Pokémon Nicknames: Delibird

Delibird (in Japanese: デリバード  or just pronounced “Delibird”) is an ICE and FLYING dual-type introduced in Pokémon Generation II. It does not evolve into or from any other Pokémon.

Delibird is the “Delivery Pokémon” which explains the “deli” part, in case you were thinking the corned-beef sandwiches kind of deli.

This Santa is packing some gifts for sure!

Delibird wears a Santa Clause outfit, and apparently has a feather beard. The beard is problematic for naming, as the male/female ratio is 50-50. There is some gremlin algorithm in my Sord and Shield games where the only Delibirds I encounter are female. When I do encounter a male, it always faints itself.

On the off chance I will encounter a male, I name it “Festivus” – after the made-up pseudo-Christmas holiday introduced in the TV Series Seinfeld.

With that extra bit of challenge, let me proceed with my favorite names for this Christmas bird.

“Santa Baby” is a good name for a female, as the song is best when sung by a woman.

I like to use “JustBearding” if I catch a female, as we can pretend that the beard is a fake. Note the term “beard” or “bearding”.

Thanks to this cosplay, I do not mind a female Delibird. I like to think that maybe I will receive something nice.

“New Deli” as a play on the name of the capital of India (New Delhi).

“Hello Deli” after the New York city delicatessen often featured on the old David Letterman show.

“N.D. Sack” which is a phrase you should always add to the end of ANY Chinese fortune cookie note.

“X-mas Bill” because you are going to be gifted with a lot of bills after Christmas!

Speaking of mail, another user suggested “Going Postal” as a name. You see, working at the US Post Office is so stressful that some workers have been known to freak out. They start shooting random people with automatic weapons instead of just sorting and delivering the mail. Hence the American saying “going postal”.

Here we are between Christmas and New Years … I suppose you could name it “Kwanza” except no one knows what the hell that is.

Sources:

https://www.pokemon.com/us/pokedex/delibird

https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Delibird_(Pok%C3%A9mon)

https://www.deviantart.com/heatheraftercosplay/art/Delibird-Gijinka-04-344524553

What was the fly-by flight plan through “The Planets” by Gustav Holst?

One of my favorite pieces of classical music is “The Planets” by Gustav Holst. Here’s my story on that: I was a fan of the Japanese musician Isao Tomita, and I bought his “The Planets” record way back in 1976 when I was just an impressionable teenager. I was listening to a lot of synthesizer music back at the time. Otherwise, I was not educated enough to know the first thing about Holst.

Much later in life, I bought a CD of Planets by the Montreal Symphony Orchestra. Recently I started a playlist of several different symphonic versions. Indeed, There are a lot of good ones to choose from all over YouTube … but I will share this recent one with you today. This is from the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, recorded live at the Esplanade Concert Hall, Singapore, on November 8th 2019.

I love it of course! The Planets is kind of like a “concept album” that a rock group might make. Each part, or “movement” is a musical description of each planet. Let me also share with you, this gallery of “The Planets” album covers. Do you own any of these?

Before I proceed much farther, I also want to share this video from YT user Classics Explained. His video  is a whimsical history about how Holst came to write “The Planets”. CE vividly and accurately describes how each movement relates to each planet musically.

This music history got me thinking about the ORDER of the planets in the symphony. The order of Host’s planets are Mars, Venus, Mercury, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. This order does not seem to make sense at first — and where is Earth, anyway? If one were to navigate in a space craft, and view and explore Mars (the fourth planet in our solar system) first, then how or why would one go back to Venus (the second planet) next?  The order should be: Mercury, Venus, (Earth), Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. Part of the wrong order of the planets may have to do with the order that Holst wrote the movements. He wrote “Mars: The Bringer of War” first, and “Mercury: The Winged Messenger” was written last.

So … what ever was the flight plan through “The Planets” by Gustav Holst? The only way I can excuse the order when I listen now, is to envision this travel plan scenario:

Our craft zips from Earth out to Mars first. Modern planetary explorers are in a hurry to explore and colonize Mars, so it does not surprise me that the planet is explored first. Our craft circles Mars, but not before dropping two surface probe-droids — which land, then drive around Mars to measure, dig and modify the Martian surface. The two land probes may even be in competition with each other, and may even have “wargames” at the surface. Our spaceship uses the gravity of Mars to fling our craft back to the other side … the inner side … of the solar system. We will use a GRAVITY ASSIST – similar to how the Cassini spacecraft used the gravity slingshot technique to zip around  Earth twice to get to Saturn.

Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah … man those cats can really swing!

Our ship will need more speed to travel the outer solar system, so our spaceship next flies AROUND Venus. (The surface is too hot to land anyway.) The path around Venus gives it a gravity boost – and propels it rapidly to Mercury, where our craft picks up even more speed through the fastest planet’s gravity.

After that gravity boost, our ship begins the long journey to the outer solar system, eventually graduating to the pull of Jupiter. At this point, our journey is in the correct order. We get flung around Jupiter and voyage out to Saturn where after a dance there, we are flung out to Uranus, then finally Neptune.

Oh —  I forgot to tell you – our craft does not go back to Earth. I probably should have said something. We keep going as the music to “Neptune” fades. Oh Ok … OK … if you really, really need to go back, listen to “Space Trucking” by Deep Purple for a straight path back. DP song linked here. Yeah, Yeah Yeah Yeah … the freaks said: man those cats can really swing! And yes, Bob, I digress once again.

Do you know what would have been a hoot?  if Host had wrote music for Earth, or perhaps even Earth’s moon – Luna. Why not a special movement for the Asteroid Belt? There was no planet Pluto at the time Host wrote, so we cannot blame him for not including it.

Remembder to use the “gravity assist”!!!

Starlight: Forty-four light years it has been! Do you have a favorite “Planets” album? Please share with me in the Comments!

Suggested Links:

https://www.classicalmpr.org/story/2018/09/27/for-holsts-the-planets-one-fans-online-quest-to-rank-every-recording-is-out-of-this-world

https://petersplanets.wordpress.com/

 

Pokémon Nicknames: Phantump and Trevenant

Readers: I wrote this post while listening to Jethro Tull’s 1977 album “Songs from the Wood”. You can listen to the title track on YT linked here.

Phantump (in Japanese: ボクレー “Bokurei”) is the “Stump Pokeman” introduced in the Kalos Region Pokémon X and Y (Generation VI). Phantump is a Ghost and Grass dual-type. Phantump only evolves into Trevenant by trading, where it remains a Ghost/Grass type. Trevenant (in Japanese: オーロット  “Ohrot”) is the “Elder Tree Pokémon”.

This is all set to evolve when traded.

I like to give spooky, ghost, or death-themed names to Phantump. My favorite name is “The Departed” after the Martin Scorsese movie in which so many people joined the departed at the end. You can watch most of the deaths here. Yup, Everybody gets shot in the head … but I digress.

Alternatively, use “Depart Now” … as in a wish, or an order. I like to name a Phantump “Your Death” then send it out on Wondertrade. The other player gets a message “Denny sent over … Your Death”.

The name “Lost Limb” could refer to lonely tree limbs broken off after a storm or clear-cut. There is an actual medical phenomenon where people will feel “phantom pain” where a lost arm or leg used to be. Medical reference here. That’s pretty creepy, I know. Are there any other names for a dead appendage? “Deadwood” works even after evolution.

On a more playful and humorous note, you could name it “Stumpy” or “Peggy Stump” … or maybe just “Peggy” for the situation of … no, no don’t make me describe it!!! It gets worse, of course — so let’s not go there. Too perverted even for Denny’s jokes.

I also like to catch Phantump in a Dusk Ball, especially if I intend to evolve it.

I know what you are thinking: A good name for Trevenant is “TreeBeard” after the famous Lord of the Rings character. True, Tevenant is like those Ent tree herders, especially if you view their in-game description … From X: “It can control trees at will. It will trap people who harm the forest, so they can never leave.” From Y: “Using its roots as a nervous system, it controls the trees in the forest. It’s kind to the Pokémon that reside in its body.”  

A high-school friend of mine once named his green VW Mini-Bus “Treebeard”. Yeah there were a lot of ghosts and grass back then. I initially named Trevenant “Treevert” as a play on the joke name “preevert” which is a joke because that word is how some people read “pervert” … but I’ve lost interest in such things. Enough with the snarky nicknames …

Hmmm …. this tree wants to “frisk” you …

All kinds of “wood” names could be used I suppose — “Morningwood” for example. How about “Dendro” or “MyBro’Dendro“. This tree is not exactly a willow, but I can see this ghost as forever weeping about its wood gone to rot. Catch it in a Timer Ball, and then call it “Dendrology” after the science of tree rings.

