text:
LAGOS, Nigeria (CNN) -- Nigeria has set its sights on making multibillion-dollar oil deals with China amid peace moves with militants.

Hundreds of militants have laid down their weapons in exchange for a pardon and a job.

Lawmakers in the west African country -- one of the world's top producers of oil -- are crafting new money-making changes for its state oil corporation, as officials negotiate multibillion-dollar oil deals with China. At the same time, the government is brokering peace with bandits whose attacks have cost the oil industry millions.

Nigeria's minister for state of petroleum, Odein Ajumogobia, talked this month about the developments.

The changes aimed at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation will address allegations of corruption and mismanagement, he said.

"Some of the excesses we've seen in the industry are as a result of the lack of regulation," Ajumogobia said. "We are going to make sure that the petroleum directorate, for example, where the minister will reside, is going to be manned by professionals who understand the industry and have the experience."

Nigeria welcomes China's recent interest in investing in Nigeria's oil industry, Ajumogobia added. The state-run China Daily reported in September that the China National Offshore Oil Corporation was negotiating with Nigeria over a $30 billion oil deal.

The talks are part of China's oil-buying binge this year. Its government-controlled oil companies have closed or floated a slew of deals all over the world, including billion-dollar deals with Russian oil company Rosneft and Brazil's Petrobras.

The Nigerian minister offered few details about negotiations with China.

"There is no deal yet," he said. "We all know the appetite of the Chinese for energy -- a huge population and so on -- and they're looking for oil and Nigeria has a lot of it."

Oil bandits have plagued Nigeria for years, attacking pipelines and cutting production by over 1 million barrels of oil a day. But many of those attacks might end, thanks to a cease-fire with the militant group MEND, or the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta. The truce was negotiated in the summer and was extended in September.

MEND has demanded a fairer distribution of oil wealth in the Niger Delta and wants oil revenue reinvested in the region, instead of enriching those whom the militants consider corrupt politicians.

Last week, the group said it was calling off the truce, but there have not been renewed attacks.

Nigeria hopes to leverage the fragile peace to reap big dollars from its oil industry, Ajumogobia said.

text: LAGOS

text: Nigeria

text: CNN

text: Nigeria

text: has

text: set

text: its

text: sights

text: on

text: making

text: multibillion

text: dollar

text: oil

text: deals

text: with

text: China

text: amid

text: peace

text: moves

text: with

text: militants

text: Hundreds

text: of

text: militants

text: have

text: laid

text: down

text: their

text: weapons

text: in

text: exchange

text: for

text: a

text: pardon

text: and

text: a

text: job

text: Lawmakers

text: in

text: the

text: west

text: African

text: country

text: one

text: of

text: the

text: world

text: 's

text: top

text: producers

text: of

text: oil

text: are

text: crafting

text: new

text: money

text: making

text: changes

text: for

text: its

text: state

text: oil

text: corporation

text: as

text: officials

text: negotiate

text: multibillion

text: dollar

text: oil

text: deals

text: with

text: China

text: At

text: the

text: same

text: time

text: the

text: government

text: is

text: brokering

text: peace

text: with

text: bandits

text: whose

text: attacks

text: have

text: cost

text: the

text: oil

text: industry

text: millions

text: Nigeria

text: 's

text: minister

text: for

text: state

text: of

text: petroleum

text: Odein

text: Ajumogobia

text: talked

text: this

text: month

text: about

text: the

text: developments

text: The

text: changes

text: aimed

text: at

text: the

text: Nigerian

text: National

text: Petroleum

text: Corporation

text: will

text: address

text: allegations

text: of

text: corruption

text: and

text: mismanagement

text: he

text: said

text: Some

text: of

text: the

text: excesses

text: we

text: 've

text: seen

text: in

text: the

text: industry

text: are

text: as

text: a

text: result

text: of

text: the

text: lack

text: of

text: regulation

text: Ajumogobia

text: said

text: We

text: are

text: going

text: to

text: make

text: sure

text: that

text: the

text: petroleum

text: directorate

text: for

text: example

text: where

text: the

text: minister

text: will

text: reside

text: is

text: going

text: to

text: be

text: manned

text: by

text: professionals

text: who

text: understand

text: the

text: industry

text: and

text: have

text: the

text: experience

text: Nigeria

text: welcomes

text: China

text: 's

text: recent

text: interest

text: in

text: investing

text: in

text: Nigeria

text: 's

text: oil

text: industry

text: Ajumogobia

text: added

text: The

text: state

text: run

text: China

text: Daily

text: reported

text: in

text: September

text: that

text: the

text: China

text: National

text: Offshore

text: Oil

text: Corporation

text: was

text: negotiating

text: with

text: Nigeria

text: over

text: a

text: billion

text: oil

text: deal

text: The

text: talks

text: are

text: part

text: of

text: China

text: 's

text: oil

text: buying

text: binge

text: this

text: year

text: Its

text: government

text: controlled

text: oil

text: companies

text: have

text: closed

text: or

text: floated

text: a

text: slew

text: of

text: deals

text: all

text: over

text: the

text: world

text: including

text: billion

text: dollar

text: deals

text: with

text: Russian

text: oil

text: company

text: Rosneft

text: and

text: Brazil

text: 's

text: Petrobras

text: The

text: Nigerian

text: minister

text: offered

text: few

text: details

text: about

text: negotiations

text: with

text: China

text: There

text: is

text: no

text: deal

text: yet

text: he

text: said

text: We

text: all

text: know

text: the

text: appetite

text: of

text: the

text: Chinese

text: for

text: energy

text: a

text: huge

text: population

text: and

text: so

text: on

text: and

text: they

text: 're

text: looking

text: for

text: oil

text: and

text: Nigeria

text: has

text: a

text: lot

text: of

text: it

text: Oil

text: bandits

text: have

text: plagued

text: Nigeria

text: for

text: years

text: attacking

text: pipelines

text: and

text: cutting

text: production

text: by

text: over

text: million

text: barrels

text: of

text: oil

text: a

text: day

text: But

text: many

text: of

text: those

text: attacks

text: might

text: end

text: thanks

text: to

text: a

text: cease

text: fire

text: with

text: the

text: militant

text: group

text: MEND

text: or

text: the

text: Movement

text: for

text: the

text: Emancipation

text: of

text: the

text: Niger

text: Delta

text: The

text: truce

text: was

text: negotiated

text: in

text: the

text: summer

text: and

text: was

text: extended

text: in

text: September

text: MEND

text: has

text: demanded

text: a

text: fairer

text: distribution

text: of

text: oil

text: wealth

text: in

text: the

text: Niger

text: Delta

text: and

text: wants

text: oil

text: revenue

text: reinvested

text: in

text: the

text: region

text: instead

text: of

text: enriching

text: those

text: whom

text: the

text: militants

text: consider

text: corrupt

text: politicians

text: Last

text: week

text: the

text: group

text: said

text: it

text: was

text: calling

text: off

text: the

text: truce

text: but

text: there

text: have

text: not

text: been

text: renewed

text: attacks

text: Nigeria

text: hopes

text: to

text: leverage

text: the

text: fragile

text: peace

text: to

text: reap

text: big

text: dollars

text: from

text: its

text: oil

text: industry

text: Ajumogobia

text: said

question: where is the oil coming from

answer: Nigeria

text: Nigeria

question: Who aims to make huge oil deals with China?

answer: Nigeria

text: Nigeria

question: Government brokers peace with who?

answer: militants.

text: militants.

question: for how much did the Chinese oil company negotiate with Nigeria on oil deal?

answer: $30 billion

text: $30 billion

question: what are the deals

answer: multibillion-dollar oil

text: multibillion-dollar oil

question: what whas de reason for  the Government to broke peace with bandits?

answer: attacks have cost the oil industry millions.

text: attacks have cost the oil industry millions.

question: Who is negotiating with Nigeria?

answer: China

text: China

question: What deal is Nigeria aiming for?

answer: with China

text: with China


text:
New York (CNN) -- Three years ago I began research on a book dedicated to the national pastimes: shopping and buying.

The plan was to devote the first half of the story to what I called the "sell side": the retailers, marketers and consumer researchers who have their sights trained on us. The second half would be about us, the "buy side." I would explore all that attracts us -- bees to nectar-- to specific stores and products, why some of us are cheapskates and others have holes in our pockets.

Then, a not-so-funny thing happened. Between the time I started my reporting and the time I handed in my finished manuscript, both the sell and the buy sides had cratered. Home prices crashed. Credit markets collapsed. The government tried feverishly to glue broken banks back together. Unemployment went up and up and up.

The result: consumer spending -- as in that which drives 70 percent of the U.S. economy -- was running on fumes. Department store sales sank by double-digits. "The golden age of spending for the American consumer has ended and a new age of thrift likely has begun," said a Wall Street analyst. "Sixty percent off is the new black," quipped a magazine fashion writer.

Gone, seemingly overnight, were the throngs of buyers from Europe and Asia who had been dragging their wheelies down Fifth Avenue in New York, loading up on shoes and handbags and leaving us American shoppers feeling, even then, like poor country cousins. Word spread that we were now living in "the Wal-Mart moment," which was likely to be rather drawn out. Our longstanding fetish for bigger, faster, flashier, pricier was no more..

With the most hyped shopping day on the calendar -- Black Friday! -- upon us, we all might take a deep breath and focus, not just on where to find the best door-busters, but on more important questions: What is going on out there? In the buying and selling universe, are we witnessing a permanent change in values? Have we all turned forever frugal?

The fact is, nobody's quite sure right now. Over the past several months, there have been small signs of recovery. Consumer confidence surveys offer a glimmer of hope.

On the "sell side" retailers are viewing the holiday selling season with slightly more optimism than when they put in their holiday purchase orders six months ago. And it seems reasonable to hope that we've at least touched bottom and that the consumer escalator is on the way up again, however fitfully.

But on the buy side -- our side -- things have changed dramatically, and in some ways for the better. We're shopping more with our heads, not just our hearts; we're thinking about the things we buy.

A woman in Boston -- affluent, accomplished, largely unscathed by the financial collapse -- told me that when she now looks back on the expensive shoes and clothes she bought routinely just a few years ago, she "just can't believe what I was doing."

The Internet is now a daily, indispensable tool we use to search for better prices and seek counsel from others with firsthand knowledge of brands and stores we might be considering. The result: Up and down the socioeconomic ladder we're shopping more prudently.

