"Social Enterprise" Project

[Jeff Mowatt]

Kuna, It's very easy to dismiss something based on arguments such as "It won't work". That's precisely what one deals with from your anonymous countryman. However I do my homework and I ask you therefore. Who should I believe. someone who introduces himself in the way you have on a discussion forum or a representative of one of the world's largest networking specialists (below).


Michal Kraut (mkraut)" <mkraut@cisco.com> wrote:

    Piotr, Jeff
     
    INFRASTRUCTURE FOR VILLAGE
     
    Wireless Mesh connection would be best suited for application
    described below. Assuming 100 or less inhabitants we make
    also an assumption of size of village (in km/miles) which is small
    of course.
     
    We can position there two solutions
     
    1/    Traditional 802.11 solution which may be sufficient for now
    but may represent limitations which will be visible in a future
    and may increase installation costs now
     
    2/    Wireless mesh which have a lot automated functions and
    is better choice (self configuring backhoul links, auto reconfiguration
    in case of lost connection to one of neighbor Access Points)
     
    In a scenario on a drawing we will also need a router to connect
    village to external networks (internet), to perform address translation
    (to fit  all IP addressing regulations). Same router can be a firewall
    protecting users from attacks from outside, same router can also
    control wireless mesh network (one point of management).
     
    So as You see a technical solution of village is relatively simple.
     
    CONNECTION TO EXTERNAL NETWORKS
     
    I also agree that for so small local comunities VSAT would be the
    best choice (I'm sure that "the best" could be replaced with "the only"
    in many cases).
    Wimax may be a choice when vendors will have a products which
    will comply with Wimax standard (established in Nov 2005), and
    Service Providers will build an infrastructure to offer appropriate
    service. Assuming 6+ months of product development and another
    6+ months for Wimax project deployment (SP) we can expect
    Wimax offer available in Q4CY05 (maybe late Q3).
     
    So we have to ask ourselves what's timeframe of discussed project
    then decide if we can consider Wimax as an option or not.
     
    COMMENTS
     
    Please feel free to comment on proposal given above.
     
    Rgds
    Michal
     

[WmGO]

Mr. Mowatt,

I apologize for saying that I think you are a lazy bum. That was premature judgment on my part for which I apologize.

I otherwise stand on all other comments and observations that I have made.......... and add this........it is odd that you claim to be so concerned for Ukraine's orphans but you now state that you/your "group" has no charitable activities...........that your's is just some kind of  "social enterprise".......whatever the heck that is..........sounds like nothing more than some highminded self important internet chatter group made up of two or three peoples pulling some kind of snow job..........

[ScottinCrimea]

Jeff,  I'll let Kuna comment on the viability of the proposed project as he knows much better than I.

As for your response to me, first of all, Inci Bowman is a woman, not a man.  This goes to the heart of the issue I have presented, that you try to deflect, which is that you are unable to provide any references or credible backing for your project.

On a personal level, your associate claims that his Crimea project was sidetracked by corruption and mentions the Minister of Economics.  This minister just happens to be a very close personal friend and she is as honest as they come.  Any claims by him to the contrary I know without a doubt to be lies.

Here are only a few of the quotes I have a problem with:

"The program is very similar to a program I proposed to the US White House for Tomsk five years ago, and which has been up and running very successfully for the past four years."

According to all sources checked, there is no record of his having been involved with this project.

"President Clinton usually listened to my ideas, so I felt that if I came up with a good idea for a development project, he would help get it done. That’s how the Tomsk project came about."

The truth is he has never met or even spoken to President Clinton.

