How your taxes turn into manure

According to Citizens Against Government Waste, this year Congress is spending more than $17 billion on earmark, or ''pork,'' projects, including:

• $372,375 to study the management of pig manure;

• $188,000 for something called the ``Lobster Institute'';

• $183,705 for asparagus technology, and

• $150 to have a guy come clean out your garage.

I'm kidding about that last one, of course. The federal government has no time for your problems! It's busy managing pig manure.

Finally, a clear and lucid explanation of how our government works.