OK, it's no Sun/MySQL bombshell, but this collection of stories still deserves your attention.

VMWare, riding virtualization wave, buys Thinstall - VentureBeat

Desktop virtualization is considered the next wave of virtualization. In Thinstall’s case, it lets companies put applications more rapidly on PCs, and then pull them off again without trace.

Venture capitalists raise $34.7 billion, the most since 2001 - SF Gate

Clean technology, social networking and Internet video are all areas that are "frothy," said Todd Dagres, a general partner at Spark Capital in Boston. In some cases, he said, "investors are funding features rather than companies," but he predicted that some interesting companies will emerge in these areas.

NanoGram Takes Lasers to Solar - Greentech Media

The funding will support the Milpitas, Calif.-based business apply its nanoscale techniques to other industries, such as lighting. The financing also will help NanoGram build solar panels using nanomaterials.

European VC investments fall in 2007 - EE Times

The only sector showing real growth is Cleantech, which continued its "remarkable" growth rate, breaking the Euros 200 million barriers for the first time, attracting a total of Euros 206 million of disclosed venture capital in Q4 2007 compared to Euros 196 million the previous quarter.

Morgan Buys Stake in 'Green' Investor - CNNMoney