Let me suggest a better name theme for Trevenant. My favorite to use is “Absinthe” after the intoxicating, hallucination-inducing alcoholic beverage that is banned in the USA. Absinthe is considered a “spirit” which is appropriate for a part Ghost-type. Another name for Absinthe is “La Fée Verte” — meaning “the green fairy”. A good name would be “Thujone” which is the chemical associated with the effects of the drink. Sometimes the plant is known as “Wormwood” — another suggested name choice.

There is a famous quotation related to the Absinthe drinking experience from Oscar Wilde:

 “After the first glass, you see things as you wish they were.

After the second, you see things as they are not.

Finally, you see things as they really are, and that is the most horrible thing in the world.”

More of Oscar Wilde’s observations on the drink are linked here:

What is the name for your rotten and scary little woodstump? Please leave a cooment below:

Looks like there could be a stump here …

The usual references:

http://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Main_Page

http://www.serebii.net/

http://pkmn.net/?action=rater

Pokémon Nicknames: Sword and Shield (anticipation) — Corviknight

Quoth the Raven: “No way man”.

We still have a long way to go until November 15, but I will still speculate about the upcoming Sword and Shield Pokémon and think of some more nicknames, assuming we will still have the 12-charcater limit.

From Bulbapedia: Corviknight (in Japanese: アーマーガア  “Āmāgā”) is a dual-type Flying/Steel Pokémon introduced in the Galar Region (Generation VIII). As of this writing, it is not known to evolve into or from any other Pokémon.

This black bird is called the “Raven Pokémon”. Its abilities are said to be Pressure and Unnerve.  Coviknight looks like a crow, and (according to Bulbapedia) may be based on the European Jackdaw, another member of the crow family Corvidae. This family includes the crows, ravens, rooks, jackdaws, jays, and magpies. Collectively, this group of birds are called cordovans, hence that part of Corviknight’s name. The “knight” part is for the “Black Knight” I suppose.

I think that a great name for this black flying steel bird would be “SR-71” after Lockheed’s famous “Blackbird” supersonic stealthy spy plane. Additionally, “Lockheed” might be a good aviation name for Corviknight.  According to Sw&Sh leaks, Corviknight is supposed to be the “fly” Pokémon which will take the player form one point to another.

The SR-71’s official speed record of 2,193.13 mph (Mach 3.2) has stood for nearly 40 years. It could fly from New York to London in less than two hours. Unova to Galar.

Guess where the Blackbird was first flight tested? (Denny coughs) Area 51. That secret American air force base that has been hot on social media these past weeks. Thus, “Stealth”, “Intrigue” and “Enigma” may also be interesting Corviknight names. “Black Truth” – is the opposite of “White Lies”. Can you handle the truth? Galar’s steel blacbird knigth might be well armored, but it will probably not be super fast. There has ben some speculation that Corviknight may be related to Pokémon’s other flying-steel type Skarmory.

Of course, if Corviknight is a Raven, then you have to give one names based on Edgar Allan Poe’s famous poem. I think I will name one “Nevermore”. “Lenore” – perhaps for a female form, again as an Edgar Allan Poe reference.

Other names: “Baltimore” because the Raven’s NFL Team plays there. You have to wonder why the name “ravens” was chosen for a football team. Of course, Edgar Allan Poe lived (and drank) in Baltimore, but no one has ever confused the NFL with literacy. The Raven’s cheer squad is striking however:

Of course there is the Ravens logo on these uniforms. You may have to explore.

Aside from the Raven Cheerleaders, Baltimore is actually a terrible city. There is a lot of crime, a lot of drugs and it is poorly administrated. Baltimore’s crime is actually a lot more scary than any of Edgar Allan’s poems. But I digress … Perhaps you could name Corviknight about a decayed postindustrial city similar to Baltimore in the British (Galar) region? You would likely want a more heroic name.

How about “Switchblade” after all the knife attacks in British cities these days.

