Category Archives: the essential pandaness of being

The Essential Pandaness of Being

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I just came home from a small memorial gathering for a friend who died earlier this year. He was a sweet man who definitely should not have gotten cancer and died, because he was one of the nicest men I ever met, and his wife is a lovely person who did not deserve to lose her best friend.

As you might imagine, I have quite a list of people who definitely would not be missed should they vanish from the face of the earth. I suspect you could guess who at least some of those people are. I suppose it is not very charitable of me to have this list, but after the last 5 years, I am not concerned with the justice or fairness of my list.

I thought of this ‘toon, made for a dear departed friend 8 years ago…

This one’s for you, Jude.

It’s hard not to think about justice or fairness when you watch even a little bit of the hearings for the SCOTUS nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson. I admit to wishing that a piano might fall on the head of some of her interrogators. Why is it that an eminently qualified and compassionate individual like Judge Brown Jackson should be rudely condescended to by people who have less integrity than something I scraped off my shoe? To quote (with a slight paraphrase) the SNL parody of the Justice Beer Keg hearing, “You give her a damn robe and let her do what ever she wants, and put her on the court NOW!!!”

I hope that when she returned home each day from this circus, that she was met at the door by her husband and daughters, with a pitcher of martinis, confetti and balloons, and a stack of plates to smash on the back patio. I will be so proud when she takes her place on the court.

And if we need a reminder of what we have endured these last 5 years…

day after
Remember the song “The Eve of Destruction”? That’s what today feels like.
March
Whats a protest without pandas?
inauguration
Hey, save some cuppycakes for me!
Clear as mud!

I’m about to send a nice big check to the Whatcom County Humane Society because you, the panda (and cat!) fans have supported my Felty Cats for Actual Cats project. Thank you for all who have chosen a little felty companion (and helped to make a little more space on the windmills in my felty studio). I still have 10 kitties left if you were waiting (for some reason). If you order before the end of March, you will get an extra surprise!

Be the Bear! (or cat)
Bob T Panda

A Panda of Mystery: Maybe a new story!

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Sometimes I have ideas, and sometimes I don’t necessarily know where they are going. In the way of pantsers* everywhere, I will just start writing and drawing and see where it goes. (*Pantser: a writer who writes with no plan or plot in mind)

Over on #PandaTwitter Six and Sebben are on the loose! Who knows what they will get up to, or where they will turn up. Mama Lun Lun bought them around the world tickets, paid extra for their passports, turned up the music and locked the door. Not necessarily in that order.

Sometimes Twitter #PandaImprov turns into ‘toon story lines. Sometimes we are just having fun!

But meanwhile, Babette de Panda has turned up like a bad penny!

Stay ‘tooned!

Be the Bear
Bob T Panda

Nixon’s Ghost Has a Few Thoughts

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As I mentioned on Sunday, (did you read Sunday’s post? No? I’ll wait…) this April is the 50th anniversary of the arrival of pandas at the Smithsonian National Zoo. Long time panda fans remember the excitement of their arrival. And with the birth of Tai Shan to the second pair of pandas (also our current panda family) at the zoo, it seemed that the pinnacle of happiness had been reached!

And then in 2013 there was another arrival…

#ClapLouder for Pinky!

In 2015 bouncing big boy Bubba came along, and in 2020, one of the darkest years of the last several decades, our little miracle Bikkie arrived to cheer us all up!

Technical Trevails

I’m happy to report I finally got more ink cartridges for my printer. I never did figure out how to print with just the black and white ink when a color cartridge was empty. There are days when I really hate technology!

This means that little felted kitties will be headed out into the world this week! There are still 12 kitties remaining! Check out the Felties Revisited page for ordering information!

Be the Bear!
Bob T Panda

Spring has Sprung!

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Today is the first day of Spring, the Vernal Equinox, a day of equal day and night (in theory, any way!) It is also the 50th anniversary year of pandas at the Smithsonian National Zoo, in the other Washington!

So, of course, we must celebrate the Nixon pandas!

I am only making some of this up.

Let’s see what other Spring ‘toons might be lurking in the archives…

The secret lives of the wild panda!
On my honor, I will try…to eat as many cookies as I possibly can….

And, as the unionization effort ramps up at Starbucks, I am reminded of my experience in the coffee mines, lo these many years ago!

This was way too much fun. :o)

Solidarity forever, guys!

There are still about 12 felted kitties left! Check out the Felties Revisited page for details!

Be the Bear!
Bob T Panda

It’s Sunday Funday!

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When I don’t have a planned theme for Sunday’s panda ‘toon Palooza, I sometimes randomly spin the date listing wheel and see what comes up. Maybe that will suggest a theme, or maybe I’ll just find some of my all time favorite ‘toons! Next week we return to Daylight Savings time, so that is a good place to start…

Maybe it’s an all Panda Kindergarten day!

