I've always thought that an AFL-CIO slogan, "the people who brought you the weekend," is about as good a line as can be imagined. It's tight, concise and carries a big message, a reminder that as tough as work can be in the early 21st century, it was a heck of a lot tougher for our grandparents or great-grandparents.

It's easy to forget the historic contributions of the nation's union movement, during this era of the individual, when the Internet is creating desktop entrepreneurs in droves and people are as likely to be focused on a "Survivor" contestant in Gabon as on their next-door neighbor.

Economic development officials and business leaders often make sweeping statements about how to grow commerce in Maine.

They'll say things like "high-technology is the future of our economy" or "small business is the economic engine that generates jobs" or "we've got to make our state an attractive place for businesses looking to relocate."

They sound like givens.

This week, Maine's Gambling Control Board threw up its hands and withdrew its two-year-old, non-binding resolution that there be an intermission on the introduction of new casino-style gambling operations.

The white flag came out because the group recognized that those pushing for gaming in Maine didn't have any desire to take a breather. And in recent days, the pace of gambling-related news has been fairly breathless.

Defense- and Homeland Security-related spending came back into the news this week, as Maine companies jockeyed to capture a piece of the billions spent each year on safeguarding the nation.

Early Monday, Adm. Jay Cohen, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's undersecretary for science and technology, met with 18 Maine manufacturers with products to sell during a visit at the University of Maine.

Good financial news seems hard to come by sometimes. Everybody is always sending you the latest piece of downbeat information, so that you will publish something that furthers their effort to gain new government funding, bashes their political opponent or convinces people to buy their product.

So, today's news release from Saco-based PeoplesChoice Credit Union stood out: The organization has no mortgage loans in foreclosure and, in fact, hasn't had a foreclosure in more than 20 years, it says.

Just when you thought you could catch your breath, fuel prices demonstrated today that they still have plenty of teeth.

Gasoline prices have been dropping fast in recent weeks, as anybody who drives a car is aware. The cost of a gallon of unleaded regular has dropped from $4.133 one month ago to $3.804 today, according to AAA.

The cost of heating oil also has fallen below $4 a gallon in the Portland area to $3.929, according to Energy Data Corp.

So, it's kind of discouraging to see that some folding business operations are still blaming high fuel prices as a culprit and planned projects are being dropped for the same reason.

Irving Forest Products Inc. has announced the closure of its Pinkham Sawmill in Aroostook County, with the loss of 44 jobs, saying that the weak economy and energy prices that went up 97 percent since 2000 led to its demise.

Statewide, motorists are going to have to put up with rough roads a little longer. The Maine Department of Transportation announced today that it plans to suspend many upcoming road projects because the skyrocketing price of petroleum-based liquid asphalt has climbed from $307.50 a ton in January to $765 per ton.

Local officials haven't taken their eye off the energy ball, despite the pull-back in prices during recent weeks. On Tuesday, Standish became the most-recent community to create a new fund to help needy residents pay for heating fuel this winter.

Good thing, too. Oil prices are on their way up again today. Enjoy the sunshine while it lasts.