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

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

Planned Pokémon Nicknames: Alcremie

Planned Pokémon Nicknames: Alcremie

I am writing this draft in late-July, in anticipation of more Sword and Shield updates. Please check back with me after November 15 for more suggestions. All my anticipated and suggested nicknames follow the 12-character limit consistent with Pokémon Generations VI and VII.

Alcremie (in Japanese: マホイップ  “Mahoippu”) is a Fairy-type Pokémon to be introduced in the Galar Region (Generation VIII). Reference: From Bulbapedia.

The English name appears to be a combination of the words Alchemy, Cream and Cutie. Alchemy was a “magical” style of chemistry which preceded modern science. Thus, a Fairy-type is reasonable.  Otherwise Alcremie looks like a pile of whipped cream or soft-serve vanilla ice cream. It has strawberries on either side of its head. I do like my creamy desserts, I think that they are soothing. In fact, early descriptions of Alcremie say that its “cream has an incredibly soothing effect which can cause an opponent to rapidly lose its will to battle when eaten.” (Source: Pokéfandom webpage.)

Alcremie is not known to evolve into or from any other Pokémon at this writing. However, it looks like it will be able to transform into a huge, cream frosted cake in its Gigantimax form.

If I was going to name a cake I think that “BettyCrocker” or “DuncanHines” would be good names. Of course, names like “JustDesserts” or “A Good Piece” may work.

This surprise cake puts me in mind of all those “Mad Men” era bachelor parties, where a pretty girl would jump out of a large party cake. It is yet another trope, lost in the 20th century.

The joke was that as the groom-to-be and his bachelor friends were having an innocent ice cream-and-cake party, someone would roll out this giant cake. Only instead of icing inside — a naked girl would jump out, surprising the poor groom on his last night of strange desserts. Oh … but I digress …

Unfortunately, Alcremie has been receiving some Internet hate. Fans are blaming Game Freak for not being creative enough. There were already “ice cream” Pokémon: Vanillite,  Vanillish and Vanilluxe were already ice creams introduced in the Unova Region. Furthermore, there were already French pastry Pokémon in Kalos – Slurpuff and Swirlix. (Image credit goes to the original artists below)

Really Gamefreak – another Ice Cream Pokémon?” they say. Never mind the hate. I like the idea of this strawberry shortcake Pokémon. I look forward to bringing out that big ice cream and cake surprise! I could probably recycle some of my Vanillite line names. “Dairy Queen“, “Tastee-Freez” and the like, after those roadside ice cream shops that are a big part of Americana.

Some of you might remember the old “Strawberry Shortcake” character that was marketed to young girls in the 1980s. Thus “Shortcakes” is an obvious name. I plan on naming my Alcremie “Berry Panic” because of its fruit berries. The panic part refers to the famous Yuri manga and anime “Strawberry Panic”. I actually have a theory about how a strawberry can panic.

Others:

“Chantilly” after the term for the French version of whipped cream topping. Plus, it is a nice sweet, girly name, perfect for the Galar Region.

“ERCJCKGNGR” or “JckGngrErc” is an odd name, but I mean this as an abbreviation of “Eric Jack Ginger” who were the original British Cream.

Other names for my flavored dessert:

“SweetCakes” – For one on each side.

“Baby Cakes” – fo yu widdle cakie …

“Double Bride” – because it’s the law. The bakery has to make it for you.

What will you call your sweet creamy short cakes? Please comment.

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?

 

 

Pokémon Nicknames: Chatot

His cosplay is so accurate that he looks like the “Real Macaw”!

Chatot (in Japanese: ペラップ  “Perap”) is a NORMAL and FLYING dual-type, introduced in the Sinnoh Region (Gen 4: Diamond-Pearl-Platinum). It is the “Music Note” Pokémon.  Chatot does not evolve into any other Pokémon. (Source: Bulbapedia). There is not a “Mega-Evolution” form yet, however the bird can learn a Normal or Flying Z-move.

Chatot appears to us as a musical note combined with a chatty bird such as a parrot or parakeet. I tend to give this bird music or singer themed names.  My favorite name for (male) Chatot is “Gershwin” after the great American composer George Gershwin. Along those lines I also like to name them “Rhapsody” after Gershwin’s famous Rhapsody in Blue. I think that this name works well for female Chatot.