Bob explains daylight savings time to the panda kindergarten
spring back, fall forward?
The panda kindergaten knows where you live.
this old den 2nd episode
The panda kindergarten is so very helpful.
Nothing like a bit of the great outdoors to straighten up the panda kindergarten.
paws
Put your paws together for the panda kindergarten!

Don’t you want to hire…

Nobody expects the panda kindergarten.

Available as a t-shirt and other items on Redbubble!

Be the Bear and have a happy Sunday!
Bob T Panda

It’s International Polar Bear Day!

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Who doesn’t love polar bears? (besides seals?)

Felty Polar Bear and her cubbies! Want em? Contact me!

It’s been a week, hasn’t it? Poot’n has invaded Ukraine, but the Ukrainians are fighting back hard and have no f**ks left to give. Europe has stepped up with aid and so has NATO. We are going to have our first female African American SCOTUS Justice, it the GQP can get its head out of its a** long enough to admit she is more qualified than the last 3 they rammed on to the court. Cue the “But maybe she is TOO qualified” chorus to start whining in 3…2…1…

Texas, Floriduh, and Oklahoma, oh and let’s not forget Virginia, are all trying to out do one another for the most regressive and cruel legislation on woman’s reproductive rights, health care for trans children, and education. I can only conclude that they want a beaten down, uneducated populace. No wonder Barker Carlson sings Poot’n’s praises.

sigh….

Let’s have some pandas! Time to spin the random ‘toon archive generator!

This is one of my earliest ‘toons and I dedicate it to James Fallows!
“Wu calls his dance, ‘Ode to a Weaf’ “
The panda kindergaten knows where you live.
panda movie
There…now do you see?
panda movie
Panda reproduction explained
Oh, Mr. Bun! Where have you been?

#StandWithUkraine

Sunflowers 3 plate Lithograph 17″x11″

Be the Bear
Bob T Panda

I think we need some more…

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Vintage Panda Olympics!

Baaaa Baaa Ba Ba Ba Baaaa Baa Ba ba ba baaa Ba ba ba bubbuabuh ba BAAAAAAHHHH! (that was the Olympic theme song, if you missed it!)

This cartoon is one of Bob’s earliest appearances!
The Pandas first attempt at Olympic Glory!
‘and for the record, it’s just “giant slalom.” It’s not just for pandas.’
Pandas using performance enhancing substances? Say it isn’t so!
Huzzah!
Going for the …um…chocolate chip.

I’m hoping to have some new Panda-O-Lympic ‘toons for you this week! We shall see, won’t we?

Be the Bear!
Bob T Panda

I Really Could Not Make This Up

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I rely on my astute readers to alert me to important stories and this one is one of those stories. I mean, if I had made it up, y’all would be doing some serious eye rolling and questioning whether I had lost it.

At a school board meeting in Midland Michigan, a parent complained that she did not think the school should be encouraging students who think they are cats, by putting litter boxes in the (unisex) restrooms. A GOP state legislator posted her outrage on her Facebook page. The school principal was not amused. You can read the story here:

At least they put them in the unisex restrooms so that ANY cat could use them!

In other NooZ, we are VERY excited that the White House has finally fulfilled their most important campaign promise, which is, of course, to put a cat on the payroll! As to that other campaign promise, if you read my Twidder threads, you already know what I think. Oh wait… I can’t keep my mouth shut, which will not go well if the fascists take over. Personally, I think the GOP is afraid that by putting an intelligent, accomplished, COMPETENT, and experienced Black woman on the SCOTUS, she will show how unqualified all of TFG’s appointments are, not to mention the Representatives and Senators that are wetting their pants over the very idea.

And speaking of fascists between the book banning (can burning be far behind?), the nazi rallies, and the completely unreasonable demands on teachers, I am trying really hard to hold on to hope. Boy do I need a nap!

Keep being the Bear (while we can! No litter box for YOU!!!)
Bob T Panda

In Which Winnie the Pooh Enters the Public Domain

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I have often discussed my abiding adoration of the Bear of Little Brain (and no, I’m NOT talking about Bob!) so it was with great excitement and anticipation that I read that Winnie the Pooh had entered the public domain this year.

This means that anyone can include Pooh Bear and his friends, and representations thereof, in their own creative works! This only applies to the original A.A. Milne/ Earnest H. Shepard version, which is fine, since I have always considered the Big Mouse World version as a crime against art. My first introduction to the World of Pooh Bear was via the original (and far superior) black and white drawings. I still think they are what made me want to be an artist, and maybe led me to making stories with pandas.

Of course, there must be a commemorative ‘toon for the occasion!

We’ll have to wait a few more years for Tigger, as he first appears in the 1928 House at Pooh Corner, which is not yet in the public domain!

Be the Bear!
Bob T Panda