Broke for Going: March 2009

Monday, March 2, 2009

The Mission

The world economy is missing… possibly kidnapped! Last seen in September 2008, grave fears for its safety are held by many worldwide.

Recent reports paint a frightening picture, with unconfirmed sightings of the world economy throughout Eastern Europe, accompanied by what appear to be crazed former Wall Street investment bankers.

Some have speculated that the bankers intend to take the economy to the most sparsely populated nation on Earth, Mongolia, drive out the native people and create a Utopian Bankers Society where all of the world's wealth would be spent on extravagant business lunches, private jets, striped suits and ‘special massages’.

Fearing the imminent collapse of Western civilisation if the economy isn't found and returned soon, Kevin Rudd, Gordon Brown and Barack Obama contacted the only two blokes in the world they knew they could trust. The only two blokes with the knowledge and North Queensland-bred bush skills to track down where the economy is hidden. The only two blokes with the courage and audacity to rescue the economy from those who hold her and the world to ransom. Two blokes with enormous stimulus packages. Two blokes with the fate of civilisation on their shoulders...

These two blokes are Michael Whiteman and Peter Krogdahl!

In a moving ceremony on January 30th, 2009, Michael and Peter accepted their mission to save the world economy, at any cost to themselves, pro bono publico. With their extreme environmental conscience, they have selected the most economical vehicle on earth (the Nissan Micra), packed it full of as many WMDs (Weapons of Minimising Debt) as possible and are on their way!

No bailouts, no golden parachutes, no capital guarantees. Just two blokes in the subprime Nissan Micra on a mission to save the world.

They will not rest until they have completed their mission... in debt or alive. They are “broke for going"!!!

The Men

On the 30th of January, 2009, Barack Obama, Kevin Rudd and Gordon Brown turned to the only blokes in the world they could trust to find and rescue the world economy - Peter Krogdahl and Michael Whiteman. They could not have made a better choice. Presented here are short biographies of these two, most exceptional of men.

Michael Whiteman

Born in Melbourne, Australia in December 1980, Michael was an exceptional child. School Captain and dux of the year of 1996 class at the School for the Preparation of Exceptional Children in the Interests of Australian Leadership (aka SPECIAL), Michael excelled both academically and on the sporting grounds. Captain of the SPECIAL Cricket Team 1992-1996, the first eighth grader ever to have the honor, and national all-around champion in junior-elite gymnastics 1993 and 1995, Michael also played leading roles in the school drama productions throughout his senior years.

After graduation from SPECIAL in 1996 (at only 16 years of age), Michael accepted a scholarship at UC Berkeley, gaining Bachelor's degrees with honors majoring in both Engineering Physics and Dance and Performance Studies in only two years. Shortly afterward Michael gained his PhD at Yale, specialising in High-Energy Astrophysics, again in an astonishing 2 years, while simultaneously completing flight training at NASA, joining the STS-101 mission to resupply the International Space Station in May of 2000.

In late 2000 Michael returned to Australia, spending 2 years at the National Institute of Dramatic Art and appearing in guest roles on the Australian soap operas Neighbours and Home and Away. Though having great passion for the art of acting, Michael found the roles available to him in the local industry to be vapid and uninspiring, and hoping to refocus and bring meaning back to his life, he set off to travel solo into the Australian bush on foot to live only with what nature and his own ingenuity could provide.

After six months of isolation in the Australian bush Michael set out on a journey by kayak to Thailand, via the islands of the Indonesian archipelago and Malaysia. For the next year Michael would develop his Muay Thai skills and live simply in the idyllic village of Tham Wau Daeng, gaining a great appreciation for the ways of the Thai villager. It was a deeply satisfying time for Michael, but unfortunately it was not to last, with the Columbia Shuttle disaster throwing Michael's life into disarray.

