Tag Archives: National Zoo

Smile! You’re on Pandid Camera

Come on Bubba…won’t you give us a little smile? didn’t you know we were…um…watching you?

What’s that blinking red light over there?

As any of you who happen to be younger siblings know very well, that it is the time honored tradition, (or is that privilege?) for older siblings to torment younger siblings. Now, I was not watching pandas when Tai Shan was a mere cub, but I don’t think he would have put his little sister through the same things that Pinky has put Bubba through. That’s just my opinion and I have nothing to back this up. He did send her….ahem…some very nice presents.

We might say that as the middle child, Pinky has worked hard to distinguish herself. One could wish that she didn’t appear quite so gleeful when she gets Bubba all wound up. But what fun would that be?

Be the Bear!
Bob T Panda

The Panda Season of Love Begins

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Oh yes, the Panda Season of Love has begun once again and panda fans around the world anxiously await the joyous announcements of impending panda pregnancies! This year Australia (being on the opposite side of the globe) is anxiously awaiting a possible perfect puffy panda popkin, but as with all things panda procreation, we don’t often know that something will happen until it actually happens!

Is it any wonder that pandas visit therapists more often than any other animal? (Okay, I just made that last bit up, for those of you who are paying attention!)

But now, let’s get on with the show of encore presentations for Fabulous Furry Friday on The Panda Season of Love!

I hope people haven’t had enough of silly love songs!

A panda by any other name, would smell…well, they would just smell…

The Scottish pandas have had a few disappointments…

I am only making some of this up.

And of course, as noted Pandologist Henry Nicholls has pointed out, wild pandas are a whole different ball game!

Thanks guys! No, really.

So sit back and be the bear! The panda season of loooooove only lasts two day! It pays to be ready!

Bob T. Panda

Pinky has a Cunning Plan

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Oh that Pinky! She snuck off to the Iowa caucuses, using Daddy’s credit cards and now there are rumors of her showing up in New Hampshire, as well as appearances scheduled in South Carolina! But what kind of cunning plan has she used so that no one will realize she has left the zoo?

And is her willingness to let Bubba play with Mr. Bun NOT a sign that Pinky has learned to share (as IF!!!!) but a way to buy his silence when she sneaks out of the zoo?

What do YOU think?

That Pinky is too clever for her own good!

Meanwhile, after listening to the GOP “debates” on Saturday night, (didn’t I have anything better to do? Apparently not.) I think I can honestly say that having a roomful of baby pandas on stage would not have been any more unruly than what was happening before the world and everyone. I get that there are legitimate differences of opinions both between and within political parties. I have even (gasp!) voted for republicans in state elections. But I think that requiring participants of these “debates” to wear shock collars which would provide a mild but emphatic shock when the wearer lied, would have provided a more illuminating discussion. Just saying.

You have a clear choice. #HeyWhyNotVote4Bob or #Vote4Pinky

We could do worse.

Be the Bear
Bob T Panda

Is Tian Tian campaigning for Pinky?

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The video of Tian Tian of the Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington DC was all over the internet as well as television and newspapers a few weeks ago, as Tian Tian showed us just how much fun playing in the snow is. Well, it is if you’re a panda and don’t have to shovel your sidewalk and figure out how to get to work!

But the rest of us…well, at least the rest of you who live in places where snow shows up on a regular basis, we have a somewhat different relationship with the cold white stuff.

Meanwhile, Pinky seems to figured out how to turn Daddy’s fame into a plus for her presidential campaign…

Pinky never misses a trick!

Well, I did hear that the host of Meet the Press suggested that a panda should be president. Or maybe that’s just hearsay. And maybe it wasn’t Pinky, but a panda with …ahem…more experience that should be considered. I don’t know. But then again….

The results of the Giant Panda Global Awards have been announced and um…Pinky did not win the two categories she was nominated in. I am pretty sure there will be repercussions, especially since baby brother Bubba totally rocked the Cub of the Year category. This is not going to be well received. Stay tuned.

Be the Bear
Bob T Panda

Hearings for Bridgegate Announced

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In honor of the recent news that there will be new hearings for the New Jersey Bridgegate Scandal scheduled for sometime in February, I thought, what more appropriate subject could there be for this week’s Fabulous Furry Friday, than the National Zoo Highway Gate Scandals of 2014… Remember?

George Washington Bridge lane closure satire.

Princess Pinky Bao Bao…what have you done now?

Time to call in …Inspector panda!

Mei xiang and bao bao try to cover up highway-gate

Inspector Panda is on the job!

“Hello, Bai Yun? this is Lun Lun…about that detective you suggested…”

Tune in next Friday to see the conclusion to this exciting story…or, if you can’t wait that long, you can find the whole story in The Panda Chronicles Book 5: Pandapocalypse NOW!

Until we meet again…
Be the Bear!
Bob T Panda

Open Late Gate 3

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Yes, I had promised to conclude our story about the change in the National Zoo opening times, but several things got in the way, like Bubba’s debut and whoever it was that broke the Cute-o-Meter.

