Half-Life 2: Episode One is a first-person shooter video game, the first in a series of episodes that serve as the sequel to the 2004 game Half- Life 2. Originally called Half-Life 2: Aftermath, it was developed by Valve Corporation and released on June 1, 2006. Episode One, like Half- Life 2, uses the Source game engine. The game debuted new lighting and animation technologies, as well as artificial intelligence enhancements for the sidekick character, Alyx Vance. Episode One tracks scientist Gordon Freeman and Alyx as they fight in humanity's continuing struggle against the Combine, an alien race. Gordon wakes up outside the enemy's base of operations, the Citadel, after being rendered unconscious by the concluding events of Half-Life 2. During the course of the game, Gordon travels with Alyx in and around war-torn City 17 as they attempt to evacuate the city. As the game comes to an end, they are trapped in a derailing train; their fates are revealed in Episode Two. Critical reaction was generally positive, especially for the cooperative aspects of the gameplay, but the game's short length was criticized.

Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Half-Life_2:_Episode_One

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1223:

Mongol invasions: Mongol forces defeated a combined army of Kiev, Galich, and the Cumans at the Kalchik River in present-day Ukraine. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Kalka_River

1669:

Citing poor eyesight, English naval administrator and Member of Parliament Samuel Pepys recorded his last entry in his diary, one of the most important primary sources for the English Restoration period. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_Pepys

1862:

American Civil War: Confederate forces under Joseph E. Johnston and G. W. Smith engaged Union forces under George B. McClellan at the Battle of Seven Pines outside Richmond, Virginia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Seven_Pines

1941:

The United Kingdom completed its re-occupation of Iraq, returning 'Abd al-Ilah to power as regent for Faisal II. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anglo-Iraqi_War

2009:

American physician George Tiller, who was nationally known for being one of the few doctors in the United States to perform late-term abortions, was shot and killed by Scott Roeder, an anti-abortion activist. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assassination_of_George_Tiller

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

despect: (archaic) To hold in contempt, to despise, to look down on, to scorn. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/despect

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

I answer for him that answers for all, and send these signs. Him all wait for, him all yield up to, his word is decisive and final, Him they accept, in him lave, in him perceive themselves as amid light, Him they immerse and he immerses them. Beautiful women, the haughtiest nations, laws, the landscape, people, animals, The profound earth and its attributes and the unquiet ocean, (so tell I my morning's romanza,) All enjoyments and properties and money, and whatever money will buy, The best farms, others toiling and planting and he unavoidably reaps, The noblest and costliest cities, others grading and building and he domiciles there, Nothing for any one but what is for him, near and far are for him, the ships in the offing, The perpetual shows and marches on land are for him if they are for anybody. He puts things in their attitudes, He puts to-day out of himself with plasticity and love, He places his own times, reminiscences, parents, brothers and sisters, associations, employment, politics, so that the rest never shame them afterward, nor assume to command them. He is the Answerer, What can be answer'd he answers, and what cannot be answer'd he shows how it cannot be answer'd. A man is a summons and challenge, (It is vain to skulk — do you hear that mocking and laughter? do you hear the ironical echoes?)   --Song of the Answerer https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Leaves_of_Grass#Song_of_the_Answerer_.281855.3B_1856.3B_1881.29