As executives close to the deal explained it, the initial stage of the agreement will create a joint venture.

"I was about to do the Buddhist monk thing," explained the executive.

As one hip-hop executive explained, a rock band can show up at a music event in a Honda.

And executives will be back on television, this time explaining why they shouldn't be bought.

An executive explained a new kind of package he needed and complained it would take months to develop.

Nonetheless, executives could not easily explain why this story had such widespread appeal.

At both companies, executives are explaining themselves again, or back-pedaling.

Once I even received a response: The executive explained, of course, the need for competitive incentives.

Unless the regulators step in," another executive explained, "people move to protect their own interests.

Several executives explained to me that they were opening new plants in Asia - not because of cheaper labor.