2005-09-26

A cartoon panel: a frail, balding elderly man in a bow tie and suspenders raises a fist and shouts, "In my day, we got birthday punches with brass knuckles!" Beside him a smiling blonde woman in a pink apron stands behind a young child wearing a party hat and replies, "Oh Dad, you did not." A caption beneath reads: "Mom smiled down at me softly as she gingerly tightened another layer of linen around her fist" -- revealing that, far from disbelieving him, she is preparing to deliver the punch herself. Votey (aftercomic): a close-up of the scowling old man grumbling, "Kids these days are way too empathetic."