We're paying down credit card balances and placing greater value not just on the new and novel, the cool and the trendy, but also on value itself. Does it work? Is the price fair? Will it last?

And yes, we're also splurging now and then -- on impulse purchases that can make a day all the more sweet: a new hairstyle, a brightly colored this-or-that for spring, an electronic gadget that performs amazing tricks, some useful, some just diverting.

There are those who would tell us that purchases like this -- "unnecessary!" "juvenile!" etc. -- are signs of character weakness, that we are routinely "conned" into buying useless things by manipulative Mad Men, but I think it's more complicated. Because if there's one thing I learned after three years of watching folks shop and buy -- in good times, then bad -- it isn't that we buy that's been our problem, it's how we bought that was the issue: recklessly, and with little more than a piece of plastic or phantom home equity.

But that was then. This is now, and a little self-reward -- a from-me-to-me purchase here, an I-love-you purchase there -- are hardly crimes in my book. Assuming, of course, they don't bring down the house -- this holiday season and beyond.

The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Lee Eisenberg

text: New

text: York

text: CNN

text: Three

text: years

text: ago

text: I

text: began

text: research

text: on

text: a

text: book

text: dedicated

text: to

text: the

text: national

text: pastimes

text: shopping

text: and

text: buying

text: The

text: plan

text: was

text: to

text: devote

text: the

text: first

text: half

text: of

text: the

text: story

text: to

text: what

text: I

text: called

text: the

text: sell

text: side

text: the

text: retailers

text: marketers

text: and

text: consumer

text: researchers

text: who

text: have

text: their

text: sights

text: trained

text: on

text: us

text: The

text: second

text: half

text: would

text: be

text: about

text: us

text: the

text: buy

text: side

text: I

text: would

text: explore

text: all

text: that

text: attracts

text: us

text: bees

text: to

text: nectar--

text: to

text: specific

text: stores

text: and

text: products

text: why

text: some

text: of

text: us

text: are

text: cheapskates

text: and

text: others

text: have

text: holes

text: in

text: our

text: pockets

text: Then

text: a

text: not

text: so

text: funny

text: thing

text: happened

text: Between

text: the

text: time

text: I

text: started

text: my

text: reporting

text: and

text: the

text: time

text: I

text: handed

text: in

text: my

text: finished

text: manuscript

text: both

text: the

text: sell

text: and

text: the

text: buy

text: sides

text: had

text: cratered

text: Home

text: prices

text: crashed

text: Credit

text: markets

text: collapsed

text: The

text: government

text: tried

text: feverishly

text: to

text: glue

text: broken

text: banks

text: back

text: together

text: Unemployment

text: went

text: up

text: and

text: up

text: and

text: up

text: The

text: result

text: consumer

text: spending

text: as

text: in

text: that

text: which

text: drives

text: percent

text: of

text: the

text: U.S.

text: economy

text: was

text: running

text: on

text: fumes

text: Department

text: store

text: sales

text: sank

text: by

text: double

text: digits

text: The

text: golden

text: age

text: of

text: spending

text: for

text: the

text: American

text: consumer

text: has

text: ended

text: and

text: a

text: new

text: age

text: of

text: thrift

text: likely

text: has

text: begun

text: said

text: a

text: Wall

text: Street

text: analyst

text: Sixty

text: percent

text: off

text: is

text: the

text: new

text: black

text: quipped

text: a

text: magazine

text: fashion

text: writer

text: Gone

text: seemingly

text: overnight

text: were

text: the

text: throngs

text: of

text: buyers

text: from

text: Europe

text: and

text: Asia

text: who

text: had

text: been

text: dragging

text: their

text: wheelies

text: down

text: Fifth

text: Avenue

text: in

text: New

text: York

text: loading

text: up

text: on

text: shoes

text: and

text: handbags

text: and

text: leaving

text: us

text: American

text: shoppers

text: feeling

text: even

text: then

text: like

text: poor

text: country

text: cousins

text: Word

text: spread

text: that

text: we

text: were

text: now

text: living

text: in

text: the

text: Wal

text: Mart

text: moment

text: which

text: was

text: likely

text: to

text: be

text: rather

text: drawn

text: out

text: Our

text: longstanding

text: fetish

text: for

text: bigger

text: faster

text: flashier

text: pricier

text: was

text: no

text: more

text: With

text: the

text: most

text: hyped

text: shopping

text: day

text: on

text: the

text: calendar

text: Black

text: Friday

text: upon

text: us

text: we

text: all

text: might

text: take

text: a

text: deep

text: breath

text: and

text: focus

text: not

text: just

text: on

text: where

text: to

text: find

text: the

text: best

text: door

text: busters

text: but

text: on

text: more

text: important

text: questions

text: What

text: is

text: going

text: on

text: out

text: there

text: In

text: the

text: buying

text: and

text: selling

text: universe

text: are

text: we

text: witnessing

text: a

text: permanent

text: change

text: in

text: values

text: Have

text: we

text: all

text: turned

text: forever

text: frugal

text: The

text: fact

text: is

text: nobody

text: 's

text: quite

text: sure

text: right

text: now

text: Over

text: the

text: past

text: several

text: months

text: there

text: have

text: been

text: small

text: signs

text: of

text: recovery

text: Consumer

text: confidence

text: surveys

text: offer

text: a

text: glimmer

text: of

text: hope

text: On

text: the

text: sell

text: side

text: retailers

text: are

text: viewing

text: the

text: holiday

text: selling

text: season

text: with

text: slightly

text: more

text: optimism

text: than

text: when

text: they

text: put

text: in

text: their

text: holiday

text: purchase

text: orders

text: six

text: months

text: ago

text: And

text: it

text: seems

text: reasonable

text: to

text: hope

text: that

text: we

text: 've

text: at

text: least

text: touched

text: bottom

text: and

text: that

text: the

text: consumer

text: escalator

text: is

text: on

text: the

text: way

text: up

text: again

text: however

text: fitfully

text: But

text: on

text: the

text: buy

text: side

text: our

text: side

text: things

text: have

text: changed

text: dramatically

text: and

text: in

text: some

text: ways

text: for

text: the

text: better

text: We

text: 're

text: shopping

text: more

text: with

text: our

text: heads

text: not

text: just

text: our

text: hearts

text: we

text: 're

text: thinking

text: about

text: the

text: things

text: we

text: buy

text: A

text: woman

text: in

text: Boston

text: affluent

text: accomplished

text: largely

text: unscathed

text: by

text: the

text: financial

text: collapse

text: told

text: me

text: that

text: when

text: she

text: now

text: looks

text: back

text: on

text: the

text: expensive

text: shoes

text: and

text: clothes

text: she

text: bought

text: routinely

text: just

text: a

text: few

text: years

text: ago

text: she

text: just

text: ca

text: n't

text: believe

text: what

text: I

text: was

text: doing

text: The

text: Internet

text: is

text: now

text: a

text: daily

text: indispensable

text: tool

text: we

text: use

text: to

text: search

text: for

text: better

text: prices

text: and

text: seek

text: counsel

text: from

text: others

text: with

text: firsthand

text: knowledge

text: of

text: brands

text: and

text: stores

text: we

text: might

text: be

text: considering

text: The

text: result

text: Up

text: and

text: down

text: the

text: socioeconomic

text: ladder

text: we

text: 're

text: shopping

text: more

text: prudently

text: We

text: 're

text: paying

text: down

text: credit

text: card

text: balances

text: and

text: placing

text: greater

text: value

text: not

text: just

text: on

text: the

text: new

text: and

text: novel

text: the

text: cool

text: and

text: the

text: trendy

text: but

text: also

text: on

text: value

text: itself

text: Does

text: it

text: work

text: Is

text: the

text: price

text: fair

text: Will

text: it

text: last

text: And

text: yes

text: we

text: 're

text: also

text: splurging

text: now

text: and

text: then

text: on

text: impulse

text: purchases

text: that

text: can

text: make

text: a

text: day

text: all

text: the

text: more

text: sweet

text: a

text: new

text: hairstyle

text: a

text: brightly

text: colored

text: this

text: or

text: that

text: for

text: spring

text: an

text: electronic

text: gadget

text: that

text: performs

text: amazing

text: tricks

text: some

text: useful

text: some

text: just

text: diverting

text: There

text: are

text: those

text: who

text: would

text: tell

text: us

text: that

text: purchases

text: like

text: this

text: unnecessary

text: juvenile

text: etc

text: are

text: signs

text: of

text: character

text: weakness

text: that

text: we

text: are

text: routinely

text: conned

text: into

text: buying

text: useless

text: things

text: by

text: manipulative

text: Mad

text: Men

text: but

text: I

text: think

text: it

text: 's

text: more

text: complicated

text: Because

text: if

text: there

text: 's

text: one

text: thing

text: I

text: learned

text: after

text: three

text: years

text: of

text: watching

text: folks

text: shop

text: and

text: buy

text: in

text: good

text: times

text: then

text: bad

text: it

text: is

text: n't

text: that

text: we

text: buy

text: that

text: 's

text: been

text: our

text: problem

text: it

text: 's

text: how

text: we

text: bought

text: that

text: was

text: the

text: issue

text: recklessly

text: and

text: with

text: little

text: more

text: than

text: a

text: piece

text: of

text: plastic

text: or

text: phantom

text: home

text: equity

text: But

text: that

text: was

text: then

text: This

text: is

text: now

text: and

text: a

text: little

text: self

text: reward

text: a

text: from

text: me

text: to

text: me

text: purchase

text: here

text: an

text: I

text: love

text: you

text: purchase

text: there

text: are

text: hardly

text: crimes

text: in

text: my

text: book

text: Assuming

text: of

text: course

text: they

text: do

text: n't

text: bring

text: down

text: the

text: house

text: this

text: holiday

text: season

text: and

text: beyond

text: The

text: opinions

text: expressed

text: in

text: this

text: commentary

text: are

text: solely

text: those

text: of

text: Lee

text: Eisenberg

question: What are consumers placing

answer: greater value not just on the new and novel, the cool and the trendy, but also on value itself.

text: greater value not just on the new and novel, the cool and the trendy, but also on value itself.

question: According to Eisenburg, what are consumers placing new importance on when they make purchases?

answer: value itself. Does it work? Is the price fair? Will it last?

text: value itself. Does it work? Is the price fair? Will it last?

question: Have habits shifted?

answer: new age of thrift likely has begun,"

text: new age of thrift likely has begun,"

question: Who said the down economy turned Americans into scrimpers?

answer: a Wall Street analyst.

text: a Wall Street analyst.


text:
Editor's note: Clark Howard, the Atlanta, Georgia-based host of a nationally syndicated radio show, is host of a television show designed to help viewers save more, spend less and avoid getting ripped off during these tough economic times. The show airs at noon and 4 p.m. ET Saturdays and Sundays on HLN.

