One of my favorite TV shows ever was Breaking Bad. The stereotypes and the anti-stereotypes portrayed throught this series were brilliant. Mr. White and his chemistry background, slacks and button-up shirts and glasses. Jesse with his gang-banger slang and trashy taste in cars and virtually everything else. Throughout the course of the series Jesse becomes more of a soulful individual with a desire to do right and Mr. White loses touch with reality and becomes a murderous crime kingpin. I watched the entire series on Netflix, never saw one commercial. Last time I watched regular TV was to see the Super Bowl. There were some clever commercials during that broadcast that sought to break the mold of stereotypes, namely the ones about fathers. I also loved the "Trunk Monkey" commercials. I refuse to watch commercial television because of the commercials, I don't think I have to in order to see if they are still like they used to be. Tell me, are there still commercials that portray beer drinkers as young, vivacious happy people with trim, tanned bodies and lots of friends? Are there makeup commercials that show that a little dab or two here and there will make you desirable? Are the women in most commercials slim, successful and mostly white? Are "everyday people" shown as drab, sometimes lethargic consumers who's popularity will be enhanced by buying the latest gizmo, food, drink or clothing? I have a variety of interesting friends, some have more tattoos than I would want to count, wear enough leather to slay a herd of cows and ride noisy motorcycles. They also have insurance, great jobs, don't drink or use drugs and are always helping someone. My friend Dennis is a retired Marine Drill Seargent and Vietnam Vet who loves to make brownies and birdhouses. Big Mike has a ponytail down to his ass, rides a huge loud Harley and sings loves songs to his fiance' at a sober karaoke night. I know a few sleazeball guys who drive nice cars, work out and dress fashionably but treat women like trash and will lie to your face and help you look for your shit that they just stole. My ex-girlfriend was the sweetest, kindest atheist you would ever hope to meet, fed the homeless and volunteered her time and work to helping many people. Danny is an extremely wealthy man who drives a mini-van and take care of his elderly mother at their home. Larry is a recovering drug addict and convicted felon who volunteered all winter at a homeless warming center and slept in a cot helping people who would have died from exposure. My youngest daughter has 12 tattoos and is the sweetest mother to my granddaughter you could ever know. I could go on, I think a lot of us could. I don't watch commercials because I don't want to involuntarily succumb to the sophisticated stereortyping designed to tell me that I'm not quite enough, that I'm almost there...if I only had this little extra...I'd be OK. No thanks.