But construction is still soft and solid recovery in property is a long way away.

CNN: ASIANOW - Asiaweek

With many markets, such as aerospace, industrial gas turbine and commercial building remaining soft, and the residential construction market being hampered by severe winter weather, Alcoa says that it will strengthen its performance by developing innovative products that add value for its customers.

FORBES: Sagging Economy Can't Foil Alcoa

That enabled them to place the focus squarely on the beautiful fabrics, not only rich and soft but also mind-bendingly complex in their construction, to hear the designers describe it.

WSJ: NY Fashion Week: tough, tailored, lots of black

Well into the construction of the GSZ Superhighway in 1992, Hopewell engineers discovered soft land along parts of the road.

CNN: HANGING ON AT HOPEWELL

It would be foolish of us as a culture to miss the pain the Dr. Pepper soft drink is meant to alleviate during an era where traditionally male jobs are disappearing (construction, manufacturing) and there is increasing competition for knowledge work from women, as well as a general feminization of the culture (a topic too big to talk about in a comment).

FORBES: What is Dr. Pepper's Facebook Man Cave Saying?

Construction began in May 2008, when South Florida's real-estate market was soft, said Mr. Alexander.

WSJ: Florida Estate Goes for $47 Million