Knowing that Michael was perhaps the most qualified person in the world to get to the bottom of what caused the disaster, the director of NASA's Kennedy Space Center, Roy D. Bridges Jr., flew to Thailand to personally appeal to Michael to return to the USA to head up the Columbia Accident Investigation Board. Following the release of the CAIB's final report in August of 03, Michael consulted extensively with NASA, reforming their organisational structure and reporting mechanisms to prevent future accidents. With the success of the space shuttle Discovery's mission in August of 2005, Michael resolved to return to one of his greatest passions - acting, but it was not to be.

Originally cast as King Leonidas in the hit film 300, Michael selflessly put his acting career on hold and returned to Australia in November 2005 to coach the Australian Cricket Team following their shock defeat in the Ashes tour of 2005. While Michael tirelessly worked to rebuild the Ponting and Warne's shattered senses of self worth, and coached Glenn McGrath on the finer points of bowling technique, Gerard Butler did a satisfactory job of replacing him in the film (even if he wasn't nearly as buff).

Once the Australian Cricket Team was back on track, Michael returned to the arts world and accepted the position of Head Artistic Director at Cirque du Soleil, and oversaw the development of the new show 'Corteo' - an enchanting procession of unruly clowns, contortionists, jugglers, acrobats, puppeteers and singers. Michael sums up the experience of Corteo by quoting the Italian novelist and poet Cesare Pavese. "We do not remember days, we remember moments,” Michael said. “You will go away with a lot of animating moments.”

Though the work with Cirque du Soleil was deeply satisfying for Michael, the "real world" intervened again in the form of the economic crisis in September of 2008, and in December 2008 Michael resigned from his position at Cirque to advise Barack Obama's transition team on how best to prevent the total collapse of the US economy. With the world economy officially declared missing in January 2009, and the official plea from Obama, Brown and Rudd to 'go find it, stimulate it and bring it back', Michael, together with longtime friend and colleague Peter Krogdahl, began preparations for what is possibly the most daring rescue mission ever attempted...

Peter Danger Krogdahl

Peter was born into a loving family in Townsville in 1979. A typical middle class upbringing lay ahead, but merely a year later, on a family holiday to Ayer’s Rock, his life’s course, and that of world history, was changed forever. Nobody had been able to put all of the facts together, but it is widely believed that Peter was stolen by a dingo that day, and subsequently raised by dingoes in the Australian outback. As a result, he is to this day unable to get away from anyone who vigorously scratches him on his lower back!

Occasionally sighted by the local indigenous population, the extremely fast and elusive Peter entered aboriginal folklore. Local aborigines knew him as both Romulus and Remus, his speed and mysteriousness were such that the local Aboriginal people originally thought there where two of him!

Peter’s dingo education was of the highest order (with his almost unsurpassed IQ, later training Stephen Hawking in the field of relativity and quantum mechanics). Peter was able to intercept multiplexed telecoms signals passed through the outback on telecoms and satellite communications networks. Learning all science, mathematics and various international languages also having fluency in three dingo dialects from age two. Peter also gained culture from TV signals and highly privileged information intercepting ASIO communications, which would prove vital in his later endeavours.

After living till the age of 15 in the outback on the many microwave repeater towers scattered in the Australian bush, Peter moved back to Townsville and months later invented the microwave oven. Initially naming it the ‘Telecom Multiplex Microwave 2000’. The original model had a 1.6m diameter telecoms microwave emitter as its reactor.

With new found wealth from the development and success of the microwave oven, and with his strong humanitarian streak, Peter went on to form the Cancer And Radiation Society (CARS). Spending almost every waking moment on CARS for the next five years of his life Peter was able to help the people of Townsville with his CARS expertise. He dedicated many late hours to CARS, with visitations to many industrial estates to find worthy recipients.

During this time, Peter’s company formed a partnership with a Japanese institution, Toyo Yokohama Radiation Education Society. TYRES made for an amazing partnership, though due to excessive friction between the societies and expenses from joint CARS - TYRES endeavours the TYRES partnership deal went up in smoke, leaving the CAR society unable to function correctly without the other.

