Transmeta , the little semiconductor company that began life with a high-profile bang, went whimpering to Piper Jaffray on Thursday to decide how to deal with its bleak future in the face of a hostile takeover bid from its largest shareholder.

FORBES: Transmeta Isn't Living The Life Of Riley

So as Estonia prepares to celebrate its coming of age this August, when it will mark 21 years since the end of the Soviet occupation, the country can look back at how far it has come, but face the future knowing that it has a lot still to prove.

WSJ: The Many Reasons Estonia Is a Tech Start-Up Nation