxicating substance without their knowledge. The law does not apply if someone voluntarily consumes alcohol or drugs and were then attacked. Now, there is a renewed call to get rid of this distinction. “Voluntary intoxication is not a license for sexual assault or gang rape. Period,” the governor said during a Friday press conference on the matter. Policy makers and activists demand a changeA group called Justice Without Exclusion, has been pressuring Albany lawmakers for years to prioritize closing the voluntary intoxication loophole. Lizzie Asher, one of the group's co-founders, said more than two dozen other states make it a crime to have sex with someone too intoxicated to consent. She said it should be a scandal that victims of muggings have more protections under New York's criminal code than do victims of sex crimes.“If they were to go to the police department and say, 'I was mugged,' no matter how incapacitated that person was, the police wouldn't say to that person, ‘Oh, but you were drunk. Your mugging didn't happen,'” Asher previously said. “For some reason, out of all the major crimes in the state, rape is the only one that is treated differently, so the level of intoxication somehow eliminates the fact that a crime existed.”On Thursday morning, Asher and other activists and legislators held a press conference in The Bronx asking for the gap in this law to be closed.On Friday, Hochul also said she supports a change in the law to get rid of the loophole.Handling of initial case raises questionsHochul said Friday that the woman who accused members of a Cornell University fraternity of gang rape was "failed" by people obligated to protect her, including police and the county prosecutor.Hochul's claim came during a news conference in which she gave details on her decision to turn the case over to a special prosecutor, the state Attorney General Letitia James.The governor said she made the decision after learning "troubling details" about how authorities have handled the woman's claims thus far, including that the district attorney closed the case without having anyone interview the victim or anyone else involved in the alleged attack."In what world does the district attorney not even interview her, or anyone else involved, or even request the full transcript?" Hochul said. "This woman, this young woman, had already endured something that is utterly unspeakable. And then at every turn, she was failed by people and institutions with an obligation to protect her."She also assailed the Cornell University Police Department for not fully conveying the woman's story to prosecutors."After this young woman came forward, she spoke to the police. She sat for hours and told them exactly what happened to her. And according to new reports, she could not have been clearer that she was 100% confident that she had been raped,” the governor said. “Yet, shockingly, those words never made it into the account that the Cornell police sent to prosecutors."Hochul said Thursday that she appointed James to oversee the case because she had lost faith in the local district attorney's ability to handle it.The investigation initially was closed without charges in 2024.New York governors have turned to attorneys general to oversee important cases in the past.In 2018, then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo appointed then-Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas as a special prosecutor to investigate Eric Schneiderman, who resigned as New York attorney general after women accused him of violent slapping, choking and other abuse.In 2021, James oversaw a non-criminal investigation into sexual harassment allegations against then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo, leading to his resignation. Cuomo initially tried to choose who would lead the investigation into the allegations. He then allowed James to choose two independent attorneys to lead it instead.James' office also handles other criminal work and has the power under state law to investigate every death involving law enforcement in the state. But, typically, she can't initiate criminal investigations without a referral from a local district attorney, the governor or a state agency, or an appointment like the one Hochul made Thursday.Resources for victims of sexual assault are available through the National Sexual Violence Resources Center and the National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline at 800-656-4673.This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.
Michael J. Fox promoted within Order of Canada
Famed actor Michael J. Fox has been promoted to companion of the Order of Canada, the highest level within the order. The Order of Canada is meant to recognize people who make 'extraordinary contributions to the nation,' according to the Governor General of Canada website. Fox is also a vocal advocate in raising awareness for people living with Parkinson's disease. The actor went public with news he had Parkinson's in 1998 and is a co-founder of the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research.
