Category Archives: ZooNooz

It’s a Whole New Year

What a way to start the year! The firehose of NooZ, real and fake has already started. If we are going to survive this year, we need to do a little editing about how much of the firehose we allow to blast us in the ears.

First of all, obviously ZooNooZ needs to stay on your radar of what you should listen to. Then, you should subscribe To Joyce Vance‘s Substack Newsletter, along with Heather Cox Richardson. Add Jay Kuo for a little more in depth analysis. For a sweary look at the Nooz, you can’t do better than Jeff Tiedrich. You can find all of them on the Substack website or app, if you are someone who likes apps. You can find me there too! I’ve been doing a Year in Review there, and will be doing that for a few more weeks!

You can listen and watch a little bit of main stream news, but take it all with a grain of salt and don’t over do it. A little bit goes a long way!

Here are the things I won’t be paying (much) attention to: The GOP primary, for starters. I mean, that’s not something I’ll be voting in. I guess if you’re a Republican that’s something you probably should pay attention to (although what are you doing HERE if you’re a Republican?) But since I won’t be voting for any of those people, my attention can be minimal.

There are a few other things that I need to draw back from, both because I can’t do anything about them, or they are conditions that are so complex and so long running, I don’t have the knowledge or understanding to make any meaningful contribution.

In other NooZ, my birthday Season is now officially over.

Hang on tight and buckle up, folks! It’s gonna be a hell of a year!

Be the Bear!
Bob T I’m not sure I’m ready for this Panda

Out With the Old, In with the AAAAAAAAAAHHH!

Ready, not ready

I don’t know about you, but I’m pretty sure it is going to get worse before it gets better. Thanks for being here with me. I still don’t know what’s going to happen over at Substack, but for now I’m staying put, until a plan becomes clear. Whatever that means.

But no matter what, My Brain will Always Be on Pandas

There have been wins, there have been losses. We have lost our beloved DC pandas, but hopefully more will follow. We just have to get through this year. Fortunately, we have the Pookies in Seattle to help us through. I hope I can get in more often to see them.

Have a fun and safe New Year! This is my last ‘toon of the year (although the Panda Kindergarten might pop in for a New Year’s Eve Encore Presentation) It’s been a true joy to have you all here with me. Your continued presence does me more good than you can possibly know. Thanks to all who have reached out to tell me that the pandas do the same for you. It really means a lot to hear from you.

Till next year when we meet again…

Panda On!
Bob T pass the bootinis Panda

More Bears in Review!

2023 was Bulging with Bear Nooz!

There were Pandas and Pookies galore! Otis and Josie and Grazer, to name a few!

And who would have thought that Pookie would step in, in the role of “Actually, Reply Guy?”

If you thought you missed The 12 Days of CrispMoss you can find it HERE and HERE! Don’t forget to sing along with the bouncing bear! (I had to split it into 2 parts to present it in it’s full glory, as there are limits on how many pandas will fit in an email!)

It’s gonna be a bumpy ride in 2024. I’m so glad you all are here with me to see our way through it, with all the pandas!

Be the Bear!
Bob T bringing all the bears to bear Panda

Pinky in the (Bully) Pulpit!

Uh oh. It’s another election cycle and guess who else is running (besides the usual suspects?)

Stay ‘tooned for next week’s Holiday Encore presentation, of The 12 Days of CrispMoss. (Pinky thinks it should be the 12 days of Pinky…what do you think?)

There is some stuff going on over at Substack that needs to be sorted out. If you are a follower over there, I am going to be asking you for your input. I try to stay off the computer most of the day, so sometimes stuff starts happening and then I’m like, “Huh? WTF?” anyway…stay ‘tooned! One thing that is certain, The Panda Chronicles is controlled by me, so you will always have a home here.

Be the Bear
Bob T Why do we always have to contend with nazis Panda

It’s Time for Some Year in Review ‘Toons!

We will get back to our story about Bikkie and Mister Poppee’s adventure soon, but as we are in the waning weeks of the year, it’s time for that popular feature, The Year in Review, where we look backwards and forwards and then trip over our own two paws.

And here, with our first installment, are Bob and Mehitabel, and a very special guest!

I can’t believe it’s almost 2024!

Be the Bear
Bob T where does the time go Panda

There’s No Bears Like Holiday Bears!

Thanks to an especially observant reader, here at Panda Central, we’ve been alerted to another Bear Behaving Badly, HOLIDAY EDITION!

So of course we had to take a time out from out continuing story, to tell the tail!

Not only was this bear behaving badly, I found another instance from a few years ago of another bear behaving like the Grinch! Can’t you just imagine the conversation between the bears?

I can!

Frank: Whoa! look at that deer! He’s YUGE!!!!! I’m gonna take him down!
Mikey: um…I don’t think…
Frank: No! He looked at me in a threatening manner! This will not stand!
Mikey: That’s not a real deer…
Frank: CARABUNGA!!!!TAKE THAT!…oh…um…
Mikey: I TOLD you….
Frank: also, it wasn’t us.

Check it out and see if you can’t hear them talking…

Be the Bear!
Bob T in the holiday spirit Panda

They only WANT You to Believe The Pandas Left DC

Well, it COULD have happened this way…

I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’m still having a hard time coming to terms with the pandas leaving DC. I mean…how do we know that they didn’t double back, go through the secret tunnels Pinky had built, (MX: “WHAT secret tunnels?” Pinky: “um…you must have mis read dat, mommee…”) and are now hanging out in the luxury suite behind the scenes?

I guess we’ll find out soon!

Be the Bear
Bob T I know nothing about any secret tunnels Panda

It’s Election Day…not the, ya know, Big One, But Still Important

The world is insane. Don’t forget to make a little less insane, and get out and vote.

Mehitabel is still trying to school Bob on being a good citizen. Good luck with that!

BTW, I am not ignoring the fact that our DC pandas are heading to China. I am in denial, or more like, not quite sure how this will manifest in The Panda Chronicles. I guess we’ll find out, won’t we?

Please remember to vote today. Whether it is for school board or your city council, it’s all important. And really, don’t vote for Pinky. (Don’t tell her I said that)

Be the Bear
Bob T I voted and my ballot has been received Panda

Otis (the fuzzy one, anyway) is INNOCENT

You might have noticed a little radio silence these past couple weeks. I was on a little vacation from the inter webs, as I made my last visit to see our beloved DC panda family. For those of us who live far from DC, the fact that the DC pandas are moving to China is somewhat abstract. I rely on the photos and videos of those who live close by to keep up with all the goings on of Mei Xiang, Tian Tian, and of course, Bikkie.

There have been pandas in DC all of my adult life. I feel lucky to have gotten to see them so many times, even if it is a mere blip of time to those who live within panda proximity. They will be missed mightily. Until we have pandas again, we will have to get by with other bears. I live just far enough away from the Pookies that I don’t get to visit them often, but hope to make another visit or two this fall.

I was inspired by recent news reports to write this ‘toon for Otis, Fat Bear Emeritus of Brooks Falls. No matter what the nooz reports say, Otis is innocent!

The destruction in Acapulco is tragic and terrible, but couldn’t they have found another ‘O’ name for the hurricane?

BTW, in the US, we go back to Daylight losing time, despite the efforts of those who have tried to put us on permanent Daylight Saving Time. Alas…maybe next year. As such, as it is the tradition here at The Panda Chronicles, I rerun my much loved ‘toon:

Fabulous Furry Friday KNOWS that this is one of your favorites!

Be the Bear!
Bob T go see the pandas before it’s too late Panda