My brother and I are a year and a half apart. When we were growing up, we hated each other -- mainly because we have two completely different personalities. Once he moved out, though, we became friends. Not really "close friends," but we hand out occasionally. Mostly to watch hockey games, or to play video games, or something along those lines. I see him maybe once a month. Less, now that he has a kid.
There's a reason for that. Apparently they've done studies, and most people "tune out" commercials. Or, they use the commercials to go and use the washrooms, or run into the kitchen to grab a drink, or something like that. Therefore, they make the commercials louder so that they can be heard at a greater distance.
It's still annoying as fuck, though.
