Category Archives: 31 Days of Pandas!

Day 11 ~ 31 Days of Pandas

Seasonal Drinks

Those who know some of my history know that in the mid to late 1980’s I worked for Starbucks Coffee, when it it was just a local Seattle coffee emporium, before some guy named Howard got his hands on it and um…made it what it is today. (You can interpret that any way you’d like).

I’ve been amused/annoyed/encouraged to read of the unionizing efforts of some of the retail Starbucks stores in the Buffalo NY area. Encouraged, because I think that workers demanding a fair workplace with livable wages is a good thing and I’m glad to know that these workers are standing up for their rights.

Amused, because I know it is probably driving Howard batshit to have workers puncturing his carefully crafted image of himself as the benevolent corporate overlord, and (failed) presidential candidate.

And annoyed, because the organizers and the reporters keep referring to this as the first attempt at unionization at Starbucks.

Ahem!

Somewhere around 1986 or ’87, the actual first union at Starbucks organized and was formed, starting at the roasting plant and then including the Seattle stores. It was not easy. We had great assistance from UFCW local 1001 in the persons of Jerry Patterson, Janet Boyd, Dave Schmidt, and Pam Blauman. I still consider them friends today. (Dave died this year from cancer and the world is a poorer place without him) They helped us navigate the treacherous waters that Starbucks flung in our path.

We had just (finally) negotiated our first contract when Howard bought out the company. He immediately dragged us back to the bargaining table to negotiate a new contract, despite telling us he wouldn’t do that, before the sale of the company. It got so nasty, that I left a few months later, as soon as the new contract was done. It was probably the best thing that ever happened to me, so, um…thanks?

Note: the union only lasted a few years at the roasting plant, and less at the stores, but we were the first union there. Just so ya know!

Anyway, my experience there has inspired several ‘toons, including this one!

whipped cream
Can I have EXTRA extra whipped cream?

Don’t forget to ask for extra whippy cream!

Be the Bear!
Bob T Panda

Day 10 ~ 31 Days of Pandas

It’s a WUnderful Life: the finale!

We hope you are enjoying this encore presentation of It’s a WUnderful Life! This story (and many other stories about Mr. Wu) can be found in Book 4 of the panda Chronicles: The Book of Wu!

I’m pretty sure something is coming up next, I have to find my list where I actually figured out what I had planned. Good thong I posted yesterday and today’s ‘toons ahead, since we had (yet another) power outage that lasted all day. Weather can be so tedious!

But now, on with the show!

It's a Wonderful Life, parody
Yay! The heartwarming schmoopy ending!
it's a wonderful life parody
A bear and his mom…together forever?

I’m sure I’ll come up with something for tomorrow!

Till then,
Be the Bear,
Bob T Panda

Day 9 ~ 31 Days of Pandas

Mom, don’t you know Wu?

It's a Wonderful Life parody
Repeat after me, “It’s a story” ‘kay?
It's a Wonderful Life, parody
Everytime a bell rings, a panda gets a cuppycake.

Every time a bell rings, a panda gets a cuppycake!
Be sure to ‘Toon in tomorrow for the dramatic conclusion of this Holiday Classic!

Be the Bear!
Bob T Panda

Day 8 ~ 31 Days of Pandas

It’s a WUnderful Life continues!

it's a wonderful life parody
You won’t like this, Mr Wu!
It's a Wonderful Life Parody
Those darn cats!

Oh man! I don’t even want to think about what happens next!!!

Be the Bear!
Bob T Panda

Day 7 ~ 31 Days of Pandas

It’s A WUnderful Life, continued…

It's a wonderful Life parody
Bee the bear tells it like it is
It's a Wonderful Life parody
What part of “you don’t exist” didn’t you get? Ha ha! I love that line!

‘Toon in tomorrow...if you’re not too scared!

Be the Bear,
Bob T Panda

Day 6 ~ 31 Days of Pandas

It’s a WUnderful Life!

Today starts our Holiday Encore Presentation of It’s a WUnderful Life, which explores the existential question, pondered by Jimmy Stewart’s character in a complete rip-off of this version: what would the world be like if there were no more baby pandas?

Or something like that!

it's a wonderful life
Thank goodness Bee the Bear still has her magical wand from the last adventure.
It's a wonderful life
Wu is a good bear at heart….

‘Toon in tomorrow for the next exciting episodes of It’s a WUnderful Life!

Day 5 ~ 31 Days of Pandas

A few of the verses may be out of date, but please sing along with the pandas! (Sad to say there are STILL vile trumpy men around!)

Oh tidings of treason and greed.

Okay, so maybe Robert Mueller was a little bit of a disappointment, but there are still crimes to be revealed and punished. Way more, in fact than there were four years ago when this ‘toon was written. Buckle up, panda pals! It’s still a bumpy ride!

Coming up this week: It’s a WUnderful Life, starring the true Wu-Self!

Be the Bear!
Bob T Panda

Day 4 ~ 31 Days of Pandas

Who can forget Bubba’s first Christmas?

panda
You better watch out….

It seems like we have not gotten much farther into our enlightenment than we were six years ago, five months after you know who announced he was running for…I can’t even say it…
In fact, I’d say we are a whole lot worse.

Consider this my Werld Peez Pandifesto

Stay strong, stay engaged, We’re not done yet.

Be the Bear
Bob T Panda

Day 3 ~ 31 Days of Pandas

Who remembers Occupy Hemlock?

Somewhere around Christmas Eve of 2014, Pinky bit the ouchie wire and went up in the Dreaded Hemlock and would not come down! Then Bob told a fib about it and was suspended (obviously Chris Cuomo should have learned this lesson from Bob and not made a similar mistake!) only to be replaced by none other than…

Oh, Bob, you didn’t really say that, did you?
And look who Bob’s suspension replacement is! Huzzah!
Mehitabel did NOT approve this cartoon.
We KNEW that was you!
I was really afraid this was going to happen.

I hope you enjoyed today’s encore presentation commemorating Pinky’s trip up the hemlock!

See you tomorrow for more from the holiday archives!

Be the Bear!
Bob T Panda

Day 2 ~ 31 Days of Pandas!

Pinky’s Snow Day!

This was a ‘toon about Pinky’s first time seeing snow! (Guest appearance by the Meihems!)

And it was ever thus….
Meihem, not Mayhem.
Well, they did hang their coats up.

These ‘toons first appeared in January of 2015

Be the Bear!
Bob T Panda