Gotta love the internet

Regarding "Timber!" (July 4), I'm a former Boy Scout, old-school style: Leave it cleaner than it was when you got there. I don't mean logging 1,000-year-old trees. Aren't there enough sustainable forests to get our wood from? I'm a carpenter and I'm fine with sustainable logging, planting and conservation, but why destroy more of what keeps us alive? Don't we kill enough people, animals and pristine forest to make our greedy leaders happy? Scum, all of them. Weak-willed, no honor or respect for our earth--our earth, not theirs.

Walter Smith, Higginsville, MO.

Just to be clear, the trees in question at the Bohemian Grove are second-growth and nowhere near 1,000 years old.

The Real Tom Biscardi

I am writing in reference to the story "Bigfoot Inc.," by Stett Holbrook (July 11). I must object to your publication giving such publicity to Tom Biscardi, a man, in my opinion, who is of dubious intent and little credibility.

In addition to the 2005 incident on Coast to Coast AM described in the article, Biscardi has been involved in a number of questionable ventures that leave his credibility in doubt.

In 2006, Biscardi desecrated a Native American burial site near Paris, Texas, and tried to pass off human remains as a skeletal Bigfoot. Biscardi was later compelled to return the remains in compliance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act.

Also in 2006, Biscardi paraded around with a pickled bear paw in a jar and tried to pass it off as Bigfoot's hand. The limb was identified as a bear paw by scientists, including biology professor Alton Higgins.

In my personal opinion, Biscardi is a poor choice of subjects for an in-depth article for any respectable publication. Stett Holbrook seems to be aware of many reputable researchers like Loren Coleman and the people at the Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization, yet he chose to write about Biscardi.

In addition, Holbrook appears to at least have done some cursory background research on Biscardi, yet either failed to uncover the embarrassing incidents I outlined above or chose to ignore them.

Now that you are aware of Biscardi and what I can only describe as his shenanigans, please do not give this man any more attention. If we ignore him long enough, maybe he'll find something constructive to do with his time. And maybe Mr. Holbrook will find someone laudable to write about.

Anthony Hartman, Niagara Falls, N.Y.

The real thing?

My wife and I were having dinner one night and we had the chance to meet Mr. Biscardi and his family. Both my wife and I were very intrigued by him and what he does. Had a chance to have a meeting with him regarding other business with a friend of mine, and, yes, he is a bigger-than-life individual, and he seems to be the real thing.

I have had three liver transplants and have all along believed that I would not perish of this great planet we call home. I have to admit that no matter what you believe in, if you are devout and strong-minded about the goal--in my case, living through what most doctors thought I would not--is a real possibility for everyone, including Mr. Biscardi.

In my honest opinion, there is a good possibility that Bigfoot exists. You yourself cannot deny this. Biscardi just believes that this is a real thing and is totally committed to his endeavor. Your article is a good one, but it is a bit biased towards him being a quack. There are many things out there that we just do not understand, so automatically discount them. Mr. Biscardi is an interesting person who will more than likely find or not what he is looking for.

Glad to be alive,

George Plaut, San Jose

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