“Dead Knight” as a take on the phrase “dead of night”. Take these broken wings and learn to fly …

“HeckleJeckle” after the famous magpie cartoon duo (old chum).

There is not a lot of Coviknight cosplay yet, so we will have to make due with these raven and crow costumes. Did you know that a flock of crows is called “a murder of crows“?

Recycled Names: I used to use names like “Caw Caw Caw“, “Edgar Allan” or “4 -AND-20” for Murkrow and Honchkrow. Four-and-Twenty was for the nursery rhyme about the four and twenty blackbirds baked in a pie. I used to name a Murkrow “Eat-My-Pie” then wonder-trade it.

What is the name for your steel blackbird? Please Comment!

 

Pokémon Nicknames: Sword and Shield — Rolycoly

Dig deep in order to find the biggest nuggets!

 Pokémon Nicknames: Sword and Shield — Rolycoly. More Galar Region Pokémon are  leaked!

Rolycoly (in Japanese: タンドン  “Tandon”) is a Rock-type Pokémon introduced in Generation VIII. I have to believe that this “Coal Pokémon” of the Galar Region will have at least two more evolutions, but we will have to wait see. According to the latest leaks, Rolycoly is not known to evolve into or from any other form. Reference: Bulbapedia. Rolycoly (which I think is based off of the name “Roly Poly”) is basically a lump of coal with an orange eye. Is it some type of fire? Will it be able to learn the move “Ember”?

From Pokémon DataBase: “Rolycoly has no problem dashing through dark areas or rough terrain. Its red eye can illuminate dark areas, while it uses the lump of coal attached to its body like a wheel to move through coal mines and caves. It seems to be able to travel smoothly even over rough terrain.” It looks like it has a wheel underneath, which moves like a coal kart.

Another description is from Pokémon Wiki: “In times past, the entire population of families living in the Galar region would use pieces of coal dropped by Rolycoly as a heat source for cooking food and keeping houses warm. Even today, people would bring along Rolycoly during outdoor activities”. Coal was the major home-heating fuel for much of British history, until pollution laws were passed against it. Here’s a name: “London Smog” after London Fog.

If you have ever seen the Irish film “My Left Foot” there is this scene where a coal lorry driver so that a few pieces of coal can be nicked.

Ahem, if you are going to travel in the Galar region, you better get used to calling a truck a “lorry” and “to nick” is to steal something. Ha, I can speak this Galar dialect – here goes — “Did you nick my gelt, you wanker?”  … but I digress. The puts me in mind of the Elvis Costello song: “Coal Train Robberies”.  The poor classes in Ireland were so desperate that they had to steal coal to survive.

Some names could be derived from Rolycoly’s abilities. It has the unique ability Steam Engine, which increases Rolycoly’s speed stat if hit by a Fire or Water-type attack. Consider the name “SteamChunk” after the “Steampunk” genre – or just call it “Steam Punk”.

This steampunk is a coal miner — not a coal minor.

It also has the ability Heatproof, an ability which makes it take less damage from Fire-type attacks.  Thus, “Hot-N-Heavy” – because it is a rock type of fuel. It is heavy, but it burns hot. Also the expression means an intense, active, or exciting relationship.

“Be Tea You” or “B.T.U.” – might be good for a Galar Region Pokémon. This is after the term BTU or British Thermal Units, the measure of the heat content of a fuel.

I like “Wheeling” after Wheeling, West Virginia — the American state where coal mining is still an important occupation.

“Rutherford” – after the TV character “Lumpy Rutherford”. Because Rolycoly is a big lump of coal.

“Loretta” — after Loretta Lynn, country music legend and famous for being a “Coal Miners’s Daughter“.

“Bad X-Mas” or even just “Christmas“. Of course if you were naughty all year, Santa will only give you a lump of coal in your stocking.

If you are a loss for what to name coal, then you could just call it the names for the ranks of coal: “Anthracite”, “Bituminous” or “Lignite”. I like “Lignite Mike“.

Others:

“Ashes2Ashes” – is what happens to you if you fight this coal Pokemon!

“Pete Peat” – because peat is an earlier form of coal, but you need to wait a million years.

“Paleozoic” – after the geologic era containing the Carboniferous Period. Earth was covered with many swamps, which formed much of the coal we use today.