Chatot is probably NOT for trainers like me who mostly play by the attack-attack-attack method. The bird is not all that strong. Chatot appeals to players who like to use “tricky” moves. Also, in games where there are double or triple battles, Chatot may be part of a tricky team.

There must have been a lot of “chatter” on the island that day!

People who like Parrots, or have macaws or other exotic bird pets would identify with Chatot. Perhaps Jimmy Buffet fans a.k.a. “Parrot Heads” would enjoy this Pokémon. 

An entire PC BOX of “Polly Wanna Crackers!”

When I was in high school, my teachers would always yell at girls who would not stop talking in class. They often used the name “Chatty Cathy“. The term also refers to the famous talking doll that were popular long ago with girls my age.  TheRealMacaw is a take on the American expression “The Real McCoy“:

I also like these musical note related names. The St. Louis Blues NHL team has a great looking jersey with a blue note on them. “The Blue Note” is also the name of a famous New York jazz club. You might use CB Radio type names like “Breaker-One” or “Good Buddy”

A great name for female Chatot is “Soprano” after the lady singers with the high vocal ranges. “Caruso” is after Enrico Caruso the famous opera singer. Some regard him as the greatest singer of all time. Speaking of singers, consider “Alvy Singer” after the character Woody Allen played in his best movie — Annie Hall.

Twelve letters will allow you to use the name “SingSingSing” after the Louis Prima song made most famous by Benny Goodman. There was a noted New York State Prison named “Sing-Sing“. You would be singing the blues there.

You kids are way too young to remember 900 Numbers. Way back in the 1980s when there was no Internet, late night TV commercials and seedy magazines used to advertise these various “chat lines” that lonely men could call. Basically, you could call up one of these numbers and a woman would talk dirty to you while you masturbate. Thank you Alexander Graham Bell. Get this – these phone calls would charge your credit card or phone provider $4.99 per MINUTE! I know, it is hard for you kids to believe, because there is so much free porn here in the future.

I know what you are thinking: “Denny you must have spent a fortune on 900 numbers when you were in your 20s.”  Ha. NO. I never ever would call one of those rip off chat lines. It might seem like a good idea at 3:00 in the morning after having a productive evening drinking beer … but NO. No way. I would rather have my money thank you.

The way I looked at it, there was absolutely nothing that one of these telephone Chat-thots could ever tell me that would be worth 5 bucks per minute. What … Stock tips? Lottery numbers?  Plenty of suckers must have wasted their money, because these chat number were big business all the way into the 1990s. Think about that … 5 bucks per minute. Now how many minutes would they need? … but I digress once more …

Here is some cute Chatot cosplay from cosplayer Lilacwire TWEET TWEET!

https://www.acparadise.com/acp/display.php?c=19199#costumeinfo

Here is more cute Chatot costume by Kiki @OrganizedChaos TWEET TWEET!

https://cosplay.com/album/32d8re0

That’s all for this week. When in the Sinnoh Region, please chat me up. Perhaps one could “chat up” a Thot at a bar?

Opera or Jazz? What is the name for your Sinnoh-Region Singer? Please comment!

Maple Forest Seeks Rice Paddy

My employment consists of processing purchase orders and maintaining the application records for an international agricultural chemical fertilizer company. Any writing I do at work is “technical writing” which must be very precise. It is not very creative, and there is no place for humor. Also, the science, journals, technical monographs and trade papers I am required to read are informative, but very dull. I seldom entertain myself at the computer. That’s why I like to occasionally be creative and post articles to WordPress! I also like to read YOUR blog during my lunch hour my dear reader. Your posts are a nice break from the otherwise beaten down day.

Although my trade journal reading is usually mundane, I am sometimes surprised by some of the advertisements and listings in such publications. (The embellishments that a seed drill manufacturer will make for the power of their brand of planter are often highly amusing.)

Last week, I was looking through the “personal interest” section of a periodical and I saw a personal ad that read “Maple Forest seeks Rice Paddy”.

