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>
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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>
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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>
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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>