“Coke” but not America’s favorite soda beverage. Coke as in “coking coal” a processed coal used for steelmaking. Maybe “MyCokeBloke” becuase Englishmen call each other “blokes”.

“Sheffield” as in the English industrial city, where the historic steel making insustry was concentrated. Of course, the industrial revolution began in Britain, but today the country no longer manufactures anything.

“Wigan” as in George Orwell’s book “The Road to Wigan Pier“. Those poor people in that coal mining town … and you thought your job sucked.

“Holy Roller” because you have to have some rolling names. It seems mining-town peoples are often religious. If life in a mining town sucks, you have to faith in the next life in the next world.

“Rolling Rock” — after the beer popular with Pennsylvanian mine and industry workers. Despite the label, it does NOT taste like that.

I will suggst more names when it is known what Rolycoly evolves into … until then:

What is the name of your little rolling lumps? Please comment.

Pokémon Nicknames: Sword and Shield (anticipation) — Drednaw

Be very carefu with Snapping Turtles: These turtles will snap their mouth on you and gnaw your bone!

Pokémon Sword and Shield  — DREDNAW. Even though the Sw&Sh game does not come out until November 15, I am playing around with more nicknames for Galar Pokémon. (Get used to having Pokémon only playable in the Galar region, I guess.) I am going to continue to assume that we will still have the 12-character limit. If future Switch Pokémon games allow for more characters, this would greatly change the dynamic of Poké-naming.

Info based on Bulbapedia: Drednaw (in Japanese: カジリガメ  “Kajirigame”) will be a dual-type Water/Rock Pokémon. (It is not presently known if it will evolve into or from any other Pokémon.*) Drednaw is in the “Bite Pokémon” category — “Its jagged teeth allow it to bite chunks out of rock and iron”. This could be the “gnaw” part of its name as well. Its abilities are Strong Jaw or Shell Armor. 

I plan on calling my Drednaw “Dreadnought” or “Dreadnaught”. A dreadnought is a class of battleship introduced in the early 20th century. These ships were larger and faster than its predecessors and equipped entirely with large-caliber guns.

By U.S. Navy – U.S. Naval Historical Center, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=443982

Fitingly, it would be good id Drednaw can learn shooting moves like “Bullet Seed” or water shooting moves like “Scald”. This name for this class of warships stems from archaic English in which “dreadnought” means “a fearless person” or “a heavy overcoat used for stormy weather”. Obviously. a fearless turtle water-type can weather a fierce storm. The word Dreadnought comes up in other English vernacular. The word also means a special type of guitar (link here).

Another name that resonates with Dreadnought/Dreadnaught might be “Loves-Me-Not”. My rationale for that is that various Poké leaks have said that “Drednaw possesses a vicious nature, so it can only be tamed by the most experienced trainers.” Perhaps the move “Frustration” would be perfect to teach this naughty turtle early on. (Ahem, although the whole “She-Loves-Me”, “Loves-Me-Not”, trope (video here) would probably be best reserved for a flower Pokemon, such as Gossifleur.

“Frustration”? … What is not to LIKE?!?

“Lockjaw” might be a good name for this tenacious biting Pokémon, particularly for ones with the Strong-Jaw ability. Lockjaw, is of course associated as being side effect of Tetanus. Come to think of it, perhaps “Tetanus” or some variation is another name for a tenacious tetrapod!

Other names I am considering.

“Fracking” – after the mining method; where shale bedrock is forcibly cracked with pressurized water, in order to break the rock, and release fossil gas or oil. Alternative “Frack” names might be good: “Frack-It” or “Frack ‘Em“.

“Gnaw D. Bone” – after the dining situation where a pork chop is so good, that you have to pick it up with your hands in order to bite off every piece of meat clinging to the bone. (Vegans or female trainers please disregard.)

“RealityBites” – after the movie … or really anything that you do not like – or have said “that bites” … or “Bite This“.

“The Munchies” for that feeling when you are so hungry you can’t fall asleep … stay up to 2:00 am, then relent and eat everything in the fridge … and I digress …

The Pokemon may be partially based on aquatic snapping-turtles,

… so “Snap” “Snip” or “Swipe” names may appeal to you:

“Snippy” — as in “don’t get snippy with me”.

“Snapper O” after the character Harry “Snapper” Organs from the famous “Pirahna Brothers” Monty Python sketch.

