The University of Washington is very difficult to deal with. ... We have great relationships with some departments but not the relationship we hoped [for].

-- Richard Shea, CEO of Spiration Inc., at a UW-Bothell-sponsored summit for the local biomedical device industry. An awful lot of projects have gone into neutral mode waiting to see how the economy unfolds.

-- Tony Tipton, project manager at the Chambers Bay golf course, about weak response for proposals to develop a hotel, restaurant and clubhouse at the Pierce County-owned course.

We're looking at everything that is an expense.

-- Darcy Donahoe-Wilmot, spokesperson for Washington Mutual, explaining why employees are being asked to turn in their BlackBerrys if they don't need them.

In a couple cases, we gave our partners more work than they could handle.

-- Boeing CEO Jim McNerney, discussing the supply chain problems of the 787 "Dreamliner."