In their words

“Boom, boom, boom and we were just dropping, dropping, dropping, dropping.”

Jamie Winegar, describing what it felt like on the collapsing Interstate 35W bridge in Minneapolis.

“We were surprised that we didn’t have more people seriously injured and killed. I think it was something of a miracle.”

Minneapolis Fire Chief Jim Clack.

“I love my space. I love my neighbor’s space. It matters very much to me what the person across the street does or doesn’t do with their home.”

Sonja Peterson, Ponderosa neighborhood resident commenting on smaller lot-size proposed zoning in Spokane Valley.

“I almost gave that (expletive) my home phone number. I started, you know, to, uh, (expletive). That’s all I want is that crazy mother (expletive), oh yeah. Jesus, man, our clients have all heard that.”

Randy Geib, program manager for the Idaho Health and Welfare Department’s five northern counties, who thought he’d hung up after leaving a message for a client.

“The people in my films are exactly like myself — creatures of instinct, of rather poor intellectual capacity, who at best only think while they’re talking. Mostly they’re body, with a little hollow for the soul.”

Ingmar Bergman, an Academy Award-winning Swedish writer-director, describing himself in a past interview. He died last week at 89.

“Once you take the jump, you find ways to make it work. But it’s always in the back of my mind that if I don’t make it, I am going to have to pack up and go back to Panama. You kind of feel like you have to strive for everything you do.”

Patricia Ortiz, a naturalized citizen who bought a home in suburban Boston. She was quoted in a story about how immigrants are helping keep the housing market alive.

“It is surprising how much product is still out at these mom-and-pop stores.”

Claudia Coles, food safety program manager for the Washington state Department of Agriculture, commenting on the fact that some botulism-tainted Castleberry’s canned food remains on store shelves.

“This fire was catastrophic and incredibly dangerous to our community and to our firefighters. We must find a resolution to the cause of the fire and need the community’s help.”

Spokane Fire Assistant Chief Brian Schaeffer, commenting on the announcement that there will be a $10,000 reward for information on how the July 23 Whitley Fuel blaze was ignited. The estimated damage is $20 million.