“Swipe Left” — because of the phrase “swipe left” .  The term was first used to reject potential dating partners on the infamous dating app, Tinder. (A funny link here. Oy, the “Frustration” move again.) The phrase has devolped over time, and now describes anything remotely ugly or detestable. For example: “Anchovies on on pizza? Ughh, swipe left.”

What is your suggested name for a biting little water-rock turtle? Please comment.

*You will be able to catch  one during a “”Max Raid” and then Dynamax it!

Pokémon Nicknames: Sword and Shield Suggestions — Wooloo

Of course I am psyched to play the new Pokémon Sword and Shield this fall! There has been a limited release of what the new Galar Region (Generation VIII) Pokémon will be, but one that seems to very popular already is Wooloo, the “Sheep Pokémon”.

Name him ” FW Woolworth “

Wooloo (in Japanese: ウールー  “Ūrū” ) will be a NORMAL-Type, and according to leaks (official and otherwise) this sheep will be encountered in the early game play of the new region. Its abilities will be either Fluffy or Run Away. Right now, It is not known if Wooloo will evolve into or from any other form — although it can be used in Dynamax form. Bulbapedia will add updates as updated information on the new game becomes available. Wooloo is a cute, round lamb. it appears to be able to roll.

Perhaps “Rollout” will be one of the moves that it can learn. Wooloo also has two woolen braids or pigtails. The sheep must be yound, as its horns are just small nubs right now. If this Pokémon evolves, perhaps it will have larger ram-like horns in the final form.

Wooloo is popular, and has stimulated early cosplay even though the game is not out for months! (Credit goes to these artists.)

There are plenty of cool Wooloo memes as well. Please enjoy this short set. (Credit goes to the original artists.)

I have two favorite nicknames already planned! I will use “Imbolc” for a female Wooloo, and “Woolworth” for a male. Allow me to explain … Woolworth is the name of a famous American department store chain of the “five and dime” variety. The company is no longer in business. Everyone in my age-group remembers shopping at Woolworth’s. They even had a lunch counter.

Imbolc is the name of a Celtic holiday, midway between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. It is also known as Saint Brigid’s Day. You Americans know this date as Groundhog Day. One meaning of Imbolc is “in the belly” and it refers to ewe’s milk. Imbolc was originally a pagan celebration (and is still celebrated by modern day Druids and Wiccans). One tale says that Brigid saved lives by providing ewe’s milk.

The pagan goddess became the Catholic saint after Christianity spread to the Celtic regions of the British Isles. Indeed, a cute name for this ewe might be “Brigid” — as it is certainly appropriate for Sword and Shield’s British “Galar” Region. You can find your own way to celebrate it. It might be fun to use names and words from Celtic languages for many of your Galar Pokémon! The Welsh word for wool is “Gwlân”.  The English phrase “dyed in the wool” is “Daiteiolann” in Irish Gaelic.

I will probably catch many of these sheep, so here are some other names, and some of the cultural references. (You can come up with your own variations and derivations.)

“Normie” – because it is a normal type. I have used the name for various normal while playing past games. I don’t expect the normies to understand. Ha.

“Pipi” or “Longsocks” – after the book and movie “Pipi Longstockings”. For that matter, you could just name some of these sheep Pokémon “Socks” or “Undies” if you have those garments made out of wool. Wooloo’s braids look like the character.

“Yodle-A-eHoo” – because Switzerland has a lot of sheep too! Plus the braids on Wooloo look like the “Swiss Miss” brand cocoa label.

“Slaughter” – is a last name. Also I was thinking of “The Slaughtered Lamb” tavern from the movie “An American Werewolf in London”.

“Haggis” – would be great for a male. Named after the famous Scottish dish.

“Pet-Me-Peta” – after the animal-rights organization.

“Sheppy“– because sheep need a shephard. From there you can go with “Shemp” the name of  Curly’s replacement. In fact — “Curly” might be a good name for this sheep. 

“Flock-N-Roll” – as a take on the name of the musical genre rock-and-roll.

“Woolio” – after the rapper Coolio, who had similar-looking pigtails. Or maybe I am thinking of Snoopdog. Shoot I don’t know — I can’t tell the difference between those bigoted idiots. I don’t listen to that awful stuff anyway.