Clark Howard says it's smart to cut back and save, but sometimes being cheap doesn't pay.

ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) -- Over the last several years, we as Americans became "negative net savers" -- a fancy term used by pointy-headed economists to say that we spent more money than we made. In fact, our savings rate was at negative 2.7 percent as recently as four years ago.

Now, however, the trend seems to be reversing. We actually saved five percent out of every dollar of disposable income in January, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA).

Wow, a whole nickel out of every dollar. Thomas Jefferson would be proud! Sure, it's not the "dime on a dollar" rule of thumb for savings that I rave about, but it's a start.  Watch Clark talk with an amazing saver Â»

The truly noteworthy thing here is how we're saving this much-heralded five percent. Where exactly are we cutting back to satisfy our newfound hunger for pinching nickels?

The BEA's numbers show that vehicles and fuel expenses account for nearly two-thirds of the savings. That category alone has seen a $115.2 billion decline compared with January 2008 numbers. Americans are riding their vehicles until the wheels fall off.

The second largest category where we've cut back on is eating out, which is down $55.7 billion from last January. After that, we're also trimming the budget on clothing, jewelry, alcohol and more.

In most recessions, the sales of alcohol do very well as people try to drown their worries in a bottle. I'm not so sure that behavior itself has changed, but this time around, people are trading down in their drink of choice.

For example, fancy wine drinkers may be switching to Trader Joe's lines of Charles Shaw wines (a.k.a. Two Buck Chuck, for their $1.99-$3.49 per bottle price). Beer drinkers, meanwhile, are skipping expensive and exotic microbrews in favor of cheaper choices.

Of course, there are other ways to save a nickel without having to trade down or go without. Many people are simply becoming "do-it-yourselfers." This trend has also been called insourcing -- when you do something yourself instead of paying someone else to do it.

Some marketers have seized on insourcing to great effect. For example, Target recently ran an ad campaign that aimed to reinvent the store's image for these new, leaner times.

Consider this: The ailing retailer has always positioned itself as an affordable splurge over the years. But suddenly, any kind of splurge is seen as irrelevant in today's economy and Target's sales are suffering.

So their recent ad campaign was all about the "new." A circular I saw showed the "new" room service (store brand orange juice and cereal served at home); the "new" personal trainer (using home exercise equipment instead of paying for a gym membership); and the "new" restaurant (eating at home) -- all things that can be pricey, but are now being repositioned on the cheap in an effort to boost sales.

Insourcing is making direct inroads into the home too -- quite literally. The Wall Street Journal's Weekend Journal recently reported on "closet boutiques" where women are now opening up their homes and closets to strangers in order to sell unwanted designer clothes.

Closet boutiques are typically advertised on Craigslist. There were 715,000 postings in February -- more than double the amount last year at that time.

For buyers, a closet boutique offers the opportunity to pick up designer threads at a tiny fraction of their new cost. But a word of caution for sellers: You'll almost certainly have some questionable characters coming into your home. Store away all your valuables, and make sure you have enough eyeballs on hand to ensure that people don't wander around your home with sticky fingers.

In other DIY (do-it-yourself) moments, The Washington Post recently reported that sales of sewing kits at Wal-Mart are up 30 percent in just the last few months. People are mending their own clothes instead of paying a tailor or seamstress to do the same.

And let's not even mention all the botched dye jobs that hairdressers are having to work with from women (and some men) who tried to take matters into their own hands.

Sometimes, it doesn't pay to be cheap!

text: Editor

text: 's

text: note

text: Clark

text: Howard

text: the

text: Atlanta

text: Georgia

text: based

text: host

text: of

text: a

text: nationally

text: syndicated

text: radio

text: show

text: is

text: host

text: of

text: a

text: television

text: show

text: designed

text: to

text: help

text: viewers

text: save

text: more

text: spend

text: less

text: and

text: avoid

text: getting

text: ripped

text: off

text: during

text: these

text: tough

text: economic

text: times

text: The

text: show

text: airs

text: at

text: noon

text: and

text: p.m.

