Author Archives: Panda in Chief

About Panda in Chief

Anne Belov paints, writes, makes prints, and is the founder of The Institute for Contemporary Panda Satire. You can find her paintings at the Rob Schouten Gallery and Fountainhead Gallery, her cartoons on The Panda Chronicles, and her new book here. She also writes regularly for The Whidbey Life Magazine, a free journal of art and culture on Whidbey Island. Her main regret in life is that there is no MacArthur Grant for Panda Satire.

It’s a Whole New Year

What a way to start the year! The firehose of NooZ, real and fake has already started. If we are going to survive this year, we need to do a little editing about how much of the firehose we allow to blast us in the ears.

First of all, obviously ZooNooZ needs to stay on your radar of what you should listen to. Then, you should subscribe To Joyce Vance‘s Substack Newsletter, along with Heather Cox Richardson. Add Jay Kuo for a little more in depth analysis. For a sweary look at the Nooz, you can’t do better than Jeff Tiedrich. You can find all of them on the Substack website or app, if you are someone who likes apps. You can find me there too! I’ve been doing a Year in Review there, and will be doing that for a few more weeks!

You can listen and watch a little bit of main stream news, but take it all with a grain of salt and don’t over do it. A little bit goes a long way!

Here are the things I won’t be paying (much) attention to: The GOP primary, for starters. I mean, that’s not something I’ll be voting in. I guess if you’re a Republican that’s something you probably should pay attention to (although what are you doing HERE if you’re a Republican?) But since I won’t be voting for any of those people, my attention can be minimal.

There are a few other things that I need to draw back from, both because I can’t do anything about them, or they are conditions that are so complex and so long running, I don’t have the knowledge or understanding to make any meaningful contribution.

In other NooZ, my birthday Season is now officially over.

Hang on tight and buckle up, folks! It’s gonna be a hell of a year!

Be the Bear!
Bob T I’m not sure I’m ready for this Panda

A Look Back at Pinky’s New Year’s Resolutions

I’m trying not to make any formal New Year’s resolutions this year. That said, there are things I would rather not keep doing (scrolling endlessly on social media before getting out of bed) and things I would like to do more (work outside in my yard, eat more healthy food, and not stress myself out)

In the interests of not stressing myself out so much, I do not have a brand new ‘toon for today, as I kind of took the weekend off to read and nap and then before I knew it, it was Monday afternoon and it wasn’t raining and it was kind of warm, so I went outside and now there is no new ‘toon for tomorrow.

But since what I probably would have done was a new ‘toon on the resolutions Pinky’s mommee prepared for her, and since I’ve escalated about as far as I can escalate that joke, I thought I’d share them with you here, going back as far as I can find resolutions for Pinky.

Here we go!

Okay…this first one isn’t an actual Pinky resolution ‘toon, but it’s one of my favorites and I bet it’s one of yours too…

See? I told you it was broken!
resolutions
Pinky: “rules are for other pandas.”
Bubba: my resolution was just to chew my food more, an’ mebbee not eat so much frosting. Ping: ping!
You would think Pinky would already have improved her behavior by now…
It was either this or a double semi-tractor trailer!

This year I think Pinky is going to resolve to do all she can to get Mittens out of our lives, even if it means she needs to support Joe Biden for president.

(Pinky: as if!!!)

If you are in the mood to see what last year in ‘toons were the ones that stuck out to me as the most emblematic ‘toons of the year, panda hop on over to my Substack page (Nazi-free since 2022!) and see my year in Review posts. The first one is tomorrow!

Thanks to all of you who have hung in here with me, all these years. We are going to need each other more than ever in the year coming up!

Be the bears!
Bob T I’m not scared if you’re here Panda

Out With the Old, In with the AAAAAAAAAAHHH!

Ready, not ready

I don’t know about you, but I’m pretty sure it is going to get worse before it gets better. Thanks for being here with me. I still don’t know what’s going to happen over at Substack, but for now I’m staying put, until a plan becomes clear. Whatever that means.

But no matter what, My Brain will Always Be on Pandas

There have been wins, there have been losses. We have lost our beloved DC pandas, but hopefully more will follow. We just have to get through this year. Fortunately, we have the Pookies in Seattle to help us through. I hope I can get in more often to see them.

Have a fun and safe New Year! This is my last ‘toon of the year (although the Panda Kindergarten might pop in for a New Year’s Eve Encore Presentation) It’s been a true joy to have you all here with me. Your continued presence does me more good than you can possibly know. Thanks to all who have reached out to tell me that the pandas do the same for you. It really means a lot to hear from you.