“Wooly Bully” after the Pharaos hit song from the early-1960s.

“Ewe B Forty” – after the British reggae-pup group UB40. There are probable other “Ewe” names you could play with. “Ewe Turn” might be good for this rolling sheep.

“Sheepdip” — after the process.

“Virgin Wool” – if it is important to you that you are the first to dye and weave the sheerings by yourself. Is that really a big deal?

“Shear-Luck” – because my mind is wandering …

“Ewes Woolite” — is laundry advice to use the detergent especially formulated for wool.

“Dolly” — after the name of the sheep which was the first cloned mammal. Cloning … that’s pretty wild. It is hard to believe that there could be a big herd of sheep someplace that all look alike.

“Fleece This!” – what you could say when someone tries to steal your fleece, and you kick them in the down-under. Speaking of “down under” could there be a lot of lonely shepherd memes from Australia and New Zealand?

Recycled Names: I have some sheep-names on my old post about Mareep. How does a sheep say the name Barbara? “Baa Bara“. You could also consider goat-names I used for Gogoat — because sheep and goats are similar herd animals, and both species can be milked. The British food delicacies “Headcheese” or “Head Jam” are suggestions.

Yup, someone needs a good milking alright!

What will you name your little ball of wool? Please comment!

Check back with me after November 15 — I will have more nicknames for you to evaluate. Counting sheep until then : ) 

Pokémon Nicknames: Sword and Shield starters — Sobble

Apologies if I have been holding you up with the fire and grass starters —

Let us now transition to our Sword and Shield water type starter: Sobble

Sobble is going to be a lizard/chameleon Pokémon. The trailer shows that it becomes invisible or blends in with its surroundings like a chameleon.

I like the name “PonceDeLeon” after Juan Ponce de Leon, the Spanish explorer who famously searched Florida for the “Fountain of Youth”. (We all know that’s not real history kids. He was a Conquistador.)  How about “Three Coins” after “Three Coins in the Fountain”.

A water-squirting lizard/chameleon? I might be able to recycle names I have already used for Squirtle – such as “Wet Willie”, “I.P.Nightly” or “I.P.Freely”. Perhaps I could recycle Kecleon names – such as “Zelig”.

I may use “Sorbét” – after the frozen dessert made from sweetened, flavored water. Americans know it as “Sherbert”.

I noticed that a lot of the cosplayers show Sobble with a sad face or crying. Could that be some type of power in the game? There is no need to cry my little julep. “Julep” or “Mint Julep” might fit this bluish water-type.

“Blue Bayou” is after the Linda Ronstant song and the water park.

The name “Mystique” could be in honor of the X-Men character.

“Watersport” might be a fun name … if you like watersports. Ha.

I think I will name him “Spitball” since it is a tricky and wet baseball pitch, designed to deceive – Just like a water chameleon. Sobble is shown using a “water gun” like move in the S/S preview trailer (MAY NOT BE ACTUAL GAMEPLAY – HELLO?). Maybe the name “Gaylord” as in Gaylord Perry master of the spitball pitch … but perhaps I digress.

Here is an interesting one to consider: “Buys Ballot”.  Indeed it would be sneaky to use another person’s vote, however that is not what the name means. It is pronounced “boos beylo” after the Dutch meteorologist CHD Buys Ballot. The concept is useful when determining wind direction at sea … and yes, I digress once again.

It makes me feel like a kid … but I can’t wait for this game!

I hope you will check back to my blog this November 15, when I will have more nicknames for you to evaluate.

Pokémon Nicknames: Sword and Shield starters — Grookey

Pokémon Nicknames: Sword and Shield starters — Grookey

I will call her “Plantain Jane”

It looks like I am going to have to buy a Nintendo Switch. My son owns one already, but I want both of us to be able to play our own copies of the upcoming Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield games due this fall. It is already common knowledge in Nintendo world that most S/S players will play in “handheld mode.” I have also heard rumors about a “Switch Mini” which may be even more portable (?) than the current hardware. Perhaps this will be a hardware and software release like when Nintendo released the 2DS at the same time as Pokémon X and Y. I am out of the loop, so maybe you gamer’s gamers can let me know if you think that a Switch Mini will be released along with the Pokémon Sword and Shield on November 15 (?) this year. Smells like a bundle.