 For those of you who haven't the time to do research, let me give you a brief overview of this business plan and Jeff can comment if he chooses:

Their primary goal is to develop an IP network in Ukraine as a profit making enterprise.  They don't have the funds to do this so they are seeking ways to convince third parties to provide the funding, particularly government sources such as US-AID.  Any claims to the contrary are false as they specifically mention government funding in their discussions and they don't have the private resources to do what they claim. In order to convince any organization to invest in their endeavor, they need to do two things.  First they have to find some worthy charitable cause as the reason for seeking these funds.  Since TN lived for a short time in Simferopol, he chose the plight of the Crimean Tatars.  The concept was to give a portion of their profits to a fund that would provide micro loans to build small businesses.  Of course, the rest of the profit would be theirs to keep and they purposely were avoiding establishing the company as a charitable or non-profit organization so only they would have control over the cash flow. After they alienated the Tatars, they moved on to the Ukrainian orphans,exaggerating their plight and hoping to pull at a few heart strings.  Their concept is to create and fund group homes for the orphans. To drive this idea, they made the pitch that the orphanages were hell holes and death camps with children dying of starvation and others digging the graves for them. Second, they have to convince them that they have the credentials, expertise, government connections and integrity to be worthy of the investment.  To accomplish this they have written papers, op-ed pieces, sought interviews, taken credit for contacts they don't have and projects they haven't been involved in, created an international development group of which they are the only members and conducted conversations with themselves on various forums to get their points out there.  Any time anyone catches on to what they are doing they either claim that they are not understood or that there is a conspiracy against them.  Like with me, any requests for specifics or answers to questions or concerns are brushed off.

I have a personal policy that I follow.  If at any time I find that a person tells a lie or in any other way intentionally decieves me, I can conclude that this person is a liar.  Once that is established it is not necessary to disprove everything they say point by point.

I have read the blog that you refer to and rather than take it at face value I objectively checked out every claim made there and found it to be accurate.  Here's the link for those of you who want to do some interesting reading:

http://www.p-ced.blogspot.com

[William3rd]

false in part, false in whole. A good principle to live by.  This poster I think should have been discounted ages ago. 



But- to each his own. . . .

Is that you, Monica?

[Wayne B]

I need ya'll to help me.......sale some 'Ocean front property'.....in Arizona.....

[I/O]

This poster I think should have been discounted ages ago. Is that you,  Monica?

William:  Funny you should say that, I think I indicated something like that with a serious of questions marks in another thread a day or two ago.  Since then I have seen nothing but "Cyber Shell Games" and really nothing makes much sense.

I understand the "Projected Rationale" of the so called project and as the author says, those who don't know detail will often summarily dismiss something in a blast of negatives, BUT BUT BUT BUT, hey there is a few guys here who are pretty "Street Sharp" and the old adage applies, if it looks like schite, smells like schite then there is every chance it is schite. 

Mr whatevertheauthorsnameis, I forget now, I put it to you that your recent posts here have had little if anything relevant to add to the real ethos of this board, you have been unable to answer "Viability" questions from someone who DOES know there stuff on the subject, you have claimed to be unable to reveal details which are supposedly "Commerically In Confidence", you or your partners claimed connections don't check out (So Far) your partners or whosever it was claimed marriage that you explain as a "Common Law" marriage is BS because there is no such thing in Russia or Ukraine, either they are legally married, married within the Church or both, or they are simply "Shacked up" together which seems to be/been the case.

The litany of smoke and mirrors or shell games has and is giving no credability to your claims, project or person whatsoever.  You are simply leaving yourself open to being shot to the floor as you will ulitmately be by any investor including Government departments. 

I further put it to you that you have perhaps exhausted many possabilities to spruke your yarn and have resorted to a forum which is not relevant to your pursuit in order to gain some audience. 

As I said before, if it smells like schite, looks like schite then it is a pretty safe assumtion that it is schite.  I can't speak for all here, but I can speak for myself and in doing so I'd suggest, in fact I implore you to clear off and peddle your nonsense someplace else.  You neither have the money or the substance to get this so called project off the ground.  There is quite a few among us here collectively who probably do and if you were hoping to get some sympathy cash out of a few people, you are pissing on the wrong tree.  It ain't gunna happen.

Clear off and polute some other piece of cyber space or in a half dozen lines get some fact out here and demonstrate how in the hell it relates to this board.

