Every Monday, there's a new 3-minute video of Uncle Jay explaining the previous week's events. He keeps it simple, so even the famous people he talks about can follow along.
Back in the 90's, when Stephen Colbert was still practicing his Macarena, it was Uncle Jay who originated the "News Word of the Week" and won an Emmy on local TV.
His 2008 singing Year in Review hit number one on YouTube, receiving over 8 million views. Maybe that friend or relative who won't stop forwarding crap has already sent it to you.
THIS WEEK: Decline: stock market, Obama's approval rating, and health reform.
About Uncle Jay | Dear Uncle Jay (PDF) | Uncle J-Mart | The DVD for 2008
LETTERS FROM "THE KIDS"
From: Arlene in Passaic, New Jersey
Dear Uncle Jay: When I read a story in a newspaper, sometimes they put three periods in the middle of a paragraph. Sometimes it's even in the middle of a sentence. Is it on purpose, and what does it mean?
Dear Arlene: First of all, thanks for reading a newspaper. Those three periods are called an "ellipsis." It means that they removed some words right at that spot, just to make things briefer for you. This happens on TV, too. For example, if President Obama says, "My health care plan will create a community of medical professionals who will develop a realistic system for all Americans," Fox News might condense it to: "My health care plan will create a communÂ…istic system for all Americans."
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From: Tommy in Cadillac, Michigan
Dear Uncle Jay: My dad told me that politicians on the news, especially the ones in D.C., seem to make a lot of money. How much do they make?
Dear Tommy: Each member of the Senate and House makes only $165,200 per year. In Washington this doesn't go very far, so politicians there are very poor. They refuse all other sources of income so that their integrity will never be questioned. But that's okay with them, because serving America is enough. Also, Santa Claus is coming to your house at Christmas with lots of toys!
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From Julie in Newark, New Jersey
Dear Uncle Jay: The news said that by the time I'm your age, there will be no Social Security for anyone. Is this true? Could you explain Social Security to me?
Dear Julie: Social Security basically takes a small portion out of every working American's paycheck, and then sends some of it to deserving Americans who are retired, disabled, confused, bored or fraudulent. It was started way back when America was in analog mono black & white. Today, there seem to be too many people getting old too fast, because their parents "boomed" them all at the same time. Fortunately, mathematical models show that by the time you retire, you will have been dead for three years, and so won't burden the system.
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From: Greg in Roswell, Georgia
Dear Uncle Jay: My dad says that Ron Paul didn't get the nomination because the news ignored him. Is that true, and why would that stop him from winning?
Dear Greg: First of all, tell your dad to GET OVER IT. Okay Â… when the news chooses to not cover a story, it's almost as if the story never happened. It's much like that famous saying: "If a tree falls in the forest but there is nobody around to hear it, was a sound actually produced, or was it quashed by a secret cabal of international bankers whose agenda for world domination and contempt for the Constitution is clearly indicated by the Freemason symbols on the dollar bill?" By the way, are you sure that you're in the Roswell that's in Georgia?
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From: David in Utica, Michigan
Dear Uncle Jay: I hear a lot about global warming, but even with all the evidence, some people still refuse to see that it's real. My teacher says it's better to act on an uncertainty, instead of doing nothing and facing global disaster. Is she right?
Dear David: It is NOT always better to act on an uncertainty. Examples: Y2K, WMD, New England Patriots by 7. Seriously, though, something disturbing does seem to be happening to the Earth. That's why your city has apparently shifted from Upstate New York to Michigan.
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From: Grant in Richmond, Virginia
Dear Uncle Jay: I keep hearing about the U.N. and all the things it does. What's the U.N.?
Dear Grant: U.N. stands for "United Nations." It's a building in New York where all the countries gathered in 1945 to solve the world's problems peacefully. The first world problem they solved was to exempt themselves from New York parking tickets. They'll get back to you about the other problems.
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Send your news questions (with your first name and where you live) to unclejay@unclejayexplains.com. Uncle Jay can't respond to everybody, but he'll try to answer your question here or in his weekly videos, which appear here every day (new ones are posted each Monday). He may slightly re-word your question so that he sounds smarter than you.
