In farm trade, this week's breakthrough on the technicalities of tariff conversion merely opens the door to the real haggling over how to structure tariff cuts for farm goods.

ECONOMIST: Progress at last

Last week, Thiel filed with the SEC to disclosure the conversion of 9.3 million of his Class B shares into free-trading Class A shares.

FORBES: Facebook: Some Venture Investors Are Moving On

Speaking of solar efficiency, this week solar manufacturer Amonix announced that its concentrated photovoltaic technology has set a new efficiency record with a conversion rate of 33.5 percent.

ENGADGET: Inhabitat's Week in Green: Dyson Spheres, bladeless wind turbines and airless bike tires

In green energy news, this week Lockheed Martin announced plans to construct the world's largest ocean thermal energy conversion plant off the southern coast of China.

ENGADGET: Inhabitat's Week in Green: flying electric car, 3D-printed livers and a two-story-tall bike