I/O

[William3rd]

His other thread sold me on the suspect nature of anything that he posts. If I find something false, I seldom read further or listen or respond to future adventure/opinions/missives/docudramsa/etc.

[I/O]

His other thread sold me on the suspect nature of anything that he posts. If I find something false, I seldom read further or listen or respond to future adventure/opinions/missives/docudramsa/etc.

Khap.

I/O

[Kuna]

Kuna, It's very easy to dismiss something based on arguments such as "It won't work". That's precisely what one deals with from your anonymous countryman. However I do my homework and I ask you therefore. Who should I believe. someone who introduces himself in the way you have on a discussion forum or a representative of one of the world's largest networking specialists (below).


Michal Kraut (mkraut)" <mkraut@cisco.com> wrote:

    Piotr, Jeff
     
    INFRASTRUCTURE FOR VILLAGE
     
    Wireless Mesh connection would be best suited for application
    described below. Assuming 100 or less inhabitants we make
    also an assumption of size of village (in km/miles) which is small
    of course.
     
    We can position there two solutions
     
    1/    Traditional 802.11 solution which may be sufficient for now
    but may represent limitations which will be visible in a future
    and may increase installation costs now
     
    2/    Wireless mesh which have a lot automated functions and
    is better choice (self configuring backhoul links, auto reconfiguration
    in case of lost connection to one of neighbor Access Points)
     
    In a scenario on a drawing we will also need a router to connect
    village to external networks (internet), to perform address translation
    (to fit  all IP addressing regulations). Same router can be a firewall
    protecting users from attacks from outside, same router can also
    control wireless mesh network (one point of management).
     
    So as You see a technical solution of village is relatively simple.
     
    CONNECTION TO EXTERNAL NETWORKS
     
    I also agree that for so small local comunities VSAT would be the
    best choice (I'm sure that "the best" could be replaced with "the only"
    in many cases).
    Wimax may be a choice when vendors will have a products which
    will comply with Wimax standard (established in Nov 2005), and
    Service Providers will build an infrastructure to offer appropriate
    service. Assuming 6+ months of product development and another
    6+ months for Wimax project deployment (SP) we can expect
    Wimax offer available in Q4CY05 (maybe late Q3).
     
    So we have to ask ourselves what's timeframe of discussed project
    then decide if we can consider Wimax as an option or not.
     
    COMMENTS
     
    Please feel free to comment on proposal given above.
     
    Rgds
    Michal
     

Jeff,

The email above does nothing to suggest your scheme is commercially viable.  I know Cisco very well and they'll be willing to sell you as much hardware as you want.  What they can't do is solve the issues of backhauling your data at a reasonable rate, alleviating the issues of contention ratios on public networks designed like this and the cost and complexity of breakfix maintenance.

The network described isn't even WiMAX... it's WiFi.  The number of access points needed to provide such coverage is mindboggling and you still won't be able to provide service to anyone who lives more than 100 metres from their neighbours without building new structures or using antennas that would breach common wireless management standards.

Let me give you an example of a very similar scheme in Far North Queensland. Communities up there received a government grant of $100 million to provide broadband to 14 communities.  The concept was to sell services to fund the operating costs and eventually provide services to communities on a costs neutral basis.

Yes, technically the network was deployed... yes it's operating right now.  No it isn't returning enough revenue to cover operating and maintenance costs.  The costs are just prohibitive!

I know your spreadsheets will show very handsome profits but I promise you it's not going to run like you think.

You might be an optimist.  I'm just a realist.  There's lots of things you can try to convince youself of but you'll never convince me you'll return a $700 million profit on a $1.2 billion investment in new age telco services.

Kuna

[BC]

Goes back to that old saying..

'If it's so easy to do, everyone would be doing it'

Dabbled a bit in wireless..  good results can rarely be achieved within government eirp (transmission power) and antenna regulations.  Governments everywhere seem to be limiting the market so that they might later be able to license the bands to big players at higher power (esp WIMAX) where even 1.2 B is chump change.

There are a lot of 'eyes' on this market and any competition will report you in a flash for exceeding band/power limitations.