Here Nintendo – take my money: I will need a Switch, something to protect the Switch when I carry it around, and I will need two copies of the Pokémon game. for my son and I. Then I will need something like a t-shirt or a hat which identifies me as belonging to the Pokémon secret society … probably will need to update the online Pokébank … then purchase whatever downloadable content packs, subscriptions, etc.

I know everyone has already seen the first teaser trailer, but here then …

It used to be that I would not give my starter Pokémon a nickname, as the starters are unique in the game. Later however, especially after trading, then breeding new starters Pokémon from eggs, I would give the starter forms a nickname. I also like to keep my starter Pokémon in “baby” form, up until I finish the main story (become Champion, etc.).  I make my other Pokémon evolve, but I think it is cute when you battle the regional champ with a cute Pokémon, raised up to a near level 100.  I always let my starter evolve for the after-story however.

You know what would be a hoot? If the Pokémon developers could have different after stories and side missions available as downloadable content. (Cough, Cough … there’s another cash cow for you Nintendo!)

Sword/Shield will take place in the Galar Region, which is based on the island of Britain (similar to how Unova was New York, or Sinnoh was Hokkaido flipped upside-down). “Galar” seems to resonate like the word “gallant” as in a gallant English knight.

I sincerely hope that Nintendo accurately portrays the spirit of the Celtic/Gaelic cultures of the British Isles correctly.

Well you are here to hear my suggested nicknames. Let us assume there will still be the 12-letter limit, and other naming rules enforced, or at least censoring which makes sense.

Grookey: Hmmm … a grass-type monkey Pokémon? There are not a lot of monkeys in Britain …

My first choice of a name for female Grookey is “PlantainJane”. Plantains are a banana-like fruit, and monkeys like bananas of course. This is also a play on the phrase “Plain Jane” which is an archaic way of describing a drab or unattractive young woman. One who usually eschews makeup and/or sexy clothing. There is nothing plain about these plantains however!

“Plain Jane” like “Mary Jane” is also a word sometimes used as a euphemism for marijuana.

“Jain” might be good, in honor of the Indian religion Jainism. This dharmic religion has strict views on vegetarianism and respect for all living beings. Life is venerated so much that the local monkeys are allowed to have their run at certain temples in India.

Grookey has that stick held at the top of its head. If you really want a marijuana joke as a name I might suggest naming a male “Blunt”, or “Bluntz”, “Mr. Bluntz”, etc.

Grass-type and all that. Just calling it “Sticks” might be good, as the name is sometimes used for drummers.

Other names: “Rhythm Stick”, as in “hit-me-with-your-rhythm stick”.  These stay with the drumming theme: “Mook”, “Da Mook”, “Mookie”, “Melodius”, “The Mooch”. “Weed Wanker” might be a playful grass-type name, based on the “Weed Wacker” lawn cutting tool. There is nothing whacky about ths cosplay though …

“Sherwood” after “Sherwood Forrest” home to the British legend Robin Hood! I might suggest other forest or jungle type names. “The Coolest” for example, or perhaps “Coco-Nutz“.

I used “DrunkyMonkey” and “Mo Drunkie” because “the monkey … he likes to get drunkie, he sings boogie-woogie and it sounds real funky“.

If you remember the old department store, I might suggest “Monkey Ward“.

Another variation would be “Glockey” or “Nime mm” or “Glock 9”  after the 9mm handgun Grookey possessed in the fake meme which made its way into a Mexican newspaper announcement for Sword and Shield. Link here.

I hope that these nicknames sound logical — Please come back tomorrow night when I suggest nicknames for the next Sword and Shield starter!

Hanako Oku and her HAPPY BIRTHDAY memes.

Happy 41st Birthday to “The Little Great One” Hanako Oku, born March 20, 1978.

Japan is twelve hours ahead of my time zone, so I am sending this tonight!

Mr. Penguin, I hope you have a sense of humor! It was Snivy’s idea.

… and now for a little bit of Oku-HISTORY!

Thank you, YouTube user 曽我部幸太郎

Starlight: Been a Hanako Oku fan for eight point eight light years!

PS: Dear friends. I do not have Twitter or Facebook. If you like Hanako Oku, would you mind sharing my post on your social media?