The bear — the only species known to actively hunt humans — stalked the man as he left his job as a surveyor in Barrow, the northernmost town in Alaska.

At first, he tried to hide behind the truck until, sensing his presence, the bear dived across the hood and pursued the man in circles around his locked Ford. Unable to unlock the doors quickly enough to evade his pursuer, the man gambled that the GM pickup parked a few feet over was unlocked. As he reached it the bear caught up and mauled the man, leaving over 100 deep claw marks in his back and head. Somehow, the man escaped, crawling through the unlocked door of the GM just in time.

As polar bears face food shortages and destruction of their habitats, they’re increasingly turning to humans — usually their trash — as a source of food. Polar Bears International claims only one human has been killed in the US by the creatures, which can grow up to 10 feet tall, in the last 30 years. [via the Daily Mail]

Photography credit: Roger Nilsson

Thanks for the tip, Jerry!

But, of course, the problem with ethanol remains one of economics rather than availability. E85 costs about 18% less nationwide than a gallon of gasoline despite containing 23-28% less energy. When the cost to grow, process, distill and transport that ethanol is taken into account, the math just doesn't work out in favor of corn likker . But we are glad our farmer friends are finally able to afford those new Sea Rays. [Green Car Congress; Image Credit: EPA]

Speaking of stems and seeds, here's a shot from the Alameda High 1984 yearbook, showing the cheerleaders sitting on a new Corvette at the local Chevrolet dealership. Yet some folks feel compelled to celebrate 80s nostalgia. Thanks to Rognbrow for the tip!

The 10,379-mile trip from the UK to Alaska lasted an exhausting 50 days, with Steve Burgess and Dan Evans making the final voyage across the strait in 18 hours and 50 minutes. Why so long? The two actually had to take cover from the weather for quite a while on the island of Little Diomede partway through. Perhaps Jeremy Clarkson will bust out his Toyboata for a go at breaking the record. [CapeToCape via MotorAuthority]

A patchwork of state organizations and private companies are forwarding a $65 billion plan to dig a tunnel under the Bering Strait from Russia to Alaska. The project would serve dual purposes of transport way and pipeline from Siberia's oil reserves. It would also bring the dream of driving around the world to the halfway point. (In other news, a $100 quintillion plan to connect Ireland with Boston was hatched today over copious pints of Harp at Ned Devine's.) We're hoping the resulting roadway won't be as treacherous as Russia's Lefortovo tunnel, shown above. – Mike Spinelli

Russia Plans World's Longest Tunnel, a Link to Alaska [Bloomberg]

Related:
In Russia, Car Crashes into YOU!: Accidents in the Lefortovo Tunnel [internal]

We're in a play of slow decay orchestrated by Boltzmann/It's entropy/It's not a human issue/ Entropy/It's matter of course/ Entropy/Energy at all levels/Entropy/ From it you cannot divorce

-Greg Graffin

Will we defend BP? No, not exactly. Their inattention to their pipeline has screwed everyone, including themselves. They post profits in the billions every quarter, and while they're a leader, as far as large-scale companies go, in renewable energy, they've put too much into the corporate coffers in exchange for the neglect of their pipelines and/or not enough into the study and perfection of viable renewable resources. That said, eco-heads who complain seem to have this idea that if we simply conserve enough and major corporations who are seriously under the gun unveil the technology they've been hiding from us due to some sort of collusion, we can all live forever.

Dear people. There is such a thing called entropy. We are constantly losing energy to it. And frankly, although we are morally opposed to forced sterilzation (and the whole eugenics thing freaks us out, too), we would encourage the really stupid among members of our species to get tubal ligations and vasectomies. Or at the very least, commit yourselves to miserable, sex-free lives. Unless you're gay and stupid. Then have at it. We also encourage laws that would make it easier for intelligent homosexuals to adopt.

So what in God's name does this rant have to do with cars? Everything. Every time you buy a new car, you deplete more resources. Every time you buy a new part for your old car, you do the same. Every time you buy a part from a junkyard and recondition it, you're causing energy and matter to be cast aside. Plus, the mechanic has to eat. Eventually the composition of the energy and matter in the world will shift. New species will emerge; old ones will mutate and adapt or die.

Honestly, the question is, do we want to leave the world to our children as we found it? For example, is a reduction in racism and growth in intercultural understanding due to easy international travel and the production of the electricity used to disseminate information worth the polar ice caps?

And the answer to that question is entirely open-ended. We'll go back to driving our V8-powered car and not consuming meat or now. It really isn't easy being green.

Lessons to Learn From BP's Latest Misstep [Treehugger]

Related:
More on the environment [Internal]

But the bigger point is nobody should expect price drops ever again. When will folks remember oil's a commodity that doesn't just appear out of nowhere. Two and a half this summer was an easy target, we're thinking three bucks next summer, four bucks the summer after that — the sky's the limit really. Hmm, glad we filled up last night.

BP shutdown to remove 8 pct. of US crude [Yahoo! News]

Related:
Five Ways To Save Gas This Summer [internal]

We haven't checked the stats, but somehow we doubt that Anchorage is exactly East Oakland with snow. Although we once had some adventures with snow in East Oakland — but that's neither here nor there and a long time ago. Regardless, some people are alarmed with the increasing rate of drive-by-type violence in Alaska's largest city. And in ways, we have to agree. We think the wild-frontierness of Alaska is pretty cool, but there's really no reason to drive around capping people. Actually, there's no good reason to drive around capping people in general. Unless, of course, you're Dick Cheney. But then you just do it on foot. Dickie, grab your gun and get up there. There's oil under that thar tundra!

With all eyes on kids, guns and cars, there can be hope for our city [Anchorage Daily News]

Related:
Car Shootin' Couple Apprehended in Utah [Internal]

Authorities south of Anchorage are planting temporary advisory flags to remind motorists that 45 mph might be a safe speed considering that dipnet fishermen are running back and forth across roads trying to enlarge their catch quotient, often with little regard toward vehicles, resulting in mad skid marks, both on the road, and probably in the shorts of drivers, as well.

Troopers say cars taking evasive action to avoid hooligan fishermen [KTVA]

Related:
Toyota Pickup Found in Alaska River, Runs! [Internal]

How's this for tragic irony? Massively-mulleted Duane "Dog" Chapman, bounty hunter and reality-TV star, lost his 23-year-old daughter, Barbara Katy Chapman, the day before his wedding. Tragic to the nth degree, non? The irony comes into play here: Ms. Chapman was riding in a stolen car that went off the road near her home in Fairbanks, Alaska. A tangled web woven, for sure. Our condolences to the Chapmans.

Daughter Of TV's 'Dog The Bounty Hunter' Dies Before His Wedding [WNBC]

Related:
Britney Spears' Baby Buggy Blunder Not Illegal, But Still Dumb as Federline [Internal]

When Top Gear spent something like three shows bashing, drowning and torching a Toyota pickup (then threw it off a building), we weren't surprised when, after the abuse ended, it still ran. We've got a '93 ToyPup in the Jalopnik fleet, parked in the woods somewhere in upstate New York, that fires up like a schoolkid in June every time we turn the key — that is, when we bother to visit the poor dear. But recently in Alaska, a 1984 Toyota pickup was fished out of the Kenai River after four months of submersion, and — after a right draining and flushing — the bugger was still a' functioning. I smell a contest. Ford, you interested?

They Don t Build Em Like This Anymore - Kenai River surrenders a lost pickup truck [Dubspeed Driven]

Related:
Toyota Has Difficulty Building Tundra Hybrid [internal]