Work with folks in Ukraine and competition reportedly fierce for broadband.. to the point of cutting cables and other destructive measures.  Could easily see rooftop transmitters being stolen, towers torn down overnight for scrap metal etc etc..  any unprotected equipment in the field is vulnerable.  Ever heard of power lines being cut to sell as scrap copper?.. I have..

Wouldn't even consider investing in such with these conditions.

[Kharkovite]

Hi Guys. Just though I should pop in and mention that this Jeff guy, who I have never met, has been stalking me for some time now ever since I decided to raise questions about his company and allegations about Ukrainian Orphanages being "Death camps for children".   I won't go into this topic too much other then to say that like ScottInCrimea when I did my follow up on what these guys were claiming I also found more question then answers.  Looks like Scot has check out a little more then I did and came to pretty much the same conclusion.  I could not find anyone in Crimea that would support the claims put forward.,  I even contacted US Aid and Clinton's Office all came up with a blank. A red flag in my book.    When I decided to publish my findings I tried to be balanced in my reporting and comments. I have more but information but decided that it should not be published.  There are some drop-kicks out there many are real losers.  Anyway my report is here http://p-ced.blogspot.com If you want to add to it just post a comment. In the meantime I continue to have defend myself for having exposed this scam.  If you get your name out there and post enogh links then you will always show up on the Interenet search radar.  I followed the links and they all pointed to self promotion and false facts.

Any way I like your site and maybe if I find time will come back and read a bit more. Will be spending teh summer again in Crimea riding by Dniper 11.  I love Ukraine having lived here on and off for the past 6 years.  I have seen and learnt a lot. Most of what you guys say is pretty spot on and just goes to show the depth of knowledge and contacts that are out there.

Anyway all the best

Poka

[BC]

Welcome Kharkovite!

Always enjoy reading expat experiences.

Check http://www.russianwomendiscussion.com/index.php?topic=4685.msg83931;topicseen#msg83931

Maybe you have a couple 'hints' you could add before you head off.

Cheers!

[ScottinCrimea]

Welcome!
     I read your blog as part of my research into Jeff's project and was able to confirm pretty much everything and more.  What he failed to realize is that this forum has a lot of pretty bright people with many areas of expertise so it's hard to put anything past this group.  In my case I live in Simferopol and have pretty good contacts here as well as in the States so it wasn't difficult for me to check up on things.
     I won't be in Crimea this summer, but I have a good friend who conducts off road cycling tours in Crimea and could probably show you a little adventure if you are so inclined.  He also does kayaking, scuba and spelunking among other things.  Pretty fun guy.

[jb]

Scott,

You indicated somewhere, I think, that you were in Texas.  If you get a chance you might visit Corpus Christi, which has been named the "Digital City".  The city is pretty much wired for WiFi (b), and is currently expanding to (g, 5 times faster) as we write this.  To the best of my knowledge no other city in the US has undertaken such a widespread undertaking, maybe in the world.

http://www.cctexas.com/?fuseaction=main.view&page=2728

[Admin]

What a mess.

On the one hand, we have the posts by Mowatt presenting a business case which is, at the very least, highly questionable.

On the other hand, we have a self-appointed, and anonymous, individual conducting "investigations" and presenting those as if they are fully-vetted and credible themselves.

It would seem that at this point, there are claims of exaggeration - but not of fraud - at least, not yet. Anyone seeking to invest in the Hallman/Mowatt proposition would be well-advised to perform extensive due diligence prior to parting with any $$.

OTOH, I have serious heartburn with the kind of self-appointed vigilanteism such as what we see in the Blogspot - particularly by some anonymous entity whose motives and agenda are intentionally kept hidden.

Both sides - as presented - seriously lack credibility.

Just my $.02 - FWIW

- Dan

[Kharkovite]

Dan I agree fully...   My thoyuhghts exactly

Guy's ... There is not much to add to the experience most of you have already covered what needs to be said tme and time again.  I meet a lot of bride hunters.  Some are great guys and I love catching up with them, Some are real losers and have no idea.  You can not understand this country having spent two weeks on tour.

