Bob should take some small comfort in knowing that he is not the only political candidate that has had to reveal their personal emails after using their private email account for official emails related to their important government jobs.
But hey! you can get away with a lot when you are a panda, right, Mr. Pookie Bear?
“…and don’t forget the Binky Bars!”
As a recovering former employee of the largest coffee chain in the galaxy, it was with great amusement that I read of their campaign to “instigate meaningful dialog about racism.” Not that this country doesn’t need some meaningful dialog on this issue, but the vehicle chosen by this particular industry was, at best, not well considered, and at worst….well, just saying….
As someone who worked for many years behind the counters of food and coffee establishments, I can say with a good amount of certainty, that the last thing someone who is standing in line waiting for their coffee in the morning is meaningful dialog beyond “large, leave room for cream, make that a double.” It’s bad enough to be behind the person who orders a “half caff, skim almond milk, extra foam, sprinkle of yak butter, cinnamon, caramel pandachino” let alone have to wait for them to have meaningful dialog about anything.
And I can pretty much guarantee that the barista, gazing at the line of 20+ people who have not had their coffee yet, does not want any more meaningful dialog beyond, “will that be cash, charge, or your first born?”
So, really, if you want to do something meaningful to eliminate racism, sexism, or intolerance of any kind, wouldn’t it be more meaningful to um…hire more people of color, or diverse life style choices in upper management level positions, for example? What do ya say, Howard?
Please note: we just read of Starbuck’s pledge to support Gay Marriage, which we applaud, and in the spirit of this announcement, we cordially invite anyone who really hates this idea to quit reading The Panda Chronicles. Pandas are in favor of tolerance, you know.
Meanwhile, we invite you to take part in our #WeREndangered campaign, and engage in our own brand of meaningful dialog*
*Making fun of pandas
This was way too much fun. :o)
Can I have my coffee now?
Be the Bear!
Bob T. Panda
The Panda Revenue Service wants YOU! Because once again, at least in the United S of A, it is tax time, which means hand over that wallet!! Fortunately, the Panda Kindergarten Accounting Service is ready, willing and…um…well, while not exactly able, they do have an adding machine…to help you with your calculations.
They will be looking very closely at the returns of any known cats, as you may well imagine, because …um CATS!!!!!!
Will Bob ever learn? Will Mehitabel ever get the better of the panda kindergarten?
And because it is good to have something to laugh at through your tears, here are some of our other favorites to help you procrastinate just a little longer this weekend!
And it was ever thus….
Much better to take a selfie with pandas!
You say you want a resolution, well, you know, it is hard to change a bear….I love Pinky when she is sorry she did something.
And if you want to get into some serious procrastination this weekend, wouldn’t it be a good idea to order all the http://www.yourbrainonpandas.com/book-table/ for your very own? They contain HOURS of procrastinatory panda goodness!
Okay then….where did I put my income records?
Be the Bear,
Bob T. Panda
Why, oh why, did Mehitabel not listen to me? I warned her about picking that precocious princess of panditude for her temporary co-host. Pick Mr. Wu, I suggested. he’s become a responsible sub-adult panda, as his work with Inspector Panda has shown. But no. You had to go for the big star, the Smithsonian icon, figuring it would boost Zoonooz’s ratings for sweeps week.
And look where it got you.
I was really afraid this was going to happen. We warned you about that Ides of March thingie, didn’t we?
I can’t help it. I love to draw Pinky when she gets all upset, and…um…poofy. My bad. But where did she go? I guess I’ll find out when you do. That’s what happens when you make Pinky mad. Bad stuff.
Be the Bear,
Bob T. Panda
Yes, there really is an International Polar Bear Day. There is also Take Your Cat to Work Day, Intergalactic Cuppycake Day, and Panda Awareness Day. Okay, some of those I’m a little fuzzy on, but today really is International Polar Bear Day.
Therefore, we thought it was high time we shared as many of the polar bear cartoons we could find in our archives! Huzzah!
Oh those polar bears! What jokers they are!
Mr Polar Bear! It’s not time for lunch yet!
Polar Bears are really, really, REALLY big, compared to pandas!
Pandas using performance enhancing substances? Say it isn’t so!
Have a happy International Polar Bear Day! Where being the bear REALLY means something!