text: ET

text: Saturdays

text: and

text: Sundays

text: on

text: HLN

text: Clark

text: Howard

text: says

text: it

text: 's

text: smart

text: to

text: cut

text: back

text: and

text: save

text: but

text: sometimes

text: being

text: cheap

text: does

text: n't

text: pay

text: ATLANTA

text: Georgia

text: CNN

text: Over

text: the

text: last

text: several

text: years

text: we

text: as

text: Americans

text: became

text: negative

text: net

text: savers

text: a

text: fancy

text: term

text: used

text: by

text: pointy

text: headed

text: economists

text: to

text: say

text: that

text: we

text: spent

text: more

text: money

text: than

text: we

text: made

text: In

text: fact

text: our

text: savings

text: rate

text: was

text: at

text: negative

text: percent

text: as

text: recently

text: as

text: four

text: years

text: ago

text: Now

text: however

text: the

text: trend

text: seems

text: to

text: be

text: reversing

text: We

text: actually

text: saved

text: five

text: percent

text: out

text: of

text: every

text: dollar

text: of

text: disposable

text: income

text: in

text: January

text: according

text: to

text: the

text: Bureau

text: of

text: Economic

text: Analysis

text: BEA

text: Wow

text: a

text: whole

text: nickel

text: out

text: of

text: every

text: dollar

text: Thomas

text: Jefferson

text: would

text: be

text: proud

text: Sure

text: it

text: 's

text: not

text: the

text: dime

text: on

text: a

text: dollar

text: rule

text: of

text: thumb

text: for

text: savings

text: that

text: I

text: rave

text: about

text: but

text: it

text: 's

text: a

text: start

text: Watch

text: Clark

text: talk

text: with

text: an

text: amazing

text: saver

text: Â

text: The

text: truly

text: noteworthy

text: thing

text: here

text: is

text: how

text: we

text: 're

text: saving

text: this

text: much

text: heralded

text: five

text: percent

text: Where

text: exactly

text: are

text: we

text: cutting

text: back

text: to

text: satisfy

text: our

text: newfound

text: hunger

text: for

text: pinching

text: nickels

text: The

text: BEA

text: 's

text: numbers

text: show

text: that

text: vehicles

text: and

text: fuel

text: expenses

text: account

text: for

text: nearly

text: two

text: thirds

text: of

text: the

text: savings

text: That

text: category

text: alone

text: has

text: seen

text: a

text: billion

text: decline

text: compared

text: with

text: January

text: numbers

text: Americans

text: are

text: riding

text: their

text: vehicles

text: until

text: the

text: wheels

text: fall

text: off

text: The

text: second

text: largest

text: category

text: where

text: we

text: 've

text: cut

text: back

text: on

text: is

text: eating

text: out

text: which

text: is

text: down

text: billion

text: from

text: last

text: January

text: After

text: that

text: we

text: 're

text: also

text: trimming

text: the

text: budget

text: on

text: clothing

text: jewelry

text: alcohol

text: and

text: more

text: In

text: most

text: recessions

text: the

text: sales

text: of

text: alcohol

text: do

text: very

text: well

text: as

text: people

text: try

text: to

text: drown

text: their

text: worries

text: in

text: a

text: bottle

text: I

text: 'm

text: not

text: so

text: sure

text: that

text: behavior

text: itself

text: has

text: changed

text: but

text: this

text: time

text: around

text: people

text: are

text: trading

text: down

text: in

text: their

text: drink

text: of

text: choice

text: For

text: example

text: fancy

text: wine

text: drinkers

text: may

text: be

text: switching

text: to

text: Trader

text: Joe

text: 's

text: lines

text: of

text: Charles

text: Shaw

text: wines

text: a.k.a

text: Two

text: Buck

text: Chuck

text: for

text: their

text: per

text: bottle

text: price

text: Beer

text: drinkers

text: meanwhile

text: are

text: skipping

text: expensive

text: and

text: exotic

text: microbrews

text: in

text: favor

text: of

text: cheaper

text: choices

text: Of

text: course

text: there

text: are

text: other

text: ways

text: to

text: save

text: a

text: nickel

text: without

text: having

text: to

text: trade

text: down

text: or

text: go

text: without

text: Many

text: people

text: are

text: simply

text: becoming

text: do

text: it

text: yourselfers

text: This

text: trend

text: has

text: also

text: been

text: called

text: insourcing

text: when

text: you

text: do

text: something

text: yourself

text: instead

text: of

text: paying

text: someone

text: else

text: to

text: do

text: it

text: Some

text: marketers

text: have

text: seized

text: on

text: insourcing

text: to

text: great

text: effect

text: For

text: example

text: Target

text: recently

text: ran

text: an

text: ad

text: campaign

text: that

text: aimed

text: to

text: reinvent

text: the

text: store

text: 's

text: image

text: for

text: these

text: new

text: leaner

text: times

text: Consider

text: this

text: The

text: ailing

text: retailer

text: has

text: always

text: positioned

text: itself

text: as

text: an

text: affordable

text: splurge

text: over

text: the

text: years

text: But

text: suddenly

text: any

text: kind

text: of

text: splurge

text: is

text: seen

text: as

text: irrelevant

text: in

text: today

text: 's

text: economy

text: and

text: Target

text: 's

text: sales

text: are

text: suffering

text: So

text: their

text: recent

text: ad

text: campaign

text: was

text: all

text: about

text: the

text: new

text: A

text: circular

text: I

text: saw

text: showed

text: the

text: new

text: room

text: service

text: store

text: brand

text: orange

text: juice

text: and

text: cereal

text: served

text: at

text: home

text: the

text: new

text: personal

text: trainer

text: using

text: home

text: exercise

text: equipment

text: instead

text: of

text: paying

text: for

text: a

text: gym

text: membership

text: and

text: the

text: new

text: restaurant

text: eating

text: at

text: home

text: all

text: things

text: that

text: can

text: be

text: pricey

text: but

text: are

text: now

text: being

text: repositioned

text: on

text: the

text: cheap

text: in

text: an

text: effort

text: to

text: boost

text: sales

text: Insourcing

text: is

text: making

text: direct

text: inroads

text: into

text: the

text: home

text: too

text: quite

text: literally

text: The

text: Wall

text: Street

text: Journal

text: 's

text: Weekend

text: Journal

text: recently

text: reported

text: on

text: closet

text: boutiques

text: where

text: women

text: are

text: now

text: opening

text: up

text: their

text: homes

text: and

text: closets

text: to

text: strangers

text: in

text: order

text: to

text: sell

text: unwanted

text: designer

text: clothes

text: Closet

text: boutiques

text: are

text: typically

text: advertised

text: on

text: Craigslist

text: There

text: were

text: postings

text: in

text: February

text: more

text: than

text: double

text: the

text: amount

text: last

text: year

text: at

text: that

text: time

text: For

text: buyers

text: a

text: closet

text: boutique

text: offers

text: the

text: opportunity

text: to

text: pick

text: up

text: designer

text: threads

text: at

text: a

text: tiny

text: fraction

text: of

text: their

text: new

text: cost

text: But

text: a

text: word

text: of

text: caution

text: for

text: sellers

text: You

text: 'll

text: almost

text: certainly

text: have

text: some

text: questionable

text: characters

text: coming

text: into

text: your

text: home

text: Store

text: away

text: all

text: your

text: valuables

text: and

text: make

text: sure

text: you

text: have

text: enough

text: eyeballs

text: on

text: hand

text: to

text: ensure

text: that

text: people

text: do

text: n't

text: wander

text: around

text: your

text: home

text: with

text: sticky

text: fingers

text: In

text: other

text: DIY

text: do

text: it

text: yourself

text: moments

text: The

text: Washington

text: Post

text: recently

text: reported

text: that

text: sales

text: of

text: sewing

text: kits

text: at

text: Wal

text: Mart

text: are

text: up

text: percent

text: in

text: just

text: the

text: last

text: few

text: months

text: People

text: are

text: mending

text: their

text: own

text: clothes

text: instead

text: of

text: paying

text: a

text: tailor

text: or

text: seamstress

text: to

text: do

text: the

text: same

text: And

text: let

text: 's

text: not

text: even

text: mention

text: all

text: the

text: botched

text: dye

text: jobs

text: that

text: hairdressers

text: are

text: having

text: to

text: work

text: with

text: from

text: women

text: and

text: some

text: men

text: who

text: tried

text: to

text: take

text: matters

text: into

text: their

text: own

text: hands

text: Sometimes

text: it

text: does

text: n't

text: pay

text: to

text: be

text: cheap

question: How much are Americans saving out of every dollar?

answer: five percent

text: five percent

question: Where does two thrids of the savings go?

answer: vehicles and fuel expenses account for nearly two-thirds of the

text: vehicles and fuel expenses account for nearly two-thirds of the

question: What accounts for two-thirds of the savings?

answer: vehicles and fuel expenses

text: vehicles and fuel expenses

question: What does Clark say?

answer: it's smart to cut back and save, but sometimes being cheap doesn't pay.

text: it's smart to cut back and save, but sometimes being cheap doesn't pay.

question: How much are American's saving?

answer: five percent out of every dollar of disposable income

text: five percent out of every dollar of disposable income

question: how much money Americans are saving by dollar?

answer: five percent out of every

text: five percent out of every

question: what about the expenses on fuel?

answer: account for nearly two-thirds of the savings.

text: account for nearly two-thirds of the savings.


text:
(AOL Autos)  -- Have you ever wondered what your neighbors are carrying around in their car's trunk or SUV's cargo hold? I decided to find out -- by asking 100 strangers in a department store parking lot.

Strollers, playpens, toys and diapers take up a lot of space, but a lot of parents still had organized trunks.

The mission

To uncover the secret contents of the average American trunk and cargo hold.

The stakeout

I spent two weekend afternoons at the Empire Center in Burbank, California, with my camera and notebook, approaching shoppers as they arrived or departed. I identified myself as a reporter for AOL Autos, and asked if I could see what they had in their trunk, and maybe take a picture. I hoped that I'd be able to see a trend in trunks. AOL Autos: Small cars with room in the trunk

The raw data  My decidedly unscientific study yielded some interesting results. First of all, I discovered that even in a big city (Burbank is a suburb of Los Angeles), people are exceedingly nice if you are respectful and forthright.

About 80% of the people I approached were kind, open and helpful, and gladly opened their trunks for a glance. The 20% who refused were either in a rush, guarded or shy -- but they were still remarkably polite.

The second surprising thing was that the vast majority of trunks and cargo holds were clean and uncluttered. I really expected to discover overstuffed trunks, full of cast-off items and flea market finds. But even the most fully-used storage areas were tidy and organized. AOL Autos: Used fuel-efficient crossovers

Not surprisingly, people with small children tended to have the most crowded trunks and cargo holds. Strollers, playpens, toys and diapers take up a lot of space, but most families have discovered that clean, organized trunks make getting to your kids' supplies much easier and more efficient. AOL Autos: Best new cars for 2009

Another trend I noticed was that athletic folks tend to use their car's trunk as a portable gym locker. I saw a lot of gym bags, sports equipment and sneakers. On a hot day, this was a bit of a mixed blessing; baked sneakers have a decidedly pungent odor. No one seemed to have a good solution to this problem. I would put a cabin air freshener, like the Little Tree, in my trunk if I regularly carried my tennis shoes. AOL Autos: Celebrity cars you can afford

For the non-athletic, the most common item I saw was the collapsible chair. One family had an entire beach setup in their trunk: four collapsible chairs, a beach blanket, a sun umbrella and an empty cooler, all neatly tucked against the back wall. They said that they always wanted to be ready for a beach day, should the opportunity arise.

Some people were extremely proud of their trunks. One woman bragged that her brother taught her how to organize her tools, and that she had taken the organization to the next level. She had multiple storage boxes in her neat, clean trunk, each with a different set of useful items. AOL Autos: Most fun cars for under $20,000

A few families were downright sheepish about the state of their cargo holds. They apologized in advance before opening the trunk, and said that they were in the middle of a project that had foiled their attempts at organization and cleanliness. I have to take them at their word; I'm not making a return trip to that hot parking lot to follow up.

The conclusion

After two days pounding the asphalt, I'm pleased to report that I actually uncovered some useful information and some fun trivia.

There are good reasons for keeping your trunk as empty as possible:

1. Less junk in the trunk equals less weight, and less weight can mean greater fuel efficiency.   2. Under certain circumstances, shifting content in your trunk can adversely affect handling.   3. An empty trunk provides space for that roadside find or warehouse store bargain. How else are you going to get that pallet of pickled asparagus spears back to your garage?

Here are a few tips that I picked up from the best (and worst) of trunks:

1. Use boxes or containers in your trunk to keep your emergency kit organized and all together.

2. Purge non-essential items from your trunk on a regular basis.

3. Vacuum your cargo space whenever you wash your car so that whatever you put in your trunk doesn't get dirty and dusty.

4. Keep a few reusable shopping bags in your trunk so that you always have them when you get to the store.

5. Be sure to carry a few essential tools -- screwdrivers, wrench, tire-changing tools, a rubber mallet, etc. -- for emergency repair.

6. A cargo net or bungee cords will help keep your boxes and other items from rolling around in the trunk during hard cornering.

Last, but not least, here's a list of the oddest items that I saw in any trunk:

â¢. A machete, an axe and a hammer, wrapped in a colorful sheet (I didn't ask any questions).

â¢ A pair of old-school quad roller skates.

â¢ An ice scraper (odd because the temperature was 97 degrees in the shade) -- and we never get frost in Southern California.

â¢ A tube of Butt Paste -- a highly useful concoction that combats diaper rash.

â¢ Nothing. I can guarantee that this is the one thing you'll never find in my trunk.

