Category Archives: Bears behaving badly

The Cute-o-Meter

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!

National Zoo Opening Time

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You would think that the director of the Smithsonian National Zoo would know better than to mess with Pinky, not to mention Pinky’s fans. And this is not even taking into account the number of cars that use the zoo route to speed their morning commute. Looks like with the changes for the National Zoo opening time, gridlock will not only be happening in Congress.

Washington DC luminaries, such as DC Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, have weighed in on the controversy as well. This is going to be one big mess, come six AM tomorrow morning.

Well, they ain’t heard nothin’, until they’ve heard from Pinky!

I think we’ll call this little debacle: Open Late Gate

As I mentioned on Friday, I’m not really one to make New Year’s resolutions, but I will say this: 2016 is going to be a rip roaring year, politically speaking. There will be lots of rhetoric ripping the air, and The Panda Chronicles will be no exception. Cartooning has a long history in politics, in fact, most of the earliest cartoons were political in nature. Last year I visited the Cartoon Museum in Brussels, Belgium, and saw several exhibits that brought that fact home.

So.

Yes, I have my own point of view, and it may or may not agree with yours, so let’s agree now that if we disagree, we will still be civil about the whole thing and listen to each other’s point of view. And let’s check our facts before we get our panties in a twist, okay?

That said, I can’t be responsible for Pinky’s opinions. Pinky’s opinions have always been her own.

Stay tuned in right here, to hear more from Pinky later this week about her views on the Zoo’s change of opening time. It is a matter of earthshaking importance. (At least as far as Pinky is concerned.)

And keep Being the Bear, Okay?
Bob T. Panda

By the by, Vicky Vladic and I just had another cuppycake recipe posted on They Draw and Cook’s website! You can find it here

Loyalty is Required!

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You know, it just doesn’t pay to mess with Pinky. Unless of course, you are Pinky’s mom.

And don’t even THINK about talking back to Bai Yun!

Did you see? Pinky’s little brother made an appearance. Will he be a good panda, or will he succumb to the siren song of Pinky Power and a cabinet post? Hmmm…which would be more fun?

Sorree, mommee…..

Be the Bear!
Bob T Panda

More Loyalty Oafs

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As I sit here, trying to type with big furry paws, it has come to my attention that that some of the human candidates are having a debate tonight. I am not looking forward to debating Princess Pinky. I think she will fight dirty. and then there is the matter of the “leftover Christmas decoration” in the back of my closet. I am sure I did not decorate there last year. Pretty sure, anyway. Could this have something to do with why she knows everything I have been planning?

Meanwhile, I think I am beginning to see why the Two Timing Political Consulting Agency has not finished my video.

Hmmph!

Pinky: I will build a really, really big wall around your zoos if you don’t sign my oaf.

Meanwhile, I am making progress on compiling Book 6 (!!!!!!!) of the Panda Chronicles! Stay tuned to find out the title and see the cover! I hope to have it available no later than the end of October!

Be the Bear!
Bob T. Panda

Talk Like a Pirate Day Returns!

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Yes, It’s back! Actually tomorrow has TWO festive celebrations! Not only is it International Talk Like a Pirate Day, it is also Red Panda Day! Huzzah!

So Fabulous Furry Friday is thrilled to rerun Mr Wu’s pirate adventure with the pandy kindy! Huzzah!

Yo ho ho and a bottle of BooBeer!

Can you say “Yaaaar!!!”?

uh oh!

The penguins save the day!

I promise i will always be a good panda….

Huzzah! Happy Talk Like a Pirate Day to everyone! You can find this adventure (as well as all of Mr. Wu’s other adventures) in Book 4 of the Panda Chronicles: The Book of Wu!

And of course, we don’t want to forget International Red Panda Day!

“They’ll never catch me!”

Be the Bear!
Bob T. Panda

Loyalty Oaths

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Omniscient Editor’s Note: It was bound to happen sooner or later…Princess Pinky would demand to know where Wu and the Meihems stand. Of course, this puts the Meihems in a very difficult position, vis a vis Bob and their political consulting firm. They are supposed to be working on Bob’s campaign video, not signing loyalty oaths for Pinky.

And they say politics makes strange bedfellows. very strange, indeed!

You can’t make me….

How will this all end?