NY Gov. Kathy Hochul says Cornell rape accuser was 'failed' by the system
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said Friday that the woman who accused members of a Cornell University fraternity of gang rape was "failed" by people obligated to protect her, including police and the county prosecutor.Hochul's claim came during a news conference in which she gave details on her decision to turn the case over to a special prosecutor, the state Attorney General Letitia James.The governor said she made the decision after learning "troubling details" about how authorities have handled the woman's claims thus far, including that the district attorney closed the case without having anyone interview the victim or anyone else involved in the alleged attack."In what world does the district attorney not even interview her, or anyone else involved, or even request the full transcript?" Hochul said. "This woman, this young woman, had already endured something that is utterly unspeakable. And then at every turn, she was failed by people and institutions with an obligation to protect her."She also assailed the Cornell University Police Department for not fully conveying the woman's story to prosecutors."After this young woman came forward, she spoke to the police. She sat for hours and told them exactly what happened to her. And according to new reports, she could not have been clearer that she was 100% confident that she had been raped,” the governor said. “Yet, shockingly, those words never made it into the account that the Cornell police sent to prosecutors."Hochul said Thursday that she appointed James to oversee the case because she had lost faith in the local district attorney's ability to handle it.The investigation initially was closed without charges in 2024.Last month, the woman filed a lawsuit and Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten reopened the investigation. He has since been bombarded by criticism that he abandoned the original investigation too quickly.The attorney general will oversee the investigation and, if warranted, present evidence to a grand jury, Hochul said."The young woman at the center of this case deserves to know that every fact will be examined and justice pursued,” she said in a statement Thursday.Van Houten didn’t immediately respond to Thursday messages seeking comment.The case has roiled the Ivy League campus and raised questions about its response and the larger issue of how sexual assaults are handled on college campuses.The woman, identified only as Jane Doe in court documents, told campus police in November of 2024 that she was sexually assaulted, then discussed it with the university's internal investigators as part of Cornell's disciplinary process.The lawsuit against seven fraternity brothers, the university, the Chi Phi fraternity and others alleges that she was plied with drugs and alcohol, then subjected to sexual acts by a group of men while she was partially or entirely incapacitated. One of the men sent a social media message to other fraternity members alerting them to what was happening, and inviting people to take part, according to the lawsuit.Lawyers for two of the men she is suing have denied they participated in a sexual assault. One said his client hadn't touched the woman. Attempts by The Associated Press to reach the other men or their representatives have been unsuccessful.New York governors have turned to attorneys general to oversee important cases in the past.In 2018, then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo appointed then-Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas as a special prosecutor to investigate Eric Schneiderman, who resigned as New York attorney general after women accused him of violent slapping, choking and other abuse.In 2021, James oversaw a non-criminal investigation into sexual harassment allegations against then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo, leading to his resignation. Cuomo initially tried to choose who would lead the investigation into the allegations. He then allowed James to choose two independent attorneys to lead it instead.James' office also handles other criminal work and has the power under state law to investigate every death involving law enforcement in the state. But, typically, she can't initiate criminal investigations without a referral from a local district attorney, the governor or a state agency, or an appointment like the one Hochul made Thursday.Resources for victims of sexual assault are available through the National Sexual Violence Resources Center and the National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline at 800-656-4673.This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.