With the CARS saga behind him, at the age of 21, Peter moved to the UK and with his world renowned technical and high technology skills was instantly commissioned by Apple to come up with product ideas to save the ailing brand. Though Peter was actually more of a Banana guy (being a North Queenslander), he took the job to lead the brand.

Peter had always had an aversion to the bulky music CD, and a love of computing technology, and free music. With this combination of ideas, Peter developed devices from home, in his 11 cubic meter apartment in the heart of London. Peter’s most successful product came in the form of a compact Mp3 player. Apple were very keen on the product, Peter named it, the ‘Internet Pilfering Of Discs’ unit, After further discussions with Apple executives, it was marketed as the abbreviated ‘IPOD’, and released on 23/10/2001, to coincide with Peter’s birthday.

With its resounding success on the open market, along with a number of other products he developed up till late 2003. With his cash flow issues gone, Peter returned to Australia. He was very quickly approached by ASIO and, with his extensive and amazing array of skills and unique upbringing, was asked to head up the Asio Western European, Spanish & Overseas Militia Department.

Heading this department required a commitment to a dual life, posing as an exceptional engineer by day and at all other times heading the AWESOM department. With both parts of Peter’s dual life flourishing for almost six years, the time came for his country (and the world) to really need his help. Peter being the AWESOM director had been tracking encrypted ‘chatter’ from various communications sources. Soon after he was approached by ASIO and world leaders about the issue of the missing economy disaster (along with a large chunk of both Peter investments… It just got personal), his suspicions of a merchant banker plot had been confirmed. By the time they had come to Peter he had already rallied his long time Friend Michael Whiteman and organised a reconnaissance mission. Peter and Michael are Broke for Going!

The Machine

When you're on a mission to save the world, you can't afford to take chances with your choice of transportation. With almost 10,000 miles on some of the roughest roads on the planet, and many off road, unsurpassed toughness is paramount. When driving through some of the most inhospitable environments ever braved by man, where one breakdown could mean death, flawless reliability is essential. When time is of the essence, and rapid and efficient travel is a priority, power and effortless overtaking ability are valuable attributes.

With those qualities in mind, there is only one vehicle available that is truely up to the task. One vehicle that, with Peter and Michael's expertise and one hell of a lot of luck, just might make it to Mongolia in time to rescue the economy. That vehicle is the Toyota Landcruiser Troopcarrier.

Unfortunately, both Michael and Peter had invested heavily with Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities LLC. Having lost almost their entire life's savings, and with little chance to recover financially while working full time investigating the economy's disappearance, Peter and Michael were forced to settle on a slightly less capable, and significantly more affordable, vehicle.

Introducing the Subprime Micra...

Year 2000 model, 1.0 liter hatchback, 5 speed manual BEAST!
53 rampaging horsepower, perfect for overtaking carts pulled by geriatric donkeys
Enough torque to pull out a slightly loose baby tooth, if you wiggle it a bit first
About 120mm of ground clearance - almost enough to clear an upright can of soft drink
Plenty of room for a week's grocery shopping in the back

The Mongol Rally

Amazingly, Peter and Michael's mission to save the world economy just happens to coincide with a splendid event - the Mongol Rally. Accordingly, they've joined the fun as part of their mission.

In essence, the mighty mongol is the ultimate road trip - driving around 10000 miles in the least suitable vehicles for the task, from London to Ulaanbaatar in Mongolia. There are few rules which are summarised below.

No support, no backup
No set route
No more than 1.2 litre engine
Cars must be less than 10years old

For more info, check out the official rally site at www.mongolrally.com

The Map

Unconfirmed sightings of the world economy continue to pour in from throughout Europe and Central Asia. Check back here regularly for updates on the suspected whereabouts of the economy, and the current location of our heroes.

View Larger Map

Press

There's been so much written about these two incredible characters that it's hard to know where to start! Check back for links to articles written about Pete and Michael soon.

