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Oil's gains will pressure markets next week. Stocks tumble, with the Dow off 121 points because of American International Group's huge loss. FedEx says higher fuel costs will chop second-quarter profit by 20%. Microsoft will appeal an EU fine.

For May, a tasting menu of new food books with small-biz hooks.

Dear FSB: I have developed a technology I would like to commercialize and I'm looking to bring in partners to help me develop a business plan and seek venture capital/collaboration. What percentage of the company is typical given away in such cases? Assume the company will be an LLC?

It sounds like the plot for a Footloose sequel: Small-town officials try to shut down a local saloon by wielding an antiquated ban on outdoor dance halls.

Growing demand is most responsible for surging food and energy prices, according to survey of economists, who also cited supply problems.

Men, concentrated in the weakest sectors, are losing jobs in this downturn, while women are making gains. But women lag in pay, and much of their gains are in low-wage positions.

Dear FSB: My company supplies irrigation and plumbing materials. Last year I set up a Roth 401(k) plan for my five full-time employees using a major mutual fund firm. Now the firm says that because of a new law, our employees' contributions and employer matching contributions require separate custodians that it is not equipped to provide for us. Some brokerage firms say the same thing. Any ideas?

As multinational corporations race to pursue oil worldwide, a small Tulsa-based firm is striking black gold state-side. Arena Resources landed at No. 1 last year on the FSB 100, our list of America's fastest-growing small public companies. Arena, which explores and drills for oil and natural gas in Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas, increased revenues from $60 million in 2006 to a little more than $100 million in 2007. "We've set new growth records each year since 2000," says CEO Lloyd Rochford.

Web 2.0 (or Bubble 2.0, as critics see it) has serial entrepreneurs buzzing with plans for a fresh hit. Will they fly high or get zapped?