Christa Pike on ventilator, unconscious after failed execution, attorneys say
Christa Pike was placed on a ventilator and remained unconscious in a hospital in the hours after her failed execution in Tennessee, her attorneys said in a court filing Friday.Hospital staff, her lawyers said, were working to save Pike's life and as of late Thursday were trying to clear the two doses of the drug that the state uses to execute prisoners.The stunning failure in Tennessee's execution chamber on Wednesday has left both sides of the death penalty debate demanding answers. Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee has ordered an independent review.The court filing offered the first detailed account of Pike's condition after an ambulance carried her away from Riverbend Maximum Security Institution in Nashville on Wednesday night. Her attorneys said a day earlier that she was in critical condition.Pike’s attorneys point to problems with the IVPike's attorneys said they believed problems with the IV lines caused the pentobarbital to flow into her body instead of her bloodstream."Apparently at no point did any member of the execution team realize that the IV lines were not correctly placed or that the veins had blown and that the pentobarbital was, in whole or in part, entering Ms. Pike's body," they wrote in the court filing.Instead of "remedying this failure," they prepared and administered a second dose of pentobarbital, her lawyers said.State officials have not offered any explanations about what went wrong.Tennessee leaders want a review of execution methodsLee demanded a review of the execution procedures and indefinitely postponed Pike's execution and another that had been scheduled for this year. Republican Tennessee lawmakers said the state should review whether to stop single-drug lethal injections and consider other options to carry out death sentences.The execution team worked for an hour to administer the lethal drugs, said Pike’s defense lawyer Randy Spivey, who counted at least seven needles in her left arm.Neither the initial nor the backup dose of pentobarbital worked. Pike was still snoring when the execution chamber's microphone was cut off more than an hour into the attempt.Pike's attorneys asked a state court to order the Tennessee Department of Correction to preserve all evidence from the failed execution."Preserving this evidence is essential to understanding what happened, ensuring accountability and protecting Christa's legal rights," two of her attorneys said in a statement.She was 18 when she and her boyfriend tortured and killed a classmate in a jealous rage. She later became one of the youngest women to be sent to death row.Following the killing, Pike was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder, her attorneys said."It took me numerous years to even realize the gravity of what I'd done. Even more to accept how many lives I affected. I took the life of someone's child, sister, friend. It sickens me now to think I had the ability to commit such a crime," Pike said in an earlier clemency petition.The mother of the 19-year-old woman Pike killed expressed frustration over the failed execution. "I didn't get justice for my daughter," May Martinez said Thursday.Problems found with executions four years agoFour years ago, Tennessee's governor ordered another independent review into capital punishment after abruptly stopping the April 2022 execution of Oscar Smith. Lee then paused all executions after acknowledging the state had failed to ensure its lethal injection drugs were properly tested.Months later, a report found the state hadn't complied with its own lethal injection process since its revision in 2018, resulting in executions being conducted without proper testing of the drugs.At the time, the state used a three-drug execution protocol of midazolam, vecuronium bromide and potassium chloride. The state later switched to using just pentobarbital.Pentobarbital has been used to carry out death sentences in multiple states and by the federal government.The review, led by former U.S. Attorney Ed Stanton, also found that the state's unidentified executioner had no formal healthcare training and learned the role mainly through on-the-job experience.After the release of the report, the Tennessee Department of Correction fired its longtime top attorney and another employee.
Hochul and James vow to investigate Cornell sexual assault case
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said during a press conference she believes the former Cornell University student who alleges she was raped by fraternity members in 2024 was "failed by people and institutions with an obligation to protect her." Hochul confirmed that she has appointed New York Attorney General Letitia James as special prosecutor in the investigation.
