Your Tax Dollars At Work--You're A Drogo, Cobber!

Look, you can't expect to send our troops to serve in a foreign country without a guide, right?

But you civilians had best not be looking at this!

Damn straight!!

This was produced during WWII, and the library stamp is from May 1943, so there's your timeline.

First, you have to reassure the poor Americans stationed there that there is an important reason to be in Australia!

Then, lots of illustrated features to teach them local facts!

Then, the most important feature--what do Australians eat?!?

Clearly, Australians were an alien species. Look at that butter consumption!!

And then there is their freaky money!

Less freaky nowadays, thank goodness. 12 pennies to a shilling? 20 shillings to a pound? 21 shillings to a guinea? Who has time for all that math?!?!

And then there's the way they talk! The War Department felt obligated to publish this handy translation guide for U.S. soldiers!

Crikey!!

Your Tax Dollars At Work--McGruff And The Fourth Wall!

Guess what it's time for, guys?!?

Yeah!! Who doesn't love a surprise?!?

Good question!! Who is the party for, McGruff?!?!

Who? Tell us who!!

D'oh!!

After many pages of party preparation (mixed with saying "no" to drugs)...

Who is it!?!?

WHO IS IT?!?!

WHAT?!?!?! 

The comic book is talking to me!!! A DOG WEARING CLOTHES is talking--TO ME!!!!

I am soooo freaking out right now!

Who are you? Why are you talking to me?!?!? How can you even see me?!?!?!!? What is happening?!?!?

I am soooo frakked up right now!! MAKE IT STOP!! MAKE IT STOP!!!

Too late, McGruff.

While I try to chill out and come down, here's some projects for you guys:

Dude, I think reading this while I was high was a big mistake!!

McGruff's Surprise Party is from 1989

Your Tax Dollar At Work--Massachusetts Seafood!!

You know who are manlier men than you'll ever be?

Damn straight!

By the way, let's not forget to thank...

Let's begin by checking in with a man who seems not to be doing any actual seafaring right now:

Still manlier were the fishermen of the past!

No creator credits exist for this, but those are pretty obviously Kurt Schaffenberger faces, right? Man, she looks so thrilled by the very concept of manly men making a living from the sea, doesn't she? She so going to marry a fisherman, isn't she?

But we haven't talked enough about fishing yet...

"Greater"?!?!? How could that be possible, sir?

Woo hoo!

Hey, but it's not all science!!

Did you say rewards?

Whoa...$14,000?!?! (OK, cheap shot, it was 1967...)

But in addition to the pay, there's also the advantage of getting to hang with manly men...

...and eat manly food!!

So you'll be giving up those damned ideas about college now, right, Billy?

By the way, did you ever notice that seaside kids are much healthier and more attractive than those damned flyover state kids?

Wait, where's the Filet 'O' Fish?!?

And look...a map!

More thanks to...

I expect all of you to quit your jobs today and go become Massachusetts fisherman!!