To: Investor
From: L&R Financing
Re: P-L5
I don’t need to remind you how much the judges' decision tomorrow will affect our future--and yours. L&R Financing financed the original P-L5 colonization in cooperation with our partners K&P Securities Inc. However, since the abandonment of the colony almost 100 years ago, we have maintained a discreet and highly lucrative Californium mine on the far side of south island. Should re-colonization begin, we would not only have to abandon and cover-up our operations, but face possible environmental charges in the future. The press would kill us if they knew we’ve been leaking radioactive waste into P-L5’s seas for over a hundred years. But, if re-colonization is denied, everyone goes home and we continue to conduct our business as usual. Your job is to convince the judges to veto re-colonization. I have spoken to several specialists in evolution issues and they all agree you could make a good case. You might try to argue that the planet was unsafe and dangerous (incidentally, a really well-timed Anomalocaris washing up on shore can do wonders with an audience!). Evolution here is too far advanced to be controlled. According to Gould chance plays such an important role in evolution that using Earth as a "future forecast" is foolish. I don’t really care what you argue as long as you win this case. P-L5 must not be colonized! I’ve had my secretary type up a list of resources that might help you tomorrow. Remember, we’re counting on you!
Larry Czetsky III
Managing Director, L&R Financing
Leads and Sources
Magazines and Articles:
"When Life Exploded," J. Madeleine Nash. Cover Story Time Magazine December 4, 1995.
"On Embryos and Ancestors," Stephen Jay Gould. Natural History 7/98-8/98, p. 20.
"The Evolution of Life on the Earth," Stephen Jay Gould. Scientific American October 1994, p. 85.
"Breathing Room for Early Animals" (Oxygen), Andrew H. Knoll. Nature Vol. 382, July 11, 1996, p. 111.
"The Big Bang of Animal Evolution," Jeffrey Levinton. Scientific American November 1992.
"Hypersea," Dianna and Mark McMenamin. Discover October 1995, p. 76.
"The Emergence of Animals," Mark McMenamin. Scientific American April 1987, p. 94.
"Life’s Grand Explosions." (theories on why the Cambrian explosion occurred), Lori Oliwenstein. Discover January 1996, p. 42.
"The Molecular Explosion," Henry Gee. Nature Vol. 373, February 16,1995, p. 558.
Internet Sites:
The Divisions of Precambrian Time
http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/precambrian/precambrian.htmlLife of the Vendian
http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/vendian/vendianlife.htmlLearning About the Vendian Animals
http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/vendian/critters.htmlOxygen Pulse and the Evolutionary Expansion of the Metazoans
http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Hangar/8200/Oxygenation.htmlCambrian Explosion
http://www.carleton.ca/Museum/camex/1ahome.html
Books:
The Emergence of Animals: The Cambrian Breakthrough. Mark and Dianna McMenamin, 1990, Columbia University Press.
Biology: The Science of Life. Wallace, Sanders and Ferl, 4th ed., 1996, Addison-Wesley.