Steve Hilton faces steep odds in bid for California governor after 20-year GOP drought
To become California's next governor, Republican Steve Hilton must conjure up a feat of political wizardry, the equivalent of pulling voters out of thin air in a state that hasn't elected a Republican to any statewide office in two decades."I've never said it's going to be easy," Hilton said in an interview with The Associated Press. "It's obviously an uphill battle. I still see this as a winnable race."With mail ballots scheduled to arrive at homes in early October, the former Fox News commentator is angling to pull off what would be one of the great upsets in California record books against Democrat Xavier Becerra. Aligned against him in the heavily Democratic state are the weight of recent history, a national electorate that has soured on President Donald Trump and, perhaps inescapably, basic math.Any Republican starts at a disadvantage. Registered Democrats outnumber Republicans by a staggering 4.6 million voters, a margin approaching 2-to-1 statewide. Trump — who has endorsed Hilton's candidacy — is widely loathed outside his conservative base in a state the president often depicts as representing all that is wrong in America. "I like Steve a lot, but the math is very hard," says GOP consultant Mike Murphy, who advised the last Republican to hold the office, former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. He was elected to his second term in 2006."I think the most relevant equation is how many cases of beer you have to drink to be drunk enough to think it's doable in this election cycle with the Trump dynamic and the registration advantage the Democrats have," Murphy wrote in an email. "My model starts at four cases." California Sep 30 Hilton, Becerra clash over homelessness, Trump in California gubernatorial debate Decision 2026 Sep 29 Watch: 1-on-1 interview with California governor candidate Steve Hilton A Democratic reckoning that has never comeFor years, Republicans envisioned that one day the state's Democratic ribs would crack, as voters faithful to the brand grew weary of wallet-sapping taxes, the nation's top gas prices, an unchecked homeless crisis and home prices and rents that drain family budgets. "We will win because the argument for change is irresistible," the Britain-born Hilton says.To defeat Becerra, Hilton will need to upend what has become a familiar pattern in California general elections. Frequently, Democratic statewide candidates pull in roughly 60% of the vote on Election Day. Rival Republicans, around 40%.Part of Hilton’s challenge is overcoming the baked-in notion that California’s political DNA is immutable. "We just need to overcome the sense that after 20 years of one party running everything, it is actually possible to get change. That's the biggest thing I think we're fighting against," Hilton said.He repeated that message again during a Wednesday debate on CNN, the only television matchup scheduled for the general election.In his pursuit of a breakthrough, Hilton has anchored his campaign to making California more affordable, including bringing gas prices down to $3 a gallon. Yet he doesn't appear to be gaining the traction he needs to catch the Democrat. A September poll conducted by the University of California, Berkeley, Institute of Governmental Studies found that Becerra had a sizable lead over Hilton.Some of his proposals are clearly crafted to snag voters' attention, even if it is not clear how some would clear a Democratic-controlled legislature or other regulatory hurdles. Among them: cut in half residents' utility bills, now among the nation's highest; eliminate state income taxes on the first $150,000 in earnings; and abolish the much-maligned Department of Motor Vehicles.He believes about a quarter of the vote is up for grabs, including people who have voted for Democrats but aren’t rigidly faithful to the party — largely working-class voters and those without a college education. He sees room to pick up more votes among Latinos and women, too. And he will need a heroic turnout from Republicans.At the same time, he has been campaigning in the Los Angeles area — the state's Democratic nucleus, where statewide elections can be won or lost depending on turnout.Becerra argues that Hilton will be little more than another loyalist for the Trump administration, imposing the president’s conservative agenda in California.Fewer competitive races in a polarized nationThe number of truly competitive races nationwide has dwindled as many states veer to the political left or right. Up until the late 1980s, California was for many years a reliable win for the GOP in presidential elections. But a growing immigrant population and a shifting economy — including the collapse of the defense industry and the rise of Silicon Valley — transformed the state and its voting patterns. Bedrock issues that define the California electorate — including widespread support for abortion rights and environmental protection — could make it difficult for some voters to consider backing a GOP candidate, especially in the Trump era.After months of turmoil with a large field in the June primary election, the contest to succeed the outgoing Newsom has settled into a stolid affair. With numbers on his side, Becerra's low-key campaign is an acknowledgment that if he avoids mistakes, he is likely to get the job. Still, polling conducted in early September by the Public Policy Institute of California found about half of voters think the state is moving in the wrong direction while a majority think economic conditions will be bad over the next year. California — where Democrats hold every statewide office and dominate the legislature — has one of the nation's highest unemployment rates. Its gas prices are the highest in the nation, and its utility prices near the top nationally. Home prices often soar into the seven digits. After decades of meteoric growth, the population has essentially flatlined, with California expected to lose a congressional seat as states like Florida and Texas grow at a faster pace.One Republican who got close in recent years is Lanhee Chen, who picked up nearly 45% of the vote in his 2022 race for state controller. For Hilton to be successful "he has to turn it into a referendum on one-party governance," Chen said.