Till next year when we meet again…

Panda On!
Bob T pass the bootinis Panda

More Bears in Review!

2023 was Bulging with Bear Nooz!

There were Pandas and Pookies galore! Otis and Josie and Grazer, to name a few!

And who would have thought that Pookie would step in, in the role of “Actually, Reply Guy?”

If you thought you missed The 12 Days of CrispMoss you can find it HERE and HERE! Don’t forget to sing along with the bouncing bear! (I had to split it into 2 parts to present it in it’s full glory, as there are limits on how many pandas will fit in an email!)

It’s gonna be a bumpy ride in 2024. I’m so glad you all are here with me to see our way through it, with all the pandas!

Be the Bear!
Bob T bringing all the bears to bear Panda

Pinky in the (Bully) Pulpit!

Uh oh. It’s another election cycle and guess who else is running (besides the usual suspects?)

Stay ‘tooned for next week’s Holiday Encore presentation, of The 12 Days of CrispMoss. (Pinky thinks it should be the 12 days of Pinky…what do you think?)

There is some stuff going on over at Substack that needs to be sorted out. If you are a follower over there, I am going to be asking you for your input. I try to stay off the computer most of the day, so sometimes stuff starts happening and then I’m like, “Huh? WTF?” anyway…stay ‘tooned! One thing that is certain, The Panda Chronicles is controlled by me, so you will always have a home here.

Be the Bear
Bob T Why do we always have to contend with nazis Panda

It’s Time for Some Year in Review ‘Toons!

We will get back to our story about Bikkie and Mister Poppee’s adventure soon, but as we are in the waning weeks of the year, it’s time for that popular feature, The Year in Review, where we look backwards and forwards and then trip over our own two paws.

And here, with our first installment, are Bob and Mehitabel, and a very special guest!

I can’t believe it’s almost 2024!

Be the Bear
Bob T where does the time go Panda

There’s No Bears Like Holiday Bears!

Thanks to an especially observant reader, here at Panda Central, we’ve been alerted to another Bear Behaving Badly, HOLIDAY EDITION!

So of course we had to take a time out from out continuing story, to tell the tail!

Not only was this bear behaving badly, I found another instance from a few years ago of another bear behaving like the Grinch! Can’t you just imagine the conversation between the bears?

I can!

Frank: Whoa! look at that deer! He’s YUGE!!!!! I’m gonna take him down!
Mikey: um…I don’t think…
Frank: No! He looked at me in a threatening manner! This will not stand!
Mikey: That’s not a real deer…
Frank: CARABUNGA!!!!TAKE THAT!…oh…um…
Mikey: I TOLD you….
Frank: also, it wasn’t us.

Check it out and see if you can’t hear them talking…

Be the Bear!
Bob T in the holiday spirit Panda

Trying to get out of The Doldrums

Not unlike three bears in a cubvertible, I struggle with how to get out of the Doldrums. I’m sure I might have more to say about this sooner or later, but since the shadows are already growing long, I’ll cut to the chase, and bring on today’s ‘toon!

I new a Wu Bear…um…I mean Watch Bear to help me find my way out!

Be the Bear!
Bob T only 9 days till the solstice Panda

Our Story Continues Again!

I went on a retreat with my group of kid lit writing buddies, and so I am behind on posting. Hopefully, next week I will be back on schedule.

I am taking part next weekend in a local holiday artist sale and will have some of my original watercolor illustrations from The Panda Cub Swap available for sale, so if you were thinking about getting one of these for yourself, now would be a good time before I sell the one you wanted! Send me a message through the CONTACT US page!

I am going to add a design or two to my Redbubble store, so if you were thinking stuff with pandas on it would make great presents, be sure to check in this week. I can’t keep up with all the sales they are running this month, but pretty much from day to day, they are offering some great discounts. Check them out HERE!

Dis Will Not Stand!

Be the Bear
Bob T Buy Stuff With Pandas Panda

Some Holiday Encore Presentations!

The weekend got away from me, and I have a full plate this week, but even though I don’t have a new addition to our story in progress, I didn’t want to leave you panda-less!

Enjoy these holiday classics!

panda christmas
“why do I always get so kerfuffled when it comes to decorating for the holidays?”
sugar plum pandas
sweet!
sugar plum pandas
Schmoop!
The Frank and Mikey burning 2020 dumpster Diorama! Complete with artfully hand stenciled habitat and burning marshmallows!

I hope you enjoyed these holiday encore presentations!

Be the Bear
Bob T I am way too busy Panda