Perhaps you remember when American fathers had to have a flexible right shoulder so they could reach back while driving and throttle a kid sitting in the rear seat.

But that classic Dad Skill is pretty much a thing of the past. Not because of enlightened parenting. Rather, it has faded from the cultural landscape because contemporary vehicles are simply too large to accommodate the raging reach-back.

Today's hapless father would simply be flailing away at thin air.

Perhaps there's not much to lament about its disappearance. Besides, some fathers went ahead and figured out a way to eliminate the need for dispensing discipline from the driver's seat.

Have a daughter who likes your Beatles CDs and never needs frontier justice.

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