Football Daily | Manchester City lace up their gloves ready for another round. Bring your dinner
Sign up now! Sign up now! Sign up now? Sign up now!Seven days after leaking out, the Manchester City saga has become a flood. Peace in our time has disappeared into the distance as football jurisprudence's longest-running case enters Defcon 1 lawfare. Football Daily is duty bound by its learned friends in the legal department who gamely pick through this cheery teatime email before it reaches you, to say that City continue to deny all charges [we don't necessarily need this but we're happy to remain the butt of the joke – Football Daily Lawyers]. Though that also serves as a statement of the bleeding obvious. Club operatives and associates have employed not so much a double but a nonuple-down. The expected appeal has now been lodged by City. The statement was as you'd expect: "The club is innocent of the accusations made by the Premier League and a comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence exists in support of all of its positions, relating to this case."In the absence of a more august body tackling the issue, may I be so bold as to suggest both an expansion, and a revision of the much missed Gareth Bale Scale, given the state of our long-ago once 'beautiful game' (and an overlong international break). Thus: Infantino, Manchester City, Southampton, VAR, Argentina. In this topsy-turvy world, top, is of course bottom, or thereabouts" – Michael Lloyd.I am struggling to think of any other jurisprudence where the true victims of the crime (the fans) are also the victims of the punishment. As Spanish Football Daily would say, siempre pagan justos por pecadores" – Mark Brookes.Having nothing better to do this evening, I knocked up a little Python program to replay the results of several 'tainted' seasons, to see what effect might be had from removing Manchester City's results. I got a hit for 2010-11 where Blackpool, who finished second from bottom and were relegated, would have actually come fourth from bottom had there been no City games. Look, I know it doesn't really make any sense, my doing this, but still intriguing" – John Guthrie.Re: yesterday's Football Daily. As one of Cristiano Ronaldo's greatest advocates, I'm really delighted to see Portugal struggling without the mighty one. What? Eh? Oh?" – Martyn Shapter.This is an extract from our daily football email … Football Daily. To get the full version, just visit this page and follow the instructions.  Continue reading...
'I was fighting for my life': Indian pilot hailed as hero recalls flydubai cockpit attack
Smit Machchhar says in video call with Indian PM that he realised if he did not get up 'passengers would lose their lives'The Indian pilot who helped thwart an apparent attempt to crash a flydubai flight to Tel Aviv said his faith and his desire to save his passengers allowed him to make a "last push" to open the cockpit door as he fought for his life.Capt Smit Machchhar, who was recovering in an Abu Dhabi hospital, described to India's prime minister, Narendra Modi, how he helped save the plane and its more than 170 passengers. Continue reading...
Bilic is back: bravery and belief underpin second coming as Croatia manager
Match against England is welcome test for former West Ham coach as he replaces history-making Zlatko Dalic"I don't believe in comebacks." Slaven Bilic sat in the lobby of a hotel in Canary Wharf wearing a black Soundgarden T-shirt and dark denim, confidently discussing a wide variety of topics ranging from Sir Alex Ferguson's autobiography to historical epics of Yugoslav cinematography and Nikola Tesla's celibacy. He was living the good life in London, just before his third Premier League season as West Ham's manager, and a rare interview for Croatian media was a chance for him to catch up with domestic intrigues."I'm now distanced by default, geographically," he said, breathing a sigh of relief, before continuing to jump from subject to subject; a bit about a Metallica concert, then a bit about steaks at an Argentinian restaurant, followed by some off-record anecdotes. He was clearly enjoying himself and didn't hesitate to show it; his time as Croatia's manager seemed long gone, although he always left a bittersweet aftertaste when talking about them. Continue reading...
