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.

What a Difference a Day Makes

What is that I see out of the corner of my eye? Is that a ray of hope?

Thank you Stacey Abrams, for all of your very hard work over the last decade, to bring more fairness to voting, both in Georgia, and in the country. You bring us hope for the future. we will try to live up to your example. (Written late Tuesday, before the Wednesday debacle in DC)

But now…we are not quite rid of Mittens yet, are we?*

We shall overcome!

Panda on!
Bob T Panda

(Note: You should probably not read past here if you don’t want to get angry all over again)

*You Broke it You Bought It

I add this in the wee hours of Thursday, It has been a hell of a day in DC. Our nation’s Capitol, attacked by thugs, deliberately urged on not only at tRUmp’s hate rally this morning, but since before the election, as he told his most virulent supporters not to stand down, but to “stand back and stand by.”

This was no peaceful protest. This was a riot, instigated by the person who would demand our loyalty, allegiance, who would claim for his own all the resources of this country.

Over 350,000 people have died from a pandemic that was in his power to halt. But he chose his own interests (so he thought) over the health and safety of this country’s people. His vile minions broke into the halls of Congress, took selfies in offices that they broke into and ransacked. The defiled our institutions. This was no peaceful sit in. This was a lawless mob.

I am beyond despair, beyond anger. With each beacon of hope-this week from the election of Jon Ossoff and rReverend Raphael Warnock-comes the corresponding backlash of evil toxicity from Donald J Trump. To the Senators and House members who have chosen to follow him down this road of false narratives, I have nothing but contempt. The stain of their rejection of the oath they swore to the Constitution should follow them for the rest of their life. There should be no redemption for them.

I fear for my friends in the DC area. Please stay safe. I have to believe we will get through this, but we will be ever changed, and our country’s reputation will forever be tarnished by these events.

You Say You Want a Resolution…

Since we might want something to distract us from both today’s vote in Georgia, AND the cluster**k that is about to occur in Congress tomorrow, I thought it would be a good time for Mommee Mei to deliver Pinky’s resolutions for the year!

And let’s not even get into the phone call Mittens made to Georgia’s Secretary of State…really, let’s not get into it!

Frank and Mikey are taking a quick pre-hibernation nap in their room as Pinky, Bubba, Ping, and Bikkie discuss the upcoming presentation of Pinky’s New Year’s resolutions!

Let’s see what’s happening, shall we?

It was either this or a double semi-tractor trailer!

Don’t forget to pop over to the Buy Stuff With Pandas Page so see the newest additions to the line up: The Bikkiesaurus and Wonder Pandy!

Panda on!
Bob T only-15-days-till-inauguration Panda

 

Happy New Year!

I was going to take the weekend off, but with the annual delivery of Pinky’s New year’s resolutions by Mommee Mei coming up on Tuesday, I thought it would be worthwhile to study the previous presentations of resolutions.

I had really hoped the political world would have calmed down by now. But no. The state certifications are in (Biden won), the Electoral College voted (Biden won) and now most of the repugnant in the House have determined to dig their heels in and have a tantrum, as are (at last count) 11 R’s in the Senate. Oh, and let’s not forget the loss of 60 court cases brought with no evidence whatsoever, many thrown out with caustic scorn by judges, many of the them Mittens appointees.

One can only hope that the Congress will stop this madness after the certification of the EC vote on Wednesday. The damage to Democracy brought about by the power mad politicians will not subside easily.

Maybe Mommee Mei should have a word with them.

Princess Pinky helps with new years resolutions

You say you want a resolution, well, you know, it is hard to change a bear….

resolution

Once again proving the intransigence of Pinky, and the omnipotence of Mommy Mei

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…

Check out the new felties, now available! Wear a mask, stay out of the bars!

Be the Bear!
Bob T is-it-safe-to-come-out-yet? Panda

 

31 Days of Pandas: THIS IS IT!!!!DAY 31!!!

FINALLY!

We have reached the end of 31 Days of Pandas! I hope it was as much fun for you as it was for me! I may have to take a little nap to get over all the excitement! This is also the final episode of Beary Poppins! I hope you enjoyed this parody, loosely (VERY loosely) based of the beloved children’s classic Mary Poppins by P.L. Travers.

It seems that Frank and Mikey have come to live at the Panda House, not unlike the way Tigger eventually came to live with Kanga and Roo, in A. A. Milne’s House at Pooh Corner. Next year I may have to do a story for the pandas based on that. (The REAL Winnie the Pooh, not that bastardized Disney version of it.)

Anyway, after a brief weekend break, I’ll be back with new ‘toons in the new year. Pinky has been surprisingly quiet over her defeat in the Presidential race, although by her tiara, it seems she is already planning for 2024. I’m sure she is up to something.

But now, let’s sit back and enjoy the final episode of Beary Poppins! Huzzah!

Silly old bears!

See ya next year!!!

Panda on!
Bob T Panda

And for the traditionalists among you, here is my ‘toon about New Year’s Eve at the Panda Kindergarten! You’re welcome!

new years eve party, panda kindergarten

The panda kindergarten at their best…or is that worst?

I guess 2020 could also be the Year of the Un-indicted Co-Conspirator too!

31 Days of Pandas: The Penultimate Day (Day 30)

Congratulations!

You have survived another year of 31 Days of Pandas. I might add, that we have also survived this terrible, very bad, no good year. I am reminded of all the other terrible, very bad, no good years I have survived in my life, and there have been a few of them. Despite these bad times, by the accidental circumstances of being born white, generally healthy, and to what at the time was a rather middle class family, I have survived those very bad years.