Bob T. Panda
I did promise you that I had a veritable plethora of panda tales (or was that tails?…no matter) and here is another absolutely true story which, coincidentally enough, is about pandas! Huzzah!
I swear, I can’t make this stuff up.
Today’s story is a tale of treachery, of impostor pandas, of impersonation of their black and white fluffy goodness. Is that a panda I see before me?
Apparently not.
Here’s the actual news story, so that you know I am not making this up. That includes the quote by the spokesperson for the Animal Protection Party. Just saying. Quite frankly, Mehitabel has way too many rights around my house, if you ask me.
Well, it LOOKED like a panda…
Stay tuned for more true stories and the panda kindergarten’s Chinese New Year Celebration coming up next week!
Be the Bear,
Bob T. Panda
…but you can’t make them behave themselves.
You know the old saying, you can bring a bear to culture, but you can’t make them learn the ancient rites of the tea ceremony, but that doesn’t stop Bob from trying to bring culture and refinement to the panda kindergarten. I can hardly write that last sentence without snorting and giggling madly. Some how, “culture and refinement” used in the same sentence as “panda kindergarten” invokes the image of merriment and …um…Meihem.
You can lead a bear to culture, but….
Hmmm…Bob will have to call on his inner panda to recover from this learning experience with the panda kindergarten. As you may have noticed, Pinky and the Meihems are now full members in good (or is that bad?) standing in the panda kindergarten. Pinky was a first round draft pick.
I can’t let the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday go by, without mentioning that it marks my 27th year of creative self employment. While I have had to be even more creative in the last six years in the making a living part, it has been an excellent ride, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. In fact, had the economy not gone sideways, panda satire might never have come into existence! And isn’t that a thought that would keep you up at night?
Keep Being the bear. I couldn’t do it without you.
Bob T. Panda
Well, it is the first Fabulous Furry Friday of the year, but I feel like I need to take a moment for reflection on the essential nature of cartooning and satire, not to mention freedom of expression.
Yes, I am referring to the tragic events in Paris this week, when three radical extremists thought it was a good idea to invade a newspaper office and gun down 10 (or is it 15?- there were conflicting reports) of the writers, editors, and oh yes, cartoonists that wrote for the paper.
I don’t expect everyone to agree with me all the time. But the nature of writing, making art, or making comics is essentially about telling one’s own truth. It’s about taking a hard and sometimes humorous look at things that make us uncomfortable. Personally, I mostly try to stay away from making fun of religion, not that it couldn’t use a poke in the side from time to time. I’ve seen some pretty funny comics that have skewered some aspect of the trappings of religion. But maybe I have a more well developed sense of self preservation than some people.
You should feel free to disagree with me or stop reading these cartoons if I’ve offended you. We might even have a civilized discussion on our differing points of view. It’s been known to happen, and the people with whom I’ve had these conversations feel closer and more real to me. I appreciate their willingness to discuss things rationally.
It sends a shiver of fear up my spine when I remember that there are those in the world who think that differing philosophies dishonor their beliefs, and that that is punishable by death.
I thought about what cartoon would honor those who died this week for exercising their right to free speech and I couldn’t think of one that I had done that would fit that bill.
So I thought a better idea would be to do what I do best, and make you laugh.
pass the cookies, okay?
well, if I can’t carry it through security, can I eat it now?
Who says real life can’t be funny?
Be kind, be true to yourself, but most importantly, be the bear. We’ll always have Paris.
Bob T. Panda
Yes, yes, you’re a Lebowski, I’m a Lebowski…so what? Oops. wrong line. I’m late, I’m late, so without any further ado…
Babette de Panda: I have got to get some new minions!
Sometimes 31 Days of Pandas gets the better of me… Not to mention the power outage.
More tomorrow!
Be the Bear!
Bob T. Panda
…and I’m not behind YET, but it was kind of close! I thought I’d get ahead during November, while I was bringing the Inspector Panda saga up to date, but alas…I took a vacation instead. I’m pretty sure that was a good thing. Tis the season to be exhausted after all.
But now, there is no time to lose! We must follow Inspector Panda as he leads us into the den of the mysterious and perhaps devious Babette de Panda!
Oh where, oh where, will Inspector Panda Find Babette, not to mention Mr. Wu and the panda kindergarten art history squad?
See you tomorrow!
Be the Bear!
Bob T. Panda