The Week in Words: Away from the ledge; huggable computers; one hell of a city

"It moves you away from the ledge."
- economist Tom Porcelli, after news Friday that the unemployment rate did not worsen in September.

"Apple would come out with something that you just felt like hugging. They felt good."
- technology professor David Farber, on why Steve Jobs, the Apple Inc. chief executive officer who died Wednesday, mattered.

"He was a beneficial member of the human community."
- Occupy Wall Street protester Thorin Caristo, on why he considered Jobs a "different, quiet billionaire."

"We live in one hell of a city when the mayor comes out at 1:30 a.m. in the morning to talk to his constituents."
- Joshua Hupp, a Community College of Philadelphia student, after Mayor Nutter made a surprise appearance at the Occupy Philadelphia protest outside City Hall.

"As Fitch has cautioned previously, a credible and comprehensive solution to the crisis is politically and technically complex and will take time to put in place and to earn the trust of investors."
- statement from Fitch Ratings, explaining why it cut Italy's credit rating Friday. The firm also cut Spain's rating.

"You can't just leave it like that, to say, 'So-and-so bank, oh, they need five billion.' Well, if you don't do something about that right now, the next day you have people lining up in the streets, like they did with Northern Rock not too long ago, saying I want my deposits."
- Angel Gurria, the head of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, in a warning to European leaders.

"The worry that the economy could slip back into a recession is putting pressure on oil prices, and prices at the pump are coming off."
- industry researcher Andy Lipow, on gas prices.