My advise to most is sell up and move to Ukraine.  Live here.... whats holding you back in the States/Australia or New Zealand

Stay away from the letter whore/scamers. (I have plenty of storeys I can tell you about them)  There are some real agencies out there and whilst you pay for the contacts you do get to meet them then it's up to you where you take it. 

I have met some real interesting people over the years.  Some scammers and some that have no idea.  This is not Kansas so do not apply your values from abroad to life here in Ukraine. Ukrainians are great which is why I choose to live here.

A site that I like which shows a positive side of the bride hunting game is http://everybodyiloveyou.blogspot.com

It is well written by a US Full Bright Scholarship holder who I met in Kharkov. He married a girl from Russia and did extensive research whilst he was posted here.  I had the opportunity to travel a bit with him and I can attest as to the accuracy of his stories.

Crimea is heaven, if they don't overdeveloped it.  I would love to tell you of some of the places I go but then I keep that to myself and those that I know have made a real commitment to this country.

My real love is my bike. But she causes me a lot of grief and I have to work on her more often then I get to ride her.  But when I do take for for a ride it is heaven. If you know what I mean. 

I love scuba diving and jumping out of planes but that the extent of it.

Have fun guys I know I am. I do not want to be anywhere else and I do not want to add to this thread other then to respond to questions. 

Poka

[I/O]

My real love is my bike. But she causes me a lot of grief and I have to work on her more often then I get to ride her.  But when I do take for for a ride it is heaven. If you know what I mean.

Sounds pretty typical of anything feminine gender.

I/O

[Kharkovite]

She is a real "VITSN" (You need to spell it out in Ukrianian to know the real meaning)

Those that are interested in the finer details of by Soviet love..  She was made in 1991 and was one of the last Soviet made motorcycles modeled on the BBW.

I bought here in Kharkov but she now is garage in Simferopol. She has a great body but I am afraid she was not well maintained internally and I have need to do more then just fill her up with Oil and Petrol.

She is a 650 and comes with a side car and she is waiting my return next month. She loves the Crimean climate and roads and I always meet new friend who love to check her out when I take her for a long overnight spin.  I tend to go touring along the coast line and camp out on the beach with friends.  There are some great places in Crimea away for the lights of Yalta or Alushta.  A Tent and a sleeping bag is all you need. Police stop you all the time but as my documents are in order and on most cases they are amused by a foreigner driving a Soviet motorcycle around. As long as you do not drink and drive you OK. I have had local kids just jump on board and go for a short spin.  Everyone I meet is fantastic and the hospitality is unsurpassed.

Spare parts are not a problem.  If need be there is a great bike shop in Simferopol that has spare parts on hand and there is also the auto market on the week-ends.

I have taken  a bit of time looking around here and I think Dan and others have it all sussed out and there is nothing I can really add except confirm pretty much what they say is true.

[Kharkovite]

Oh I fortgot to mention she keep me sober so I can ride her but if I drink ... she lays idol..  So I try not to drink too much of that Crimean Wine or Somorgon Vodka as I love to ride her more then drink.

[Jeff Mowatt]

Ah "Kharkovite" so glad you could drop by.

Or is it UkrToday, Ukr2006, Constitutionalgameplay, FreeSpeech or any other of your aliases today.     

We can't mention your name can we? But perhaps you might care to explain how you publish something not written by yourself and without the permission of the author, to defame it.   

Why does no-one comment on you blogs and why does your "lawyer" refer to you on a genealogy site as the "dysfunctional family" who she hasn't seen for 20 years.

So, you've come here to the shoe pissing contest, where we read reasoned opinions, like "it won't work", "it's a load of bullshit" etc. But you seem to have put in the most effort, almost a life's work. Why is that, if it's so easily dismissed? You seem to take this very seriously.