Please send any press inquiries to mongolrallyteam@gmail.com

Charities

Some people would say, that boldly attempting to rescue the world economy and thereby prevent the collapse of civilisation as we know it, is more than enough to expect from anybody. That by putting their lives on the line, and leaving their comfortable city lives behind, any obligations to the world would be well and truly fulfilled.
Those people never met Michael or Peter.

While rescuing the world economy, Michael and Peter are also raising money for some splendid charities doing work in Mongolia.

Mercy Corps
For those of you who have never heard of Mercy Corps before, they are an international development charity. Working in over 35 countries around the world, the Mercy Corps respond to global emergencies as well as carrying out longer term development work. In all of their work they help individuals, in some of the poorest countries in the world, to live a sustainable and independent life.
http://www.mercycorps.org.uk/mongolrally/

Christina Noble Children's Foundation
The CNCF have a variety of projects in Mongolia that change the lives of kids who have often been given a pretty rough hand in life. Funds donated through the 'Broke for Going' Mongol Rally team will support the running costs of the incredible Blue Skies Ger Village in Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia. The Ger Village houses abandoned or homeless children and gives them a new chance in life with a safe place to live, education, and all the support of a family with their technique of assigning mothers to each ger and group of kids.
http://www.cncf.org/en/mongolia/projects.php#sunshine

If this all sounds pretty worthwhile to you, please head on over to the Donate page and make a donation.

Donate!

While some more ordinary people would simply lay on the guilt trip and try to shame you into donating to their chosen cause, Michael and Peter believe you should get something more for your hard earned currency. With that in mind, we present below our schedule of rates for 2009 Mongol Rally related charitable donations*.

To choose a donation related service, simply make a donation using one of the JustGiving or FirstGiving widgets at the below, leaving a comment specifying what you would like in return. For items marked POA, please email us first at mongolrallyteam@gmail.com to negotiate rates.

Mercy Corps (USA)

Mercy Corps (UK)

CNCF

If the widgets above don't load, you can make a donation by following the links below:
Mercy Corps (USA),
Christina Noble Children's Foundation,
Mercy Corps (UK)

£10	Receive a postcard from a country of your choice
£20	Receive a postcard from a country of your choice, written by a local**
£5	Video of Michael doing a backflip in the country of your choice, posted on youtube and dedicated to you
£30	Have us proclaim our never ending love for you in public in the country of your choice, posted on youtube and this website***
£30	Have us declare our never ending hatred of your enemy in public, in the country of your choice, posted on youtube and this website****
£POA	Video of us doing a modern interpretive dance in your honour, in a public space in the country of your choice, posted on youtube and this website*****
£5	2010 Calendar with original photography from the rally******

* Prices are subject to change without notice. Donate early to lock in the current rate!
** We can't guarantee they'll write it in english, or that they'll say anything nice to you.
*** Subject to safety considerations. If, on the ground and on the day, it looks like such antics will get us jailed we reserve the right to reschedule to a more friendly area. Oh, and email us a photo before we leave for the rally and we might just use it as a prop...
**** Again, subject to not being guaranteed to get us in jail. Don't ask us to declare our hatred for Ayatollah Khomeini in Iran or anything daft like that. It ain't gonna happen. And remember kids, bullying isn't cool - this is supposed to be humourous, not a way to victimise the uncool kid with the wrong brand of trainers.
***** We make no representations as the quality of our interpretive dancing.
****** This will be emailed to you as a PDF or other suitable electronic document for you to print or have printed... Printing and mailing adds costs, and we'd rather not handle your money.

Now I realise you may be wondering "How do I ask these men among men to send me a postcard from a country of my choice, when I don't know which countries they're traveling through?"

This is a good question, and I don't have a perfect answer for you. The visa gods are currently passing judgement on our heroes passports. We also don't know exactly where the hunt for the rogue bankers will take Peter and Michael. Send us a quick email when you're making the donation with the countries you're thinking of, and we can guide you in the right direction.