text: AOL

text: Autos

text: Have

text: you

text: ever

text: wondered

text: what

text: your

text: neighbors

text: are

text: carrying

text: around

text: in

text: their

text: car

text: 's

text: trunk

text: or

text: SUV

text: 's

text: cargo

text: hold

text: I

text: decided

text: to

text: find

text: out

text: by

text: asking

text: strangers

text: in

text: a

text: department

text: store

text: parking

text: lot

text: Strollers

text: playpens

text: toys

text: and

text: diapers

text: take

text: up

text: a

text: lot

text: of

text: space

text: but

text: a

text: lot

text: of

text: parents

text: still

text: had

text: organized

text: trunks

text: The

text: mission

text: To

text: uncover

text: the

text: secret

text: contents

text: of

text: the

text: average

text: American

text: trunk

text: and

text: cargo

text: hold

text: The

text: stakeout

text: I

text: spent

text: two

text: weekend

text: afternoons

text: at

text: the

text: Empire

text: Center

text: in

text: Burbank

text: California

text: with

text: my

text: camera

text: and

text: notebook

text: approaching

text: shoppers

text: as

text: they

text: arrived

text: or

text: departed

text: I

text: identified

text: myself

text: as

text: a

text: reporter

text: for

text: AOL

text: Autos

text: and

text: asked

text: if

text: I

text: could

text: see

text: what

text: they

text: had

text: in

text: their

text: trunk

text: and

text: maybe

text: take

text: a

text: picture

text: I

text: hoped

text: that

text: I

text: 'd

text: be

text: able

text: to

text: see

text: a

text: trend

text: in

text: trunks

text: AOL

text: Autos

text: Small

text: cars

text: with

text: room

text: in

text: the

text: trunk

text: The

text: raw

text: data

text: My

text: decidedly

text: unscientific

text: study

text: yielded

text: some

text: interesting

text: results

text: First

text: of

text: all

text: I

text: discovered

text: that

text: even

text: in

text: a

text: big

text: city

text: Burbank

text: is

text: a

text: suburb

text: of

text: Los

text: Angeles

text: people

text: are

text: exceedingly

text: nice

text: if

text: you

text: are

text: respectful

text: and

text: forthright

text: About

text: of

text: the

text: people

text: I

text: approached

text: were

text: kind

text: open

text: and

text: helpful

text: and

text: gladly

text: opened

text: their

text: trunks

text: for

text: a

text: glance

text: The

text: who

text: refused

text: were

text: either

text: in

text: a

text: rush

text: guarded

text: or

text: shy

text: but

text: they

text: were

text: still

text: remarkably

text: polite

text: The

text: second

text: surprising

text: thing

text: was

text: that

text: the

text: vast

text: majority

text: of

text: trunks

text: and

text: cargo

text: holds

text: were

text: clean

text: and

text: uncluttered

text: I

text: really

text: expected

text: to

text: discover

text: overstuffed

text: trunks

text: full

text: of

text: cast

text: off

text: items

text: and

text: flea

text: market

text: finds

text: But

text: even

text: the

text: most

text: fully

text: used

text: storage

text: areas

text: were

text: tidy

text: and

text: organized

text: AOL

text: Autos

text: Used

text: fuel

text: efficient

text: crossovers

text: Not

text: surprisingly

text: people

text: with

text: small

text: children

text: tended

text: to

text: have

text: the

text: most

text: crowded

text: trunks

text: and

text: cargo

text: holds

text: Strollers

text: playpens

text: toys

text: and

text: diapers

text: take

text: up

text: a

text: lot

text: of

text: space

text: but

text: most

text: families

text: have

text: discovered

text: that

text: clean

text: organized

text: trunks

text: make

text: getting

text: to

text: your

text: kids

text: supplies

text: much

text: easier

text: and

text: more

text: efficient

text: AOL

text: Autos

text: Best

text: new

text: cars

text: for

text: Another

text: trend

text: I

text: noticed

text: was

text: that

text: athletic

text: folks

text: tend

text: to

text: use

text: their

text: car

text: 's

text: trunk

text: as

text: a

text: portable

text: gym

text: locker

text: I

text: saw

text: a

text: lot

text: of

text: gym

text: bags

text: sports

text: equipment

text: and

text: sneakers

text: On

text: a

text: hot

text: day

text: this

text: was

text: a

text: bit

text: of

text: a

text: mixed

text: blessing

text: baked

text: sneakers

text: have

text: a

text: decidedly

text: pungent

text: odor

text: No

text: one

text: seemed

text: to

text: have

text: a

text: good

text: solution

text: to

text: this

text: problem

text: I

text: would

text: put

text: a

text: cabin

text: air

text: freshener

text: like

text: the

text: Little

text: Tree

text: in

text: my

text: trunk

text: if

text: I

text: regularly

text: carried

text: my

text: tennis

text: shoes

text: AOL

text: Autos

text: Celebrity

text: cars

text: you

text: can

text: afford

text: For

text: the

text: non

text: athletic

text: the

text: most

text: common

text: item

text: I

text: saw

text: was

text: the

text: collapsible

text: chair

text: One

text: family

text: had

text: an

text: entire

text: beach

text: setup

text: in

text: their

text: trunk

text: four

text: collapsible

text: chairs

text: a

text: beach

text: blanket

text: a

text: sun

text: umbrella

text: and

text: an

text: empty

text: cooler

text: all

text: neatly

text: tucked

text: against

text: the

text: back

text: wall

text: They

text: said

text: that

text: they

text: always

text: wanted

text: to

text: be

text: ready

text: for

text: a

text: beach

text: day

text: should

text: the

text: opportunity

text: arise

text: Some

text: people

text: were

text: extremely

text: proud

text: of

text: their

text: trunks

text: One

text: woman

text: bragged

text: that

text: her

text: brother

text: taught

text: her

text: how

text: to

text: organize

text: her

text: tools

text: and

text: that

text: she

text: had

text: taken

text: the

text: organization

text: to

text: the

text: next

text: level

text: She

text: had

text: multiple

text: storage

text: boxes

text: in

text: her

text: neat

text: clean

text: trunk

text: each

text: with

text: a

text: different

text: set

text: of

text: useful

text: items

text: AOL

text: Autos

text: Most

text: fun

text: cars

text: for

text: under

text: A

text: few

text: families

text: were

text: downright

text: sheepish

text: about

text: the

text: state

text: of

text: their

text: cargo

text: holds

text: They

text: apologized

text: in

text: advance

text: before

text: opening

text: the

text: trunk

text: and

text: said

text: that

text: they

text: were

text: in

text: the

text: middle

text: of

text: a

text: project

text: that

text: had

text: foiled

text: their

text: attempts

text: at

text: organization

text: and

text: cleanliness

text: I

text: have

text: to

text: take

text: them

text: at

text: their

text: word

text: I

text: 'm

text: not

text: making

text: a

text: return

text: trip

text: to

text: that

text: hot

text: parking

text: lot

text: to

text: follow

text: up

text: The

text: conclusion

text: After

text: two

text: days

text: pounding

text: the

text: asphalt

text: I

text: 'm

text: pleased

text: to

text: report

text: that

text: I

text: actually

text: uncovered

text: some

text: useful

text: information

text: and

text: some

text: fun

text: trivia

text: There

text: are

text: good

text: reasons

text: for

text: keeping

text: your

text: trunk

text: as

text: empty

text: as

text: possible

text: Less

text: junk

text: in

text: the

text: trunk

text: equals

text: less

text: weight

text: and

text: less

text: weight

text: can

text: mean

text: greater

text: fuel

text: efficiency

text: Under

text: certain

text: circumstances

text: shifting

text: content

text: in

text: your

text: trunk

text: can

text: adversely

text: affect

text: handling

text: An

text: empty

text: trunk

text: provides

text: space

text: for

text: that

text: roadside

text: find

text: or

text: warehouse

text: store

text: bargain

text: How

text: else

text: are

text: you

text: going

text: to

text: get

text: that

text: pallet

text: of

text: pickled

text: asparagus

text: spears

text: back

text: to

text: your

text: garage

text: Here

text: are

text: a

text: few

text: tips

text: that

text: I

text: picked

text: up

text: from

text: the

text: best

text: and

text: worst

text: of

text: trunks

text: Use

text: boxes

text: or

text: containers

text: in

text: your

text: trunk

text: to

text: keep

text: your

text: emergency

text: kit

text: organized

text: and

text: all

text: together

text: Purge

text: non

text: essential

text: items

text: from

text: your

text: trunk

text: on

text: a

text: regular

text: basis

text: Vacuum

text: your

text: cargo

text: space

text: whenever

text: you

text: wash

text: your

text: car

text: so

text: that

text: whatever

text: you

text: put

text: in

text: your

text: trunk

text: does

text: n't

text: get

text: dirty

text: and

text: dusty

text: Keep

text: a

text: few

text: reusable

text: shopping

text: bags

text: in

text: your

text: trunk

text: so

text: that

text: you

text: always

text: have

text: them

text: when

text: you

text: get

text: to

text: the

text: store

text: Be

text: sure

text: to

text: carry

text: a

text: few

text: essential

text: tools

text: screwdrivers

text: wrench

text: tire

text: changing

text: tools

text: a

text: rubber

text: mallet

text: etc

text: for

text: emergency

text: repair

text: A

text: cargo

text: net

text: or

text: bungee

text: cords

text: will

text: help

text: keep

text: your

text: boxes

text: and

text: other

text: items

text: from

text: rolling

text: around

text: in

text: the

text: trunk

text: during

text: hard

text: cornering

text: Last

text: but

text: not

text: least

text: here

text: 's

text: a

text: list

text: of

text: the

text: oddest

text: items

text: that

text: I

text: saw

text: in

text: any

text: trunk

text: â¢.

text: A

text: machete

text: an

text: axe

text: and

text: a

text: hammer

text: wrapped

text: in

text: a

text: colorful

text: sheet

text: I

text: did

text: n't

text: ask

text: any

text: questions

text: â¢

text: A

text: pair

text: of

text: old

text: school

text: quad

text: roller

text: skates

text: â¢

text: An

text: ice

text: scraper

text: odd

text: because

text: the

text: temperature

text: was

text: degrees

text: in

text: the

text: shade

text: and

text: we

text: never

text: get

text: frost

text: in

text: Southern

text: California

text: â¢

text: A

text: tube

text: of

text: Butt

text: Paste

text: a

text: highly

text: useful

text: concoction

text: that

text: combats

text: diaper

text: rash

text: â¢

text: Nothing

text: I

text: can

text: guarantee

text: that

text: this

text: is

text: the

text: one

text: thing

text: you

text: 'll

text: never

text: find

text: in

text: my

text: trunk

question: what did the report try to uncover?

answer: secret contents of the average American trunk and cargo hold.

text: secret contents of the average American trunk and cargo hold.

question: What do athletic folks tend to use their trunk for?

answer: portable gym locker.

text: portable gym locker.

question: What did the study find?

answer: some interesting results.

text: some interesting results.

question: what does athletic folk do

answer: portable gym locker.

text: portable gym locker.

question: what was the unscientific study about?

answer: average American trunk

text: average American trunk

question: what does unscientific study find

answer: nice if you are respectful and forthright.

text: nice if you are respectful and forthright.

question: Which weapons were found?

answer: . A machete, an axe and a hammer

text: . A machete, an axe and a hammer


text:
(CNN) -- Actor and Iraq war veteran J.R. Martinez is the spokesman for Operation Finally Home, an organization that provides free custom-built homes for injured veterans.

The nonprofit was started by Dan Wallrath, who was a top 10 CNN Hero last year.

Martinez recently sat down with CNN's Sonya Hamasaki to talk about CNN Heroes, his recent success on "Dancing With the Stars" and the efforts of Operation Finally Home. Below are excerpts from that interview.

Sonya Hamasaki: What inspired you to get involved with Dan Wallrath's efforts?

J. R. Martinez: I heard about him in Houston, Texas, and that's where we met.

I heard about the great things he was doing by himself with just a couple of friends. And I thought to myself, "Anyone who's doing things from the goodness of their heart is somebody I want to be involved with."

Hamasaki: How does Operation Finally Home work?

Martinez: Operation Finally Home helps to give wounded troops returning from Iraq and Afghanistan a mortgage-free home. It really changes lives, and it gives people hope.

A lot of times, one of the biggest things for our troops is getting jobs. If they can have a home, it then kind of alleviates some pressure and they can start focusing on the job aspect of things.

Hamasaki: What's it like to see the reaction when someone finds out they have a free home?

Martinez: It's amazing to witness the transition ... to see their emotions and their body language completely change.

And it's not just the service member; it's the spouse, it's the parent, it's the brother or sister, it's the child. There's this change all the way across the board. It's a beautiful thing to witness that kind of emotion.

Hamasaki: What's your personal connection with the organization?

Martinez: It's a great feeling to be able to be part of the movement.