Perhaps you'll be able to explain why Ukraine needs so many rehabilitation centres for the disabled who don't exist and why of all places, they begin in Kharkiv. Rehab, from what? Fortunately not everyone takes you seriously.   

http://www.kmu.gov.ua/control/en/publish/article?art_id=69671033&cat_id=32598

One day you'll be famous Kharkovite, one day.
             

[Jeff Mowatt]

I'm perfectly willing to clear off as you suggest I/O, but the name you seem to be struggling for is Jeff Mowatt, which I have no fear of using in public to represent myself.

I'm perfectly willing to also describe what we're doing in general, but not the detail of a business plan. As my colleague put it in a style you may understand better "Tell him to go screw himself and the horse he rode in on".

Having experienced several plainly abusive responses from yourself and others who gaggle together sniping like little girls really does illustrate how few and far between those with any integrity are. Perhaps then, it's not surprising         that your government feels the need to pass laws to protect Russian women from your kind. 

William:  Funny you should say that, I think I indicated something like that with a serious of questions marks in another thread a day or two ago.  Since then I have seen nothing but "Cyber Shell Games" and really nothing makes much sense.

I understand the "Projected Rationale" of the so called project and as the author says, those who don't know detail will often summarily dismiss something in a blast of negatives, BUT BUT BUT BUT, hey there is a few guys here who are pretty "Street Sharp" and the old adage applies, if it looks like schite, smells like schite then there is every chance it is schite. 

Mr whatevertheauthorsnameis, I forget now, I put it to you that your recent posts here have had little if anything relevant to add to the real ethos of this board, you have been unable to answer "Viability" questions from someone who DOES know there stuff on the subject, you have claimed to be unable to reveal details which are supposedly "Commerically In Confidence", you or your partners claimed connections don't check out (So Far) your partners or whosever it was claimed marriage that you explain as a "Common Law" marriage is BS because there is no such thing in Russia or Ukraine, either they are legally married, married within the Church or both, or they are simply "Shacked up" together which seems to be/been the case.

The litany of smoke and mirrors or shell games has and is giving no credability to your claims, project or person whatsoever.  You are simply leaving yourself open to being shot to the floor as you will ulitmately be by any investor including Government departments. 

I further put it to you that you have perhaps exhausted many possabilities to spruke your yarn and have resorted to a forum which is not relevant to your pursuit in order to gain some audience. 

As I said before, if it smells like schite, looks like schite then it is a pretty safe assumtion that it is schite.  I can't speak for all here, but I can speak for myself and in doing so I'd suggest, in fact I implore you to clear off and peddle your nonsense someplace else.  You neither have the money or the substance to get this so called project off the ground.  There is quite a few among us here collectively who probably do and if you were hoping to get some sympathy cash out of a few people, you are pissing on the wrong tree.  It ain't gunna happen.

Clear off and polute some other piece of cyber space or in a half dozen lines get some fact out here and demonstrate how in the hell it relates to this board.

I/O

[Mir]

Perhaps then, it's not surprising         that your government feels the need to pass laws to protect Russian women from your kind. 

Just what are you suggesting?+

[I/O]

Perhaps then, it's not surprising         that your government feels the need to pass laws to protect Russian women from your kind. 

What laws? Seems your homework is as good as always.

I/O

[ScottinCrimea]

Jeff, If the only purpose of you coming back is to snipe at everyone who disagreed with you last time, then please go away again.  I can tell you for that there is absolutely no way that you can convince me that your "Social Enterprise" project is anything but a big scam.  I have seen way too many inconsistencies, misrepresentations and downright lies to ever give credence to anything you or Terry Hallman put together.  If you want to restart this thread, you're going to get shot down just like last time.

[Kuna]

Jeff, Jeff, Jeff... what's happened?

No posts for SUCH a long time and now you return in such a rage.

I can understand if you'd been institutionalised and recently released...  but didn't they give you some important medication you're forgotten to take?

On a serious note... if you have anything valuable or even mildly coherent to contribute there isn't a member here that wouldn't want to listen.  You just seem to be in the wrong place.

I'm not sure if there are sites specifically for people like you... unless you're prepared to consider Anastasia Web???