A few news tidbits culled from tech news culler Techmeme this morning:

- Analysts think Clearwire needs another $3 billion to $5 billion to build out network, the Wall Street Journal reports. Didn't have any new details on exactly when and where rollouts will happen.

- Is this browser hara-kiri week? First Microsoft told customers to stop using Explorer until it fixed a security flaw (which it did this morning - get it here). Then Google's SEO guru Matt Cutts publicly critiqued his company's Chrome browser. "I didn't mind posting this because I know the Chrome team is so strong that they can handle suggestions from a passionate user,'' he said.

- Another thud from Apple: The $99 Wal-Mart iPhone story turns out to be a myth, according to Engadget. A leaked memo from the retailer says 488 of its stores will get iPhones: five apiece, starting on Dec. 28, and they'll start at $197 -- a whole $2 off.

- Startups and VCs alike will have a tough time raising money in 2009, according to a National Venture Capital Association survey that was covered by VentureBeat. Most VCs expect to cut investments by more than 10 percent next year; early stage companies will be especially hard hit by the cutbacks.

- The New York Times really likes Seattle's Earth Class Mail, which it covered again today. Chief Executive Ron Weiner's a native New Yorker, but today's piece is keyed to the startup opening a Manhattan outpost.