I know the emotional void and the mental struggles and the physical struggles that the men and women and the families go through when they're recovering. So it allows me to understand the importance of it, and it gives me the opportunity to serve.

Hamasaki: What other projects are you working on?

Martinez: I'm involved with "Dancing With the Stars" at the moment, and it's an exciting ride. It's fun, and it's a great platform for me to share who I am with people.

At the same time, I'm still doing motivational speaking. I believe that we all have something to share with someone else that can better someone else's life.

Hamasaki: Who are your personal heroes?

Martinez: There are a lot of people who can be classified as heroes and do great things and inspire me.

My mother is my hero. My mother has done so much for me in my life and has continuously been there and been my rock.

Then I come across wounded troops who persevere every single day, who smile, who have a positive attitude, and they're my heroes for what they have done.

And Dan Wallrath is a hero for the hope he's given to these families by giving them a brand new home.

text: CNN

text: Actor

text: and

text: Iraq

text: war

text: veteran

text: J.R.

text: Martinez

text: is

text: the

text: spokesman

text: for

text: Operation

text: Finally

text: Home

text: an

text: organization

text: that

text: provides

text: free

text: custom

text: built

text: homes

text: for

text: injured

text: veterans

text: The

text: nonprofit

text: was

text: started

text: by

text: Dan

text: Wallrath

text: who

text: was

text: a

text: top

text: CNN

text: Hero

text: last

text: year

text: Martinez

text: recently

text: sat

text: down

text: with

text: CNN

text: 's

text: Sonya

text: Hamasaki

text: to

text: talk

text: about

text: CNN

text: Heroes

text: his

text: recent

text: success

text: on

text: Dancing

text: With

text: the

text: Stars

text: and

text: the

text: efforts

text: of

text: Operation

text: Finally

text: Home

text: Below

text: are

text: excerpts

text: from

text: that

text: interview

text: Sonya

text: Hamasaki

text: What

text: inspired

text: you

text: to

text: get

text: involved

text: with

text: Dan

text: Wallrath

text: 's

text: efforts

text: J.

text: R.

text: Martinez

text: I

text: heard

text: about

text: him

text: in

text: Houston

text: Texas

text: and

text: that

text: 's

text: where

text: we

text: met

text: I

text: heard

text: about

text: the

text: great

text: things

text: he

text: was

text: doing

text: by

text: himself

text: with

text: just

text: a

text: couple

text: of

text: friends

text: And

text: I

text: thought

text: to

text: myself

text: Anyone

text: who

text: 's

text: doing

text: things

text: from

text: the

text: goodness

text: of

text: their

text: heart

text: is

text: somebody

text: I

text: want

text: to

text: be

text: involved

text: with

text: Hamasaki

text: How

text: does

text: Operation

text: Finally

text: Home

text: work

text: Martinez

text: Operation

text: Finally

text: Home

text: helps

text: to

text: give

text: wounded

text: troops

text: returning

text: from

text: Iraq

text: and

text: Afghanistan

text: a

text: mortgage

text: free

text: home

text: It

text: really

text: changes

text: lives

text: and

text: it

text: gives

text: people

text: hope

text: A

text: lot

text: of

text: times

text: one

text: of

text: the

text: biggest

text: things

text: for

text: our

text: troops

text: is

text: getting

text: jobs

text: If

text: they

text: can

text: have

text: a

text: home

text: it

text: then

text: kind

text: of

text: alleviates

text: some

text: pressure

text: and

text: they

text: can

text: start

text: focusing

text: on

text: the

text: job

text: aspect

text: of

text: things

text: Hamasaki

text: What

text: 's

text: it

text: like

text: to

text: see

text: the

text: reaction

text: when

text: someone

text: finds

text: out

text: they

text: have

text: a

text: free

text: home

text: Martinez

text: It

text: 's

text: amazing

text: to

text: witness

text: the

text: transition

text: to

text: see

text: their

text: emotions

text: and

text: their

text: body

text: language

text: completely

text: change

text: And

text: it

text: 's

text: not

text: just

text: the

text: service

text: member

text: it

text: 's

text: the

text: spouse

text: it

text: 's

text: the

text: parent

text: it

text: 's

text: the

text: brother

text: or

text: sister

text: it

text: 's

text: the

text: child

text: There

text: 's

text: this

text: change

text: all

text: the

text: way

text: across

text: the

text: board

text: It

text: 's

text: a

text: beautiful

text: thing

text: to

text: witness

text: that

text: kind

text: of

text: emotion

text: Hamasaki

text: What

text: 's

text: your

text: personal

text: connection

text: with

text: the

text: organization

text: Martinez

text: It

text: 's

text: a

text: great

text: feeling

text: to

text: be

text: able

text: to

text: be

text: part

text: of

text: the

text: movement

text: I

text: know

text: the

text: emotional

text: void

text: and

text: the

text: mental

text: struggles

text: and

text: the

text: physical

text: struggles

text: that

text: the

text: men

text: and

text: women

text: and

text: the

text: families

text: go

text: through

text: when

text: they

text: 're

text: recovering

text: So

text: it

text: allows

text: me

text: to

text: understand

text: the

text: importance

text: of

text: it

text: and

text: it

text: gives

text: me

text: the

text: opportunity

text: to

text: serve

text: Hamasaki

text: What

text: other

text: projects

text: are

text: you

text: working

text: on

text: Martinez

text: I

text: 'm

text: involved

text: with

text: Dancing

text: With

text: the

text: Stars

text: at

text: the

text: moment

text: and

text: it

text: 's

text: an

text: exciting

text: ride

text: It

text: 's

text: fun

text: and

text: it

text: 's

text: a

text: great

text: platform

text: for

text: me

text: to

text: share

text: who

text: I

text: am

text: with

text: people

text: At

text: the

text: same

text: time

text: I

text: 'm

text: still

text: doing

text: motivational

text: speaking

text: I

text: believe

text: that

text: we

text: all

text: have

text: something

text: to

text: share

text: with

text: someone

text: else

text: that

text: can

text: better

text: someone

text: else

text: 's

text: life

text: Hamasaki

text: Who

text: are

text: your

text: personal

text: heroes

text: Martinez

text: There

text: are

text: a

text: lot

text: of

text: people

text: who

text: can

text: be

text: classified

text: as

text: heroes

text: and

text: do

text: great

text: things

text: and

text: inspire

text: me

text: My

text: mother

text: is

text: my

text: hero

text: My

text: mother

text: has

text: done

text: so

text: much

text: for

text: me

text: in

text: my

text: life

text: and

text: has

text: continuously

text: been

text: there

text: and

text: been

text: my

text: rock

text: Then

text: I

text: come

text: across

text: wounded

text: troops

text: who

text: persevere

text: every

text: single

text: day

text: who

text: smile

text: who

text: have

text: a

text: positive

text: attitude

text: and

text: they

text: 're

text: my

text: heroes

text: for

text: what

text: they

text: have

text: done

text: And

text: Dan

text: Wallrath

text: is

text: a

text: hero

text: for

text: the

text: hope

text: he

text: 's

text: given

text: to

text: these

text: families

text: by

text: giving

text: them

text: a

text: brand

text: new

text: home


text:
To: Interested parties From: John King, CNN chief national correspondent Re: Monday Memo

Should the U.S. expand its forces in Afghanistan? That will be the debate this week.

(CNN) -- What you'll see in Washington in this week is a White House focus on health care and jobs. What you won't see -- or see much of, at any rate -- is just as critical a challenge for the administration.

On Wednesday and then again on Friday, President Obama will meet with his national security team to continue deliberations about Afghanistan strategy, including whether to commit as many as 40,000 more U.S. troops to what not too long ago was "the forgotten war" but is now front and center.

"Ideally, it's better for military advice to come up through the chain of command," National Security Adviser James Jones told us Sunday when asked whether the very public request for more troops from the commanding general in Afghanistan had complicated the White House deliberations.

Significantly, Jones, a retired Marine Corps general, offered what sounded like a more optimistic asssement of the security challenges in Afghanistan than the commander asking for more troops, Gen. Stanley McChrystal.

"I don't foresee the return of the Taliban," Jones said.

As for al Qaeda and its strength within Afghanistan, Jones added: "Very diminished. The maximum estimate is less than 100 reported operating in the country. No bases. No buildings to launch attacks on either us or our allies."

His comments left little doubt Jones is not only less than thrilled about McChrystal's public appeals, he also is among those skeptical of sending more troops. Suffice to say those private strategy meetings warrant considerable attention.

Easier to see will be presidential and vice presidential events pushing health care reform and promoting the administration's stimulus plan as, contrary to what Republicans say, a cushion keeping a sluggish economy from taking an even bigger toll on American workers and families.

Obama will make a new health care push Monday from the White House, joined by doctors from around the country. Vice President Joe Biden continues his role as stimulus cheerleader, from Connecticut on Monday.  Also of note:

â¢ The first new Supreme Court term of the Obama presidency kicks off, and Sonia Sotomayor gets down to official business as the nation's first Hispanic high court justice.

â¢ The Senate Banking Committee on Tuesday discusses potential new sanctions against Iran, proof of congressional skepticism even though Iran over the weekend agreed to let international inspectors visit its recently disclosed uranium enrichment plant.

â¢ Wednesday is the eighth anniversary of the beginning of the war in Afghanistan.

â¢ Wednesday also brings the Federal Reserve's latest report on consumer credit.