Some of those bad years lead to good things, these panda cartoons and all that followed from them, being one of those good things.

As we head into the new year, I want to express my gratitude once again, for all of you who read my ‘toons, buy my books, and buy my felty creations to share your homes. While the next year may be still hard, at least we won’t go to bed with thoughts of what the mad man in the People’s House is getting up to, while we sleep.

My heart aches for the lives lost this year: from the pandemic, from violence, from all the other reasons that bring unexpected death.

But we rejoice in our miracle baby panda, Mei Xiang’s final gift to us. Here’s to many happy hours of panda cam watching. May we soon be able to gather at the fence of Bikkie’s panda yard and celebrate his miraculous existence together and in person.

And with no further ado, here is the penultimate chapter of Beary Poppins!

I was afraid there would be yelling…so much yelling!

‘Toon in tomorrow for the final chapter of Beary Poppins!

Be the Bear
Bob T Panda

31 Days of Pandas: Day 29

Day 29?!?!? Where does the time go???

We have one more day of Beary Poppins round up, which will catch us up to all the episodes so far! THEN on Wednesday and Thursday, we will have 2 brand new episodes to close out our story, this no good, terrible, very bad year that we have lived through!

So pop up your poppy corn, and get ready for …

More Beary Poppins!!!!

Bike loves Beary Poppins! Also Rory the Dinosaur by Liz Climo

I think Biscuit and Beary Poppins are forming a real bond!

It wasn’t me!

A promise is a promise, even among grizzly bears!

Let’s go fly a kite…

uh oh. As with Chekov’s gun, if you introduce a kite in the first panel, by the third panel, a small panda must become tangled in the strings and go for a ride.

I…um…promise to get Bikkie down from his kite…just not today. Sorry.

Be the Bear,
Bob T Panda

31 Days of Pandas: Day 28

Disaster has been (temporarily diverted! Not here, but in real life! I was sitting around musing obsessing about 45’s unwillingness to sign the COVID relief/budget package (as meager as it is) and worrying about the further devastation to people’s lives as even this little bit of money was withheld, and oh yeah, what a sh*tshow it would be if they shut the government down and then I realized IF THE GOVERNMENT SHUTS DOWN SO DOES BIKKIE’S PANDACAM!!!!!

Fortunately that did not happen.

24 Days, people!

And now, here are more episodes of Beary Poppins, to get you through the day!

Why DIDN’T I eat all the cookies?

Don’t you just LOVE six and Sebben?

Gosh I really hate to leave you on this cliffhanger for the weekend, but…

Bikkie has a name!!!!

Once upon a time…

Panda on!
Bob T Panda

31 Days of Pandas: Day 27 Nearing the End (Of Mittens Reign of Terror)

So…I have seen a few rumblings about the delay in finding out if Bikkie indeed ever comes back to earth. I *might* remind you I have never let any actual harm come to any of my pandas. I *might* also admit to creating just a wee bit of tension and danger into a story. It wouldn’t be nearly as compelling to come back and see what happens if it were not for that.

As a wonderful writer once said in a workshop, “…chase your protagonist up a tree. Now, set the tree on fire.” (Note: I am NOT going to set the kite string on fire, but hey! That would be pretty dramatic, huh?) (Writer is Heather Petty. Read her books, y’all!)

Meanwhile, it’s time for the next catch up episodes of Beary Poppins!

This hat doesn’t make me look…um…too fluffy does it?

Frank is off on a new adventure!

Beary Poppins has arrived! Is there any cake? It’s been a long flight!

I wonder why no one else applied for the job!

I just love Mei’s little chats with her sister Lun Lun.

What could possibly go wrong????

Panda on Like You Mean It!
Bob T Panda

31 Days of Pandas: Day 26 (Unboxing Day!)

Oh dear, this IS awkward! I seem to have left little Bikkie hanging from a kite, high above Beary Poppins and Unka Mikey, along with the rest of the small pandas. And now, I am going to just leave them there, while I spend the next 4 days re-capping our story from the beginning!

So let’s go! Here are the first 5 episodes of Beary Poppins!

Oh boy! Oh boy! A NEW story!!!!

I can hardly stand the suspense! Who will play Beary Poppins???

A spoonful of frosting makes the medicine go down, the medicine go down, medicine go down!

The ad is mailed, but Mittens is up to some dirty tricks….But wait! Look who found the mail box!!!

Bears are VERY curious!

‘Toon in tomorrow for the next installments!

Panda on!
Bob T less than a month left of Mittens Panda!

31 Days of Pandas: Day 25

Yes, it’s time to gather around the tree, with some cuppycakes and hot cocoa, while we sing…

The 12 Days of Crispmoss!

feel free to sing along.

I can’t hear anyone singing…..

I swear, I had nothing to do with Pinky’s let night sit in.

four pandas sneaking…

…and a Pinky in a Hemlock tree!

FIIIIIVE cuppycakes!

whew!

HOW many more days are there?

whew!

Oh no! Not again!

F-F-F-FI-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-VE Cuppycaaaaaaakes!

whew!

No WONDER I didn’t get any presents!

F-F-F-FI-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-VE Cuppycaaaaaaakes!

whew!

OOOOO! Pinky is a star!

F-F-F-FI-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-VE Cuppycaaaaaaakes!

whew!

On the twelfth day of Crisp-Moss, My Panda cam Did See….

MX: no, Pinky, you may NOT have a Bamboo-tini!

I can’t hear you….

F-F-F-FI-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-VE Cuppycaaaaaaakes!

whew!

Everybody sing!

 

Be sure to ‘toon in to the Beary Poppins recap, starting tomorrow!

Ho Ho Ho
Bob T Panda