Halle Berry hit with restraining order after ex Olivier Martinez accused her of abusing their son
Berry and Martinez tied the knot in 2013 and split two years later, but their divorce wasn't finalized until 2023 after a contentious battle over child and spousal support
On TV
Outlander: Blood of My Blood — 2x3: "Rabbits Don't Swim" (STARZ)
Julia welcomes a new member of staff to Leathers and learns unsettling news. Brian and Dougal train their men for battle. Ellen calls on lessons from her father and uses her wit to defend her family and her clan. 
New Music

The Beatles — "Rubber Soul (Super Deluxe)" (Apple Records)

Dead Poet Society — "Monarch" (Spinefarm Music Group)

Andrea Bejar — "In Bloom" ([no label])

Haywire — "I Don't Wanna Say Goodbye" (Roadrunner Records)

Mac Miller — "The Divine Feminine" (Warner Records)

Dexter and The Moonrocks — "Friends That I Don't Like" (Big Loud Rock)

In theaters
The Last First: Winter K2 (98 minutes)
A historic race to become the first to summit K2 in winter unravels into tragedy, exposing how ambition, ego, and the pursuit of glory can be as dangerous as the mountain itself.
Rolling Loud: The Movie (99 minutes)
Desperate to reconnect with his 13-year-old son, Hank secretly takes him to Rolling Loud against his wife's wishes. When Zion disappears inside the massive festival, Hank teams with two unlikely allies and plunges into an increasingly insane search—while hiding the truth from his wife and confronting the harder truth that his son is growing up.
Launching today
Falcon Heavy | NROL-97 — SpaceX (03:54 UTC)
Classified payload for the US National Reconnaissance Office.
Useless Fact

Every time you lick a stamp you consume 1/10 of a calorie.

The loonie
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Today In History
2017 — Tom Petty, Pioneering Rock Musician, Dies at 66
American singer and songwriter Tom Petty, whose roots-oriented guitar rock arose from the new-wave movement of the late 1970s and resulted in a string of hit singles and albums, died at age 66
2005 — Death of Pulitzer-Winning Playwright August Wilson
Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright August Wilson—who was best known for a cycle of plays, each set in a different decade of the 20th century, about Black American life—died at age 60. theatre quiz Ted S. Warren/AP Images
1985 — Rock Hudson's AIDS Death Raises Disease Awareness
American actor Rock Hudson died, becoming one of the first Hollywood celebrities known to succumb to AIDS-related complications; the extensive publicity surrounding his death drew attention to the disease. What's the difference between HIV and AIDS?
1967 — Thurgood Marshall Appointed to Supreme Court
Thurgood Marshall was sworn in as an associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court in 1967, becoming its first African American member. The U.S. Supreme Court has had nine justices since 1869.
1959 — The Twilight Zone TV Series Debut in 1959
The science-fiction anthology TV series The Twilight Zone debuted and became hugely popular, known for its unexpected plot twists and moral lessons; the show was created by Rod Serling
1957 — The Bridge on the River Kwai Wins Best Picture in 1957
The British-American war classic The Bridge on the River Kwai had its world premiere, and it later won the Academy Award for best picture. How much do you know about the Academy Awards?
1935 — Haile Selassie Orders Mobilization Against Italian Invasion
Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassieordered mobilization upon learning that Italian forces had crossed the frontier to begin the Italo-Ethiopian War
1879 — Poet Wallace Stevens Born in Reading, PA
American poet Wallace Stevens, whose influential poetry explored the interaction of reality and imagination, was born in Reading, Pennsylvania in 1879.
1836 — Charles Darwin's return to England
Naturalist Charles Darwin returned to England this day in 1836 after a five-year journey on the HMS Beagle, on which he gathered the specimens and observations that led to his theory of evolution by natural selection
1780 — British Spy John André Executed by Americans
British army officer John André was executed by the Americans as a spy after conducting secret meetings with American General Benedict Arnold during the American Revolution.How much do you know about the American Revolution?Photos.com/Jupiterimages

This is today, boiled down to the essentials. The full stash lives at logicalchaos.ca. Go get lost in it.