Meanwhile back at the panda ranch, Pinky’s real life brother turned three weeks old on Saturday, and is doing well. I think Pinky has plans for him….

Be the Bear!
Bob T. Panda

BTW, did you know it is National Cup(py)cake Week this week? I’m ready to celabrate! Huzzah! I happy to report that my favorite London Cuppycake establishment got a mention as one of the 10 best cuppycakes in London.

Fabulous Furry Friday Salutes Selfies

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How time flies! This week the Tour de France has begun. Personally I think those bike riders are all nuts: three weeks of grueling cycling in hot weather, up mountains and down treacherous roads. And if that’s not bad enough, then there are those stupid people stepping out to take selfies:

Hey! Get out of the way!

And yes, there is the occasional idiot who thinks selfies with a tiger would be a really cool thing to post on Fezbook.

Much better to take a selfie with pandas!

New York state has put a stop to this! But did they think about all the implications of this ban?

You know we’re just kidding about this, right?

And as you recall, Pinky got in….um… a little trouble over this fundraising scheme: (Good thing she is not a New York State resident!)

I really had no idea what she was up to.

And I thought this story was a load of bull:

AAAAAAhhhHHHHHH!

So have a fabulous furry friday, and try to stay cool out there. Unless you are in Australia, and then you should stay warm.
Be the Bear,
Bob T Panda

BTW: a recent report on NPR revealed that you can now take photographs in the white House. Hmmm, do we think a small panda might try to take a selfie in the oval office, just to, you know, see what she will look like in there?

Pinky Money, Part 2

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Pinky’s campaign to be President is rocketing on, despite the little set back of not being able to sell Tiger selfies at the Zoo. Some people are so unreasonable!!!!

In concert with Pinky’s recently discovered popularity, her plan to print her own money is working out nicely, at least for Pinky.

For Bob T., not so much.

Butter wouldn’t melt in her adorable little mouth….

And yes, there really is Pinky Money.Don’t spend it all in one place.

I wanted to add a special thanks thanks to writer Jane Steen, who gave me a lovely write up in her newsletter this week. A few weeks ago, she wrote a post about how she had written a chapter that contained references to some early John Singer Sargent paintings that didn’t exist. Being a huge Sargent fan, I wrote to her, telling her of my…um…penchant for forging Sargent. Thanks again for your kind and complimentary words, Jane. Not to mention the plug for pandas. Did I mention I have books for sale?

Be the Bear,
Bob T. Panda

I’m Just Drawn That Way

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Poor, poor, adorable little Pinky. She is so misunderstood. What is a small panda with visions of grandeur to do, but to run for president? And what can that poor panda do when her mommee thwarts her at every turn?

As Pinky likes to remind me, I’m not bad, I’m just drawn that way.

Mei Xiang and the Zoo Director have gotten their panties in a knot, it seems.

Ha ha! Sorree, mommee.

Be the Bear
Bob T Panda

Money for Pinky!

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I know you want to just cut to the chase and go see what Pinky has up her paws to raise money for Pinky and her presidential campaign, but just bear with me a minute.

Oh. You can’t wait…read a few of my thoughts, it’s just but what is Pinky up to NOW, you want to know!

Oh, all right. Go ahead a look. I’ll be right here.

Are you back?
Good.
So I was listening the National Panda Radio the other day, and I heard a story about how paper is making a comeback. And it’s not just about books. There are recent studies that suggest that students retain more relevant information by writing, rather than typing on a laptop or tablet. Artist and writer Lynda Barry (now Dr. Lynda, thanks to a honorary doctorate from my alma mater The University of the Arts in Philadelphia) suggests that ideas and memories can be triggered and stimulated by the actual act of putting pencil to paper.

This is encouraging and validating for a luddite such as myself, who refuses to get a Waccom tablet to draw and paint digitally, and insists on drawing with pencil and india ink with a dip pen (a dip pen, for crying out loud!!!!) to bring you all the panda satire you can stand. Many is the day when I started a cartoon without an idea, but I would draw a nose, and then some ears, and before I knew it, pandas were doing stuff and it was funny!

Okay… Well, I thought it was funny.

Just in case you were wondering how Pinky came up with the idea to do this:

I really had no idea what she was up to.

I’m sure there will be some consequences both for Pinky and myself.
See you next time!

Be the Bear!
Bob T. Panda