And then there was Snomaggedon 2016 known on twidder as #Snozilla. The video of Tian Tian, the paterfamilias of the National Zoo Panda clan has been going wildly viral on the interwebs, which I know because at least 6 separate people either tagged me in the video or posted it on my FB page. My sympathy goes out to all of you who are stuck at home with nothing to do while the storm rages on outside, and the snow drifts reach your upper story windows, other than watch panda videos, curl up on the couch and read and eat microwave popcorn. You did remember to stock up on that, didn’t you?

So, without any further ado about nothing, here is the final episode of Open Late Gate

How many times do we have to tell you…Don’t make pinky mad!!!!

What can we say?

Starting this week, we will be exploring the potential for pandas in the Pacific Northwest! Could it happen? We don’t know, but people who know people are talking about it. And by that, I mean, “people other than me!”

Be the Bear
Bob T. Panda

Snow Day Revisited

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I know those of you in the DC area are dreading it, but early this week, there were predictions of a major snowfall in and around Washington DC. I am in total agreement with those of you who hate driving in it, dealing with other drivers driving in it, and shoveling yourself out of your houses and driveways.

But pandas love it!

And it was ever thus….

Meihem, not Mayhem.

Well, they did hang their coats up.

And for the weather in the Pacific Northwest….
40 degrees and raining….at least we don’t have to shovel it.

Have a Fabulous Furry Friday Snow Day

Be the Bear,
Bob T. Panda

The Cute-o-Meter

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The other evening, I was sitting around regaling my friend, Mr. Badger about Bubba’s debut at the National Zoo and he asked if Bubba broke the Cute-o-Meter which of course gave me the idea for todays’s ‘toon.

All kidding aside, Bubba has been wowing his fans in the Panda House and in the media around the world ever since he first stepped on the stage last week. He was recently the subject of this article in the New Yorker, by Robin Wright. I’m telling you people, panda fans are everywhere!

Meanwhile, it remains to be seen just who broke the Cute-o-Meter.

See? I told you it was broken!

And back at the 2016 Presidential race, it seems that Pinky has been given yet another assist from one of her loyal fans who took Pinky on a White House tour, introduced her to the Secret Service, and allowed Pinky to take measurements for curtains and furniture. I wouldn’t be surprised if Pinky didn’t make a visit to the White House kitchen to see what kind of bamboo they keep in stock. (Answer: none!)

The following photographs have been leaked by our intrepid Washington DC correspondent!

Is Pinky headed for an off limits area of the white House?

Could this be Pinky’s future office?

I do not have a good feeling about this….

Many thanks to intrepid correspondent, Anna Lisa, who shared her trip to the White House with Pinky, and her pictures with us!

Now if I could just get ahead in the polls…..

Till next time,
Be the Bear
Bob T. Panda!

Pinky Shares The Spotlight

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Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!

Excuse me. I think that the title of today’s post is really funny. As we all know, or at least those of us who have been following Princess Pinky since her earliest days know, that “share” is not a word she uses. But of course I could not resist. You might say that the phrase Pinky shares the spotlight is, in fact, not…um…true.

If you want the truth, read National Geographic or The Nature Magazine, not The Panda Chronicles.

But here is what you’ve all been waiting for! Live coverage of Bubba’s Debut at the National Zoo!

I didn’t THINK that Pinky knew the “share” word.

In all of the excitement about Bubba’s debut, we kind of left you hanging about Pinky’s view of the change in the National Zoo opening time. Don’t worry, we will resume our exclusive coverage of this issue, according to the view from the panda house, this coming Wednesday.

In other bear related news, tomorrow is Winnie the Pooh day (in my opinion it would be the Ernest H. Shepard illustrated version) and I for one, tip my hat to the great Pooh Bear. Everyone might have something with honey to celebrate this bear of little brain’s day. And remember, most of the great philosophical questions can be answered by reading the wise words of this simple bear. Huzzah!

Till then, be the bear!
Bob T. Panda

I’m Ready For My Close Up

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Is Bubba ready for his close up? We will see! Out in the real world, he has already met many of his most adoring fans during Friends of the National Zoo (FONZ) special debut. Membership does have its privileges!

But what does Pinky think about all this? Is she ready to share the spotlight with her younger, extremely adorable brother?

I’m ready for my close up

Poor Bubba. He just wants to do everything that Pinky does. I’m glad he got his wardrobe issues resolved. :o) It is just exhausting being a public panda!

And speaking about public pandas in Washington State (were we?) I am closely following the news about the effort to bring pandas to the Pacific Northwest. Bamboo grows really easily here. Ask anyone whose neighbors have planted it! No big news as of yet, but I am monitoring the situation closely. Never fear!

Don’t forget to tune in again on Friday for another encore presentation of Fabulous Furry Friday and again on Sunday for Bubba’s debut cartoon. (This has all been the behind the scenes scoop, that for some strange reason, the zoo does not share with us. Aren’t you glad I bring you the REAL story?)

Till then,
Be the Bear,
Buy stuff with pandas!
Bob T. Panda