Money is tight. I'm seeing a lot less sushi this year than I've seen in a long time.

They're playing it down. They're very concerned about their corporate persona and don't want to flaunt anything.

No one wants to appear to be overly lavish. They're concerned about how they would look.

Everybody said what a worthwhile cause and what a great way to raise money.

If there's one trend that's all-encompassing, it's trading up. We all want the best that money can buy.

I keep hearing the same thing all the time, ... Look, we don't need you guys. We can go it alone. We've done it before, and so what's new?