Really, if you want to know the future, read The Panda Chronicles. Everything happens here first.
Be the Bear!
Bob T Panda
It’s the 3rd of July here on Whidbey Island. I’m happy to say, that it has been raining all day and the temperature has not topped 60. What’s that you say? Shouldn’t I wish for warm summer weather?
Well, as last year, most of June was in the 80’s, with some temps above 90, even out here on the island (Seattle went above 100 several times, even before July arrived) AND as Island County has not seen fit to put provisions in place banning fireworks when fire danger is high, last year at this time I was completely stressed out in fear that some moron would burn down my neighborhood and me along with it.
So, this year, as we have had a very cool start to summer, I was happy when I woke up to rain, which has continued through the day.
The show of my (serious non-panda) paintings opened last night, with a well attended reception and a few sales. If you’d like to see it (and you don’t live within range of Langley) your can see it here. I got a very nice comment form an artist friend who had come into see the show. I hope she won’t mind me sharing it here: ” …the light feels brave, like something fighting the darkness that is trying to overtake us…”
That is exactly what I have been feeling these past 8 months as I worked on these paintings. That I am desperately clinging to some shard of optimism in the face of the evil that still is trying to take us down.
There are glimpses of hope: people speaking up for the January 6 committee that we might not expect, testifying to events we feared and now are confirmed. While it is true that we haven’t gotten everything we want from those we have elected, I can pretty much guarantee that we won’t like ANYTHING the republicans inflict on us should they regain power.
I would point out that this ‘toon was drawn in 2019, and take no credit (or responsibility) for giving the idea to attack the Capitol to Mittens and his band of thugs.
Panda on, no matter what!
Bob T Panda
When I wrote this ‘toon last week, I had no idea that today’s hearing was coming.
Go figure.
“New sh*t has come to light”
~the Dude
Be the Bear
Bob T Panda
I have many thoughts and maybe some of them should come out of my mouth, but for right now, I am exhausted. All I will say is this:
Solutions like SCOTUS expansion should happen, but can’t happen quickly to relieve this assault on women/pregnant persons
Filibuster reform is also needed, but again, it’s not going to happen with the Senate we have at this moment
Tell your Senator and Congressional reps what you think. Clearly, concisely, and as often as you can
Vote for Democrats up and down the ballot
Don’t listen to the naysayers or give up hope
We won’t get everything on our lists from a Democratic Congress & president, but I can GUARANTEE we won’t like ANYTHING we get from a Republican one
His attitude is still unenlightened.
Bob T Panda
Hoo Boy, the hearings are must watch TV, if I do say so myself. New s**t is coming to life, floating like a little tu*d to the surface of the crystal blue swimming pool.
As I watched the hearings, I was struck once again by the realization that the damage from TFG’s Big Lie was magnified exponentially by all the people who know better either promoted the lie themselves, or did not squash it like a bug by not admitting it was a lie when they went on news shows or in interviews.
Let this be a reminder that repeating something you either know is not true, or is something you are not sure of, but everyone else is saying it, is the surest way for us to fall into the hands of fascism. I am talking not only about the Big Lie, but also the idea that “the presidential party always loses the house/senate in the mid terms.” That is only true if we don’t vote.
Local elections and state elections matter too. The GOP is running people for Secretary of State and other positions that have authority over a state’s vote counting. Don’t let them win.
Panda On!
Bob T Panda
I’m watching the hearings on replay, in case I need to switch over to panda cams or fishing bear cams to calm down a bit, between revelations. No wonder I’m so stressed out!
Panda On!
Bob T Panda
Be Brave
Panda On
Bob T Panda
I hope you are making your popcorn, gathering all your stuffy pandas, and mixing up a Sister Mary Fluffy sized pitcher of adult beverages. We’re going to need it. We already kinda know what happened: TFG went into overturn the election/overthrow democracy mode even before the election was called for Joe Biden.
The House Select Committee on January 6th has been gathering the receipts and the stories of those involved, of those who were on the scene of the greatest (and by “greatest“, I mean WORST) debacle in US history.
You’re going to hear from many people during these hearings, and as hard as it will be to watch, I think we must watch or listen to as much as we can bear. History is being made and we have no idea if justice will prevail.
Bikkie is on the job and so are Frank and Mikey! What could possibly go wrong?
Panda On!
Bob T Panda
It’s time for the hearings from the January 6th Committee, and I am HERE for it. Of course, ZooNooZ is covering it as only they can! I hope enough people who haven’t been following this as obsessively as some of us will watch and be persuaded that maybe, just maybe, there are some people who might not be telling the whole truth. Mitten’s Big Lie is a whopper!
Who could resist answering question from a baby panda in a dinosaur costume? Are Republicans heartless??? (you don’t need to answer that!)
Be the Bear!
Bob T Panda
I’ve been on a little journey these last two weeks…not an actual journey, mind you. More of a healthcare journey. Don’t panic. All is well. But my vision has been dimming and clouding these last couple years, and while the pandemic is not exactly on the run, it felt safe enough to consider….
Cataract surgery.
Just thinking about getting to the point where I needed cataract surgery made me feel very old. But it was time to suck it up and do it, as the last time I had my eyes examined last year, the doctor was saying he didn’t know how much more he could improve my vision with glasses.
I opted not to get the kind of lenses that meant I would no longer need glasses. I’ve been wearing glasses since I was 8 and I like them. If nothing else, I am much less likely to poke my eye with a branch when gardening, if I still wear glasses.
Even though my eyes are still recovering, I can see much better. One of my old pairs of glasses seems to be working generally, but not so well for close up. So, I will henceforth blame all typos on this for the time being. Heh!
One thing I can see quite clearly is that the GOP (Guns Over People) Party would rather see more people shot than to either offend the NRA or have President Biden get any credit for doing anything good.
Just in case any of you are about to acquire a swimming pool…you know who you are!
Am I sensing a theme here?
Be the Bear!
Bob T Panda