Stimulated Boredom | Reviews. Gadgets. Gaming. Geek Culture. Podcast.

This week's main segment focuses on the tragic shooting in Arizona that left 6 dead and over a dozen injured, including Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords.

Is it dangerous (and irresponsible) to engage in the rhetoric of violence when referring to those you disagree with politically? Are terms like, "2nd Amendment remedies", "armed and dangerous", "revolution", "reload" and "take up arms" intended to incite / promote fear and distrust in Government to a particular demographic for political gains?

Although the events in Arizona do not appear to be politically motivated, should the sheer coincidence of who the intended victim was and the fact the she was in Sarah Palin's political crosshairs be a wake-up call to tone down the rhetoric before it's too late?

This segment centers wholly around the events and controversies of the past week, including a discussion of a political environment in which it could be perceived that violence against a member of Congress is condoned, whether it is intended to be 'tongue in cheek' or not. What responsibility should politicians and public figures bear for their own words and the potential unintended consequences?

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Prompted by a listener request, I offer my predictions and analysis of what the 2012 presidential election landscape may look like. Can Obama win a second term? Will the GOP's allegiance with the Tea Party come back to bite them in the ass? What issues will take center stage? Just a little armchair political analysis to consider. ;)

I also discuss the "fallout" from the Ricky Gervais' hosting appearance at the Golden Globes and whether it is possible for comedy to go, "too far." Fans of the show should already know where I am going to come down on this topic!

And lastly, I discuss a recent experience I had dealing with a major electronics manufacturer and how social media can be an effective tool in consumer protection, not too mention a viable way for companies to interact directly with their customer base and encourage brand loyalty.

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About a week after the series finale of Game of Thrones, the dust started to settle on the ending we were given, and the conclusion we all hoped for. Much of this afterthought is decidedly different than the initial reactions on the last podcast and predominantly plagued with disappointment.

Share in our chagrin as we contemplate what could have happened, and what probably should have happened.

• The problem of the Three-Eyed Raven
• Sansa would have been a more interesting ruler
• John deserved far better
• Cersei deserved far worse
• Jumping the Night shark, and subsequent opportunities missed
• Tyrion was so much smarter before
• With great power comes great responsibility
• The Double D greed and rushing the end
• Juggernaut effect on the actors
• The Night King is just a guy
• The costumes and visuals are still the best of the best
• Thanks to the excellent costume and set designers!

Game of Thrones may be over, but Stimulated Boredom is not. Stay tuned for more Dana, Pete, and V in your earholes just as soon as Dana negotiates his contract with baby Olivia. In the meantime, we’re accepting topic suggestions in the comments. Talk soon!

Game of Thrones is a fantastic journey through the multitude perspectives of its characters, and the series finale meant to resolve that journey somehow. After eight years, it’s hard to let go, and maybe it’s even painful to celebrate the resolutions that we did get shoe-horned into that 80 minutes.

However you may feel about Bran the Broken, the birth of democracy in Westeros, or the obliteration of the Iron Throne and our silver-haired Khaleesi with it, the visuals in the episode took the throne.

The series finale is beautiful. Jon passing Drogon in the ash. The red Targareyan sigil hanging on the ruin of King’s Landing. Arya and her wolf mast ship. Dany and the Drogon’s dragon wings!

We can ostensibly celebrate in its visual grandeur and crowning costume moments. We do that and explore a spectrum of thoughts and feelings about the narrative. Also, welcome regular listener and commenter to the show, Devan!

Devan and Pete make Dana and Vanessa look like n00bs while we figure out if we liked the episode or not.

• So many charred bodies
• That tension between Jon and Greyworm, woah
• Arya sneaks up on Jon, again
• Hope is the death of duty. Duty is the death of love.
• The table shrouded in destruction, then the table is “rebuilt”/0
• The unpolished Small Council
• Tyrion’s face, in all of the scenes
• Jon and Dany, they don’t get to choose
• Awkward for Edmure
• THE NORTH SECEDES! #sansa4eva
• The spin-off is definitely Jon, Ghost, and Tormund
• Guys, the Starks rule the world!

Thanks for tuning in with us for the last few seasons, we really appreciate it. It’s been a blast spending countless hours discussing every theory and listener comment, and we hope you’ll tune in for our next podcast series.

Speaking of which, what should that be? Let us know in the comments!

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The longest part of The Long Night was that panic-inducing, nail-biting, palm-sweating, 14-minute opening scene until the Army of the Dead extinguished the Dothraki in UNDER. A. MINUTE.

After that, it’s a bone-crushing, catastrophic clusterfuck for all. Thank the Lord of Light for Arya. My new Monday get-hype motto is going to be, “Stick ‘em with the pointy end.” Speaking of ends, a handful of third-tier protagonists, one sidekick and a big bad meet the God of Death. But let’s all pour out a little rosé for the giant-killer, Lady Mormont.

• Grey Worm is slippery
• SO much Dragonfire, but not quite enough
• The Night King smiles?
• So, is Arya Azhor Ahai
• Those goddamn crypts
• Shipping Sansa + Tyrion
• Arya jumped ALL the way over the shark
• Davos is confused
• Theon earns his honor, finally
• Beric Dondarrion serves the Starks
• Melisandre served her purpose
• Jorah serves his Queen
• Dany and Jon are not that special
• So, is Arya Azor Ahai?
• And More!

Thanks for tuning in, and be sure to leave your comments, questions, and predictions for the season in the comment section below for inclusion and discussion on the next episode. Follow Dana on Twitter Follow Vanessa on Twitter Follow Pete on Twitter