In an effort to find out what closed allocation meant I fired up your favourite search engine, Google, and searched the term. I was amused to see an article on your blog come up as the top hit.
I don't know what the situation is in Europe but Japan pays a substantial sum to America every year and even had to fund the move of some bases to Guam [1]. Also, American's may run the risk of dying defending a foreign country but in the mean time Japanese are living the risk of rape and murder [2] although the stats are probably on an even keel with the normal murder and rape rate of Japan.
You seem to be getting downvoted but I found this response hilarious and probably more in tune with how I would actually speak to myself. Unfortunately, I am yet to fully learn this lesson. I get distracted by just about everything and run off into the wild leaving half attempts strewn in my wake.
Thought you'd like to know not everyone is downvoting you ;)
Another point you need to consider is if you ever want to live or work overseas. Most countries require an undergraduate university degree for you to get a work visa.
This might not be the case in the future but it is a reality in the present.
Of course if you are successful in your company and have large sums of money at your disposal investment of $1 million or so in your destination country should get you a work visa, degree or no degree.
I've often thought/day-dreamed about such an idea. Not just for a start-up but for a big well established company. If everything was open how would it affect their business dealings etcetera.
I imagine going into negotiations where the opposing party has watched your board of director meetings, looked at your profit margins and ascertained all manner of information pertinent to the negotiations and completely owning the negotiations.
I'd like to think this volatility/risk would occur only in the initial stages and in the long run it would lead to a powerful new business structure. Idealism isn't always reality however.
Given start-ups are fragile taking on this extra risk could be the death pill. How do you propose to deal with these issues if/when they arise?
I lived in Japan for many years until recently and had my own start-up with two other co-founders. The company is still going (and quite successfully I might proudly add).
There are many start-up companies over there across all industries. There isn't really a clique/community like there seems to be in San Fran, Sydney (my home town) etc. Founders just start up out of opportunity and need.
There are also open desk places for start-ups. A lot of that seems to be mainly occupied by creative design companies. In saying that I think you'll find most start-ups are not tech based.
If you'd like to know more shoot through some specific questions and I'll see if I can help you or even introduce you to the appropriate people.
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I seem to not have answered your question with the above.
If you are eligible for a work visa get it before heading over. A common way to get a work visa if your two countries don't have a working holiday visa agreement is to apply for an English teaching role in your home country and then when you enter the country use that work visa to springboard into another job (note: this normally means you have to teach English for several months which can be hell if you don't like that sort of thing).
Already having a job ready for you when you arrive is the best way but highly unlikely a start-up is going to go through the process of sponsorship for your visa.
If you have 100K to spare you can go over there establish your own company and then sponsor yourself. You can then pay yourself an annual salary of 100K and get that money back. Little bit dodgy but within the law. At least the way I did it was!
Expect to get 200,000-300,000yen/month for a real beginning of the journey start-up company. If it already has a steady and growing revenue stream then you can probably negotiate higher.
If you are open to one-step-above-a-backpacker's-hostel living arrangements I suggest you get a room with SakuraHouse (if you plan to stay in Tokyo -- also advised if you want to work in a start-up). As it is cheap and easy to cancel the contract. Once you get a feel for the place then look to set up more permanent digs. Also look through the classifieds on www.metropolis.co.jp which is a local rag for foreigners living in Tokyo (you probably want to do the whole complete Japanese immersion thing but finding a Japanese sharehouse will be more difficult than a foreign sharehouse).
Probably doesn't matter too much. I go to bars and read books. I'm sure going to a bar and ordering a coffee is less conspicuous and accepted. In fact last year I contracted an eye disease and was on all sorts of medication. I was out at bars drinking teas while my friends were drinking alcohol. Doing slightly off standard stuff like that tends to draw attention and people spark up conversations with you.
I'm sure the main point is go when the staff have some downtime and the business is a social business. I can't remember where it was but I've gone to a cafe for a tea and ended up playing backgammon with some old guys. Many countries seem to have a strong cafe culture where old men sit around playing board games (Middle East and Central America; chess and backgammon).
Best of luck. If you find it hard to socialise now I am sure after travelling for a while you will be much more comfortable with it.
I'm a pretty seasoned traveller and I'll give you one bit of advice if you want to meet people: go to your local bar early when it is pretty much the bartenders and you. Likely they are bored and will have a chat with you. Mention that you are a tourist ask some questions and soon they will be introducing you to the locals.
It is a great way for meeting people and having a great time. I've used it many times. Last week I was in the pacific for work and by night's end was invited to a BBQ for the next day. It turned out to be a great BBQ and a unique insight into the lifestyle of the island.
When I visited Paris I made friends with the local bartender and was receiving free drinks by nights end and invites left, right and centre to join people on little adventures.
This may be a dumb question but what does the shadow fall on for the scientists to take a picture of it? If is is landing on the 'lens' then wouldn't 'silhouette' be a more appropriate term?
As far as I understand all matter is made of atoms so at the atomic level there wouldn't really be matter (wall, ground etc.) for the shadow to be cast on.
I believe it refers to Estonia selling off excess carbon credits to Mitsubishi under a mid-long term agreement.
Mitsubishi needs to purchase these credits to stay within regulatory requirements pertaining to emittance of CO2 probably in the EU. Given that Mitsubishi is a large manufacturer they probably produce above their alloted quota of CO2 and therefore must purchase credits from someone/some organization (in this case Estonia) that does not use their full quota.
Estonia is using the income from this agreement to fund the fast-charging network.
This is all educated speculation as to its meaning. Apologies for no links to references to back up my understanding. I am sure a quick search will provide more information.