Enjoy the week.

text: To

text: Interested

text: parties

text: From

text: John

text: King

text: CNN

text: chief

text: national

text: correspondent

text: Re

text: Monday

text: Memo

text: Should

text: the

text: U.S.

text: expand

text: its

text: forces

text: in

text: Afghanistan

text: That

text: will

text: be

text: the

text: debate

text: this

text: week

text: CNN

text: What

text: you

text: 'll

text: see

text: in

text: Washington

text: in

text: this

text: week

text: is

text: a

text: White

text: House

text: focus

text: on

text: health

text: care

text: and

text: jobs

text: What

text: you

text: wo

text: n't

text: see

text: or

text: see

text: much

text: of

text: at

text: any

text: rate

text: is

text: just

text: as

text: critical

text: a

text: challenge

text: for

text: the

text: administration

text: On

text: Wednesday

text: and

text: then

text: again

text: on

text: Friday

text: President

text: Obama

text: will

text: meet

text: with

text: his

text: national

text: security

text: team

text: to

text: continue

text: deliberations

text: about

text: Afghanistan

text: strategy

text: including

text: whether

text: to

text: commit

text: as

text: many

text: as

text: more

text: U.S.

text: troops

text: to

text: what

text: not

text: too

text: long

text: ago

text: was

text: the

text: forgotten

text: war

text: but

text: is

text: now

text: front

text: and

text: center

text: Ideally

text: it

text: 's

text: better

text: for

text: military

text: advice

text: to

text: come

text: up

text: through

text: the

text: chain

text: of

text: command

text: National

text: Security

text: Adviser

text: James

text: Jones

text: told

text: us

text: Sunday

text: when

text: asked

text: whether

text: the

text: very

text: public

text: request

text: for

text: more

text: troops

text: from

text: the

text: commanding

text: general

text: in

text: Afghanistan

text: had

text: complicated

text: the

text: White

text: House

text: deliberations

text: Significantly

text: Jones

text: a

text: retired

text: Marine

text: Corps

text: general

text: offered

text: what

text: sounded

text: like

text: a

text: more

text: optimistic

text: asssement

text: of

text: the

text: security

text: challenges

text: in

text: Afghanistan

text: than

text: the

text: commander

text: asking

text: for

text: more

text: troops

text: Gen.

text: Stanley

text: McChrystal

text: I

text: do

text: n't

text: foresee

text: the

text: return

text: of

text: the

text: Taliban

text: Jones

text: said

text: As

text: for

text: al

text: Qaeda

text: and

text: its

text: strength

text: within

text: Afghanistan

text: Jones

text: added

text: Very

text: diminished

text: The

text: maximum

text: estimate

text: is

text: less

text: than

text: reported

text: operating

text: in

text: the

text: country

text: No

text: bases

text: No

text: buildings

text: to

text: launch

text: attacks

text: on

text: either

text: us

text: or

text: our

text: allies

text: His

text: comments

text: left

text: little

text: doubt

text: Jones

text: is

text: not

text: only

text: less

text: than

text: thrilled

text: about

text: McChrystal

text: 's

text: public

text: appeals

text: he

text: also

text: is

text: among

text: those

text: skeptical

text: of

text: sending

text: more

text: troops

text: Suffice

text: to

text: say

text: those

text: private

text: strategy

text: meetings

text: warrant

text: considerable

text: attention

text: Easier

text: to

text: see

text: will

text: be

text: presidential

text: and

text: vice

text: presidential

text: events

text: pushing

text: health

text: care

text: reform

text: and

text: promoting

text: the

text: administration

text: 's

text: stimulus

text: plan

text: as

text: contrary

text: to

text: what

text: Republicans

text: say

text: a

text: cushion

text: keeping

text: a

text: sluggish

text: economy

text: from

text: taking

text: an

text: even

text: bigger

text: toll

text: on

text: American

text: workers

text: and

text: families

text: Obama

text: will

text: make

text: a

text: new

text: health

text: care

text: push

text: Monday

text: from

text: the

text: White

text: House

text: joined

text: by

text: doctors

text: from

text: around

text: the

text: country

text: Vice

text: President

text: Joe

text: Biden

text: continues

text: his

text: role

text: as

text: stimulus

text: cheerleader

text: from

text: Connecticut

text: on

text: Monday

text: Also

text: of

text: note

text: â¢

text: The

text: first

text: new

text: Supreme

text: Court

text: term

text: of

text: the

text: Obama

text: presidency

text: kicks

text: off

text: and

text: Sonia

text: Sotomayor

text: gets

text: down

text: to

text: official

text: business

text: as

text: the

text: nation

text: 's

text: first

text: Hispanic

text: high

text: court

text: justice

text: â¢

text: The

text: Senate

text: Banking

text: Committee

text: on

text: Tuesday

text: discusses

text: potential

text: new

text: sanctions

text: against

text: Iran

text: proof

text: of

text: congressional

text: skepticism

text: even

text: though

text: Iran

text: over

text: the

text: weekend

text: agreed

text: to

text: let

text: international

text: inspectors

text: visit

text: its

text: recently

text: disclosed

text: uranium

text: enrichment

text: plant

text: â¢

text: Wednesday

text: is

text: the

text: eighth

text: anniversary

text: of

text: the

text: beginning

text: of

text: the

text: war

text: in

text: Afghanistan

text: â¢

text: Wednesday

text: also

text: brings

text: the

text: Federal

text: Reserve

text: 's

text: latest

text: report

text: on

text: consumer

text: credit

text: Enjoy

text: the

text: week

question: When will the president make a new health care push?

answer: Monday

text: Monday

question: Who will make a new healthcare push Monday?

answer: Obama

text: Obama

question: Military officers have varying assessments on whether more what is needed?

answer: U.S. troops

text: U.S. troops

question: Who will meet with national security team?

answer: President Obama

text: President Obama

question: When is Obama meeting with national security?

answer: On Wednesday and then again on Friday,

text: On Wednesday and then again on Friday,

question: What is new in Washington?

answer: health care push

text: health care push

question: What do military officers have varying assessments about?

answer: the security challenges in Afghanistan

text: the security challenges in Afghanistan


text:
ISTANBUL, Turkey (CNN) -- The Turkish military said Friday it is weighing bids from American, Russian and Chinese defense contractors as it seeks to buy at least $1 billion worth of long-range missile defense systems.

The Turkish military says a missile defense deal could include U.S. Patriot missile systems.

Among the missile systems Turkey is considering are U.S. Patriot missile systems, the military said.

"We will purchase four batteries," Turkish armed forces spokesman Metin Gurak announced at a weekly press briefing in the Turkish capital, according to the state news agency, Anatolian. "The actual figure will be determined during the bidding process, but the cost is expected to be around $1 billion."

The news contradicts earlier reports in the Turkish and American media that the Turkish military was considering purchasing as much as $7.8 billion worth of Patriot missiles from the United States.

Turkish diplomats and military commanders have denied speculation that the Patriots could be used as part of U.S.-backed missile defense shield against its eastern neighbor, Iran.

"It is wrong to draw links between the Patriot and Iran," Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu told CNN's sister network, CNN Turk, Friday morning. "We neither have a perception of threat from any of the neighboring countries, nor have any military or security related preparation against them."

Thursday, the Obama administration announced it was scrapping a missile defense program for Eastern Europe, after years of angry objections from Russia. The White House has said the program was aimed at protecting allies from Iran, not from Russia.  Read the story

Russia is Turkey's largest trading partner.

Meanwhile, relations have warmed considerably between the Iranians and the Turks in recent years. The Turkish government is putting itself forward as a neutral party, offering to host talks between Iran and the United States, France, Germany, Britain, Russia and China on Iran's controversial nuclear program.

But Turkey is also a member of the NATO military alliance, and it has long had close military ties with Washington. During the first Gulf War, Patriot missile batteries were temporarily stationed on Turkish territory.

Turkish officials say the missile defense batteries it wants to buy would be part of a larger, long-term program to modernize the country's military.

Prominent Turkish intellectuals have questioned the purchase.

"Does Turkey really need these missiles?" asked Lale Kemal, a columnist who writes about military affairs for Turkey's Zaman newspaper. "Turkish military acquisition projects are not going through parliamentary or government scrutiny. We don't have a transparent military procurement system. So how can I or anyone say that Turkey needs them?"

Defense contractors have until Oct. 13 to submit bids for the missile defense package.

text: ISTANBUL

text: Turkey

text: CNN

text: The

text: Turkish

text: military

text: said

text: Friday

text: it

text: is

text: weighing

text: bids

text: from

text: American

text: Russian

text: and

text: Chinese

text: defense

text: contractors

text: as

text: it

text: seeks

text: to

text: buy

text: at

text: least

text: billion

text: worth

text: of

text: long

text: range

text: missile

text: defense

text: systems

text: The

text: Turkish

text: military

text: says

text: a

text: missile

text: defense

text: deal

text: could

text: include

text: U.S.

text: Patriot

text: missile

text: systems

text: Among

text: the

text: missile

text: systems

text: Turkey

text: is

text: considering

text: are

text: U.S.

