Staff Picks: This week’s highlights

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“Moonlighter” Image: moonlighterthegame.com

By Dominic D'Amico

Listen to This! – NPR Politics Podcast | Podcast

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Photo courtesy of NPR.org

 

When it comes to politics, new stories break out daily and it can be tricky to make sense of it all. Thankfully, “NPR Politics Podcast” is the perfect fix. Each week, NPR’s most qualified reporters speak on current news, break down significant stories, key people involved and what it all means in the larger political landscape. For the massive stories that dominate news coverage, the NPR Politics team will record and release an emergency podcast as soon as possible, detailing the event.

The standout of each week’s podcast is a brief segment called “Can’t Let It Go” where the featured reporters highlight their favorite piece of news, political or otherwise. Mentions on “Can’t Let It Go” have included segments on Beyonce’s “Homecoming” album, Pabst Blue Ribbon iced coffee and a Sesame Street visit to NPR headquarters. This podcast is informative, fun, and definitely recommended for those looking to understand and learn more about politics.

“NPR Politics Podcast” is available through Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and NPR.org.

Play This! – Moonlighter | Video Game

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Photo courtesy of 11 bit studios

“Moonlighter” is a delightful twist on a standard dungeon-crawler video game. The game drops players right into the action, exploring a dungeon with no armor and just a broom as a weapon. Navigating from a top-down perspective, players adventure through until the most difficult enemies to defeat appear. After losing to these enemies, a passing character returns the player to the Moonlighter, the shop run by the protagonist, Will. The rescuer gives Will a proper sword and shield, as well as a charm to escape dungeons for a small price. So, with proper arms in hand, players can delve back into the dungeon to fight monsters and loot treasure in earnest.

After escaping the dungeons with loot in hand, players can head back to the Moonlighter, place the treasure, price it and open for business. Customers filter in, examine the goods and buy them if the price is right.”Moonlighter” helps players set the best price by displaying customers reactions as they appraise the goods. With the profits from the Moonlighter, players can both fund dungeon-delving adventures and improve the local town. By financing new merchants in town, players are able to upgrade gear and buy helpful items. When the “Moonlighter” is upgraded players can do more business per day, store more items and even increase the Moonlighter’s profitability.

This simple cycle of exploring, looting, selling and upgrading is what keeps players returning day after day.

“Moonlighter” is available for Windows and MacOS computers, as well as Playstation 4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch.

Listen to This! – 99% Invisible | Podcast

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Image courtesy of 99% Invisible

Take a moment to think about the man-made things that go into a person’s daily life, from the laugh tracks of television shows like “Friends,” the size of pants pockets and the little slopes on sidewalk curbs. Consider how these things were built, why they were built and most importantly the people who designed their form and function.

Guided by the soothing voice of creator and host Roman Mars, “99% Invisible” explores the origins behind the things that influence everyday life for millions of people, as well as many things millions of people don’t even know exist. With new episodes every Tuesday, “99% Invisible” is a weekly opportunity to learn more about how necessity, innovation and creativity shape the world around us.

 

99% Invisible” is available through Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify and more.