text: Patriot

text: missile

text: systems

text: the

text: military

text: said

text: We

text: will

text: purchase

text: four

text: batteries

text: Turkish

text: armed

text: forces

text: spokesman

text: Metin

text: Gurak

text: announced

text: at

text: a

text: weekly

text: press

text: briefing

text: in

text: the

text: Turkish

text: capital

text: according

text: to

text: the

text: state

text: news

text: agency

text: Anatolian

text: The

text: actual

text: figure

text: will

text: be

text: determined

text: during

text: the

text: bidding

text: process

text: but

text: the

text: cost

text: is

text: expected

text: to

text: be

text: around

text: billion

text: The

text: news

text: contradicts

text: earlier

text: reports

text: in

text: the

text: Turkish

text: and

text: American

text: media

text: that

text: the

text: Turkish

text: military

text: was

text: considering

text: purchasing

text: as

text: much

text: as

text: billion

text: worth

text: of

text: Patriot

text: missiles

text: from

text: the

text: United

text: States

text: Turkish

text: diplomats

text: and

text: military

text: commanders

text: have

text: denied

text: speculation

text: that

text: the

text: Patriots

text: could

text: be

text: used

text: as

text: part

text: of

text: U.S

text: backed

text: missile

text: defense

text: shield

text: against

text: its

text: eastern

text: neighbor

text: Iran

text: It

text: is

text: wrong

text: to

text: draw

text: links

text: between

text: the

text: Patriot

text: and

text: Iran

text: Turkish

text: Foreign

text: Minister

text: Ahmet

text: Davutoglu

text: told

text: CNN

text: 's

text: sister

text: network

text: CNN

text: Turk

text: Friday

text: morning

text: We

text: neither

text: have

text: a

text: perception

text: of

text: threat

text: from

text: any

text: of

text: the

text: neighboring

text: countries

text: nor

text: have

text: any

text: military

text: or

text: security

text: related

text: preparation

text: against

text: them

text: Thursday

text: the

text: Obama

text: administration

text: announced

text: it

text: was

text: scrapping

text: a

text: missile

text: defense

text: program

text: for

text: Eastern

text: Europe

text: after

text: years

text: of

text: angry

text: objections

text: from

text: Russia

text: The

text: White

text: House

text: has

text: said

text: the

text: program

text: was

text: aimed

text: at

text: protecting

text: allies

text: from

text: Iran

text: not

text: from

text: Russia

text: Read

text: the

text: story

text: Russia

text: is

text: Turkey

text: 's

text: largest

text: trading

text: partner

text: Meanwhile

text: relations

text: have

text: warmed

text: considerably

text: between

text: the

text: Iranians

text: and

text: the

text: Turks

text: in

text: recent

text: years

text: The

text: Turkish

text: government

text: is

text: putting

text: itself

text: forward

text: as

text: a

text: neutral

text: party

text: offering

text: to

text: host

text: talks

text: between

text: Iran

text: and

text: the

text: United

text: States

text: France

text: Germany

text: Britain

text: Russia

text: and

text: China

text: on

text: Iran

text: 's

text: controversial

text: nuclear

text: program

text: But

text: Turkey

text: is

text: also

text: a

text: member

text: of

text: the

text: NATO

text: military

text: alliance

text: and

text: it

text: has

text: long

text: had

text: close

text: military

text: ties

text: with

text: Washington

text: During

text: the

text: first

text: Gulf

text: War

text: Patriot

text: missile

text: batteries

text: were

text: temporarily

text: stationed

text: on

text: Turkish

text: territory

text: Turkish

text: officials

text: say

text: the

text: missile

text: defense

text: batteries

text: it

text: wants

text: to

text: buy

text: would

text: be

text: part

text: of

text: a

text: larger

text: long

text: term

text: program

text: to

text: modernize

text: the

text: country

text: 's

text: military

text: Prominent

text: Turkish

text: intellectuals

text: have

text: questioned

text: the

text: purchase

text: Does

text: Turkey

text: really

text: need

text: these

text: missiles

text: asked

text: Lale

text: Kemal

text: a

text: columnist

text: who

text: writes

text: about

text: military

text: affairs

text: for

text: Turkey

text: 's

text: Zaman

text: newspaper

text: Turkish

text: military

text: acquisition

text: projects

text: are

text: not

text: going

text: through

text: parliamentary

text: or

text: government

text: scrutiny

text: We

text: do

text: n't

text: have

text: a

text: transparent

text: military

text: procurement

text: system

text: So

text: how

text: can

text: I

text: or

text: anyone

text: say

text: that

text: Turkey

text: needs

text: them

text: Defense

text: contractors

text: have

text: until

text: Oct.

text: to

text: submit

text: bids

text: for

text: the

text: missile

text: defense

text: package

question: What plans were scrapped?

answer: a missile defense program for Eastern Europe,

text: a missile defense program for Eastern Europe,

question: What missiles does the potential deal include?

answer: systems.

text: systems.

question: Turkey considering bids to supply at least $1 billion worth of what type of systems?

answer: long-range missile defense

text: long-range missile defense

question: What is Turkey considering?

answer: U.S. Patriot missile systems,

text: U.S. Patriot missile systems,

question: Potential deal includes what type of U.S. missiles?

answer: Patriot

text: Patriot

question: What does the potential deal include?

answer: U.S. Patriot missile systems.

text: U.S. Patriot missile systems.

question: Obama scrapped U.S. plans for a missile defense shield in which area?

answer: Eastern Europe,

text: Eastern Europe,


text:
(CNN) -- The gigolo former lover of Germany's richest woman has been jailed for six years after confessing to blackmailing her and other women out of millions of dollars, a court official said Monday.

Helg Sgarbi has admitted blackmailing Germany's richest woman, Susanne Klatten.

Susanne Klatten, the BMW heiress, complained to police last year that Helg Sgarbi had threatened to release pictures of them if she did not pay him nearly $60 million.

Munich's state prosecutor Anton Winkler said Sgarbi, who was accused of blackmailing several wealthy women, had made a written confession which was read by his lawyer to the court.

"He confessed that he blackmailed the victims, told them untrue stories," Winkler told CNN.

However, Sgarbi had not revealed what had happened to the estimated $12.5 million he had taken from his victims nor where the pictures had gone.

"It is really only half a confession. We asked him about where the money is, about accomplices and videos... and he refused to say anything about that," Winkler said.

Authorities said Klatten, who is married with three children, had an affair with Sgarbi.

He started to ask her for money, and she paid several million at first, but when she refused to provide more he threatened to send compromising videos to her husband and the media.

Klatten went to the police in January 2008, telling them she was the victim of a fraud and blackmail.

At the time, her spokesman, Joerg Appelhans, told CNN that Sgarbi's goal had always been to con her.

"She rigorously notified authorities even in light of the uncomfortable public repercussions this would have for her," Appelhans said.

Sgarbi's lawyer, Egon Geis, said he was surprised by all the media attention.

"This is all because of Mrs. Klatten, take the same amount of money and any other person and no one would care."

Sgarbi allegedly maintained relationships with a number of women, telling them he was a special Swiss representative in crisis zones.

Klatten, the daughter of the late BMW chief Herbert Quandt, holds a 12.5-percent stake in the German carmaker and a 51.1-percent share of chemical company Altana.

Forbes magazine lists her as the world's 55th richest person, with a personal fortune of $13.2 billion.

CNN's Fred Pleitgen contributed to this report.

text: CNN

text: The

text: gigolo

text: former

text: lover

text: of

text: Germany

text: 's

text: richest

text: woman

text: has

text: been

text: jailed

text: for

text: six

text: years

text: after

text: confessing

text: to

text: blackmailing

text: her

text: and

text: other

text: women

text: out

text: of

text: millions

text: of

text: dollars

text: a

text: court

text: official

text: said

text: Monday

text: Helg

text: Sgarbi

text: has

text: admitted

text: blackmailing

text: Germany

text: 's

text: richest

text: woman

text: Susanne

text: Klatten

text: Susanne

text: Klatten

text: the

text: BMW

text: heiress

text: complained

text: to

text: police

text: last

text: year

text: that

text: Helg

text: Sgarbi

text: had

text: threatened

text: to

text: release

text: pictures

text: of

text: them

text: if

text: she

text: did

text: not

text: pay

text: him

text: nearly

text: million

text: Munich

text: 's

text: state

text: prosecutor

text: Anton

text: Winkler

text: said

text: Sgarbi

text: who

text: was

text: accused

text: of

text: blackmailing

text: several

text: wealthy

text: women

text: had

text: made

text: a

text: written

text: confession

text: which

text: was

text: read

text: by

text: his

text: lawyer

text: to

text: the

text: court

text: He

text: confessed

text: that

text: he

text: blackmailed

text: the

text: victims

text: told

text: them

text: untrue

text: stories

text: Winkler

text: told

text: CNN

text: However

text: Sgarbi

text: had

text: not

text: revealed

text: what

text: had

text: happened

text: to

text: the

text: estimated

text: million

text: he

text: had

text: taken

text: from

text: his

text: victims

text: nor

text: where

text: the

text: pictures

text: had

text: gone

text: It

text: is

text: really

text: only

text: half

text: a

text: confession

text: We

text: asked

text: him

text: about

text: where

text: the

text: money

text: is

text: about

text: accomplices

text: and

text: videos

text: and

text: he

text: refused

text: to

text: say

text: anything

text: about

text: that

text: Winkler

text: said

text: Authorities

text: said

text: Klatten

text: who

text: is

text: married

text: with

text: three

text: children

text: had

text: an

text: affair

text: with

text: Sgarbi

text: He

text: started

text: to

text: ask

text: her

text: for

text: money

text: and

text: she

text: paid

text: several

text: million

text: at

text: first

text: but

text: when

text: she

text: refused

text: to

text: provide

text: more

text: he

text: threatened

text: to

text: send

text: compromising

text: videos

text: to

text: her

text: husband

text: and

text: the

text: media

text: Klatten

text: went

text: to

text: the

text: police

text: in

text: January

text: telling

text: them

text: she

text: was

text: the

text: victim

text: of

text: a

text: fraud

text: and

text: blackmail

text: At

text: the

text: time

text: her

text: spokesman

text: Joerg

text: Appelhans

text: told

text: CNN

text: that

text: Sgarbi

text: 's

text: goal

text: had

text: always

text: been

text: to

text: con

text: her

text: She

text: rigorously

text: notified

text: authorities

text: even

text: in

text: light

text: of

text: the

text: uncomfortable

text: public

text: repercussions

text: this

text: would

text: have

text: for

text: her

text: Appelhans

text: said

text: Sgarbi

text: 's

text: lawyer

text: Egon

text: Geis

text: said

text: he

text: was

text: surprised

text: by

text: all

text: the

text: media

text: attention

text: This

text: is

text: all

text: because

text: of

text: Mrs.

text: Klatten

text: take

text: the

text: same

text: amount

text: of

text: money

text: and

text: any

text: other

text: person

text: and

text: no

text: one

text: would

text: care

text: Sgarbi

text: allegedly

text: maintained

text: relationships

text: with

text: a

text: number

text: of

text: women

text: telling

text: them

text: he

text: was

text: a

text: special

text: Swiss

text: representative

text: in

text: crisis

text: zones

text: Klatten

text: the

text: daughter

text: of

text: the

text: late

text: BMW

text: chief

text: Herbert

text: Quandt

text: holds

text: a

text: stake

text: in

text: the

text: German

text: carmaker

text: and

text: a

text: share

text: of

text: chemical

text: company

text: Altana

text: Forbes

text: magazine

text: lists

text: her

text: as

text: the

text: world

text: 's

text: richest

text: person

text: with

text: a

text: personal

text: fortune

text: of

text: billion

text: CNN

text: 's

text: Fred

text: Pleitgen

text: contributed

text: to

text: this

text: report

question: Germany's richest woman is an heiress from which famous German corporation?

answer: BMW

text: BMW

question: Who is the BMW heiress?

answer: Susanne Klatten,

text: Susanne Klatten,

question: What company is the woman an heiress to?

answer: BMW

text: BMW

question: Which nations richest woman was blackmailed

answer: Germany's

text: Germany's

question: What did Germany's richest woman tell police?

answer: Helg Sgarbi had threatened to release pictures

text: Helg Sgarbi had threatened to release pictures

question: Who admitted to the blackmail?

answer: Helg Sgarbi

text: Helg Sgarbi

question: Who tried to blackmail the heiress?

answer: Helg Sgarbi

text: Helg Sgarbi

question: Who was being blackmailed?

answer: Susanne Klatten.

text: Susanne Klatten.

question: Who was blackmailing the BMW Heiress?

answer: The

text: The