It reads:

Lonely middle-latitude temperate mixed forest, dominantly sugar maple, with minor mixed oak, beech and birch species. Prosperous and stable broadleaf-deciduous biome, but open to new growth patterns. Seeks intimate relationship with recently cultivated tropical or sub-tropical Rice Paddy. Intensive land use relationship is desired. Interested in long-term lowland staple crop production. Possibility of supplemental vegetable growth a plus, but not required. Aerial infrared imagery of my peak vegetation production index is available upon request. Serious inquires only.

(Ahem.) Yes. I think there are some logistics and some harsh climatic realities which must be addressed for such a relationship. I think that if the Maple Forest does find the right Rice Paddy it would probably be a lasting relationship, perhaps because of the forces working against them. Monocots and dicots often make a nice flowering biome, and their pairing may work well.  Maple Forest might feel that he does not have a lot in common with some of the local needle-leaf evergreen forests.

Too many woodland biomes are not long-term compatible, and land cover disruptions are very common. The system seems to be set up against a Maple Forest.  I do so sympathize with the Maple Forest. It is hard for a mixed hardwood forest to find a nice land cover to enjoy biomass production with. He is correct to hold out for an angiosperm environment, even if such environment is from a different climate. Monocots and dicots often make a nice mixed biome, and the pairing might work well.  Some of the regional needle-leaf evergreens complain about it.

Timber land relationships are tough in the modern world, even with the use of the latest Forestry apps and websites. Yes, you have those forests who say they are broad-leaf deciduous, but it turns out they have way too many coniferous species mixed in. The truth is – I don’t care for the cones and needles myself — so I can see why the Maple Forest would be looking elsewhere for biomass. Too often, a woodland will claim to be “upland forest” but will turn out be prone to flooding.  Some of these older woods have serious issues. Many cannot overcome their history of being dominated by some lower-value swamp oaks. Many of these single woodlands are “second growth” who have been clear-cut way too many times. Plus, no one wants to have to put up with the invasive species left from all the previous biomes.

I can see why he would love a Rice Paddy. Their lush dark greens. earthen dams, and irrigation sluices balanced. A softer, welcoming surface. Welcoming, and permeable to depth. The shoots of growth tease her ample production. The power and intensity of her grain.  She is fertile alright. The Maple Forest will wonder: How does she produce so much biomass calories per acre? To the Maple Forest, she puts all those other companion environments from his past to shame. Other forests might tease, and say that he has “paddy fever” but Maple Forest should just shrug that off.

The stillness of her floodplain when at the peak of production is a thing of beauty.  And best of all – she can be double cropped. Oh yeah. Sometimes triple-cropped in a warm year. Wait until the Maple Forest finds out she can support some supplementary aquaculture. The high carbohydrate grain, the mixed vegetables and tubers between fields, and the protein of aquaculture.  God, they are the best. Can a land use be more fantastic than a subtropical Rice Paddy?

That Maple Forest will wonder where Rice Paddy has been all of his century-long growth.  The Rice Paddy is everything that the Maple Forest has ever wanted … and all that he never knew that he wanted. She has awoken xylem flows within his tree trunks that he thought would never flow again.

The Rice Paddy may have to adjust to some of the Maple Forest’s seasonal changes however. They probably first met in early or mid-summer when the Maple Forest is at his most lush and full,  open leaf condition. I will bet that a Rice Paddy has never seen a Maple Forest release its “whirly seeds” on a blustery summer’s day.

His fall color exuberance is followed by the long dormant period, with no leaf production. She might misunderstand. This may be difficult for a subtropical land use to adjust to at first. But don’t worry dear Rice Paddy. This is just the type of cold climate he is adapted to. Your Maple Forest is just taking some down time to harden, and sweeten. He will be back in spring with a gush of syrup production. You just be ready for that, when his sap starts to flow.

Sweet. Yeah, she is going to receive the sweet. So much she might not know what hit her.

Maple Forests and Rice Paddies are just made for each other! Their differences compliment rather than contradict each other. Some of the other biomes will be bitter and jealous of course. Some will laugh at Maple Forest, insult him, and say that he has a subtropical land-use “fetish”. Some landscapes will be envious of Rice Paddy and say she is only after the creation of a new ecotone. Don’t listen to the jealous regions you two. Make the world right for yourselves.

Just keep loving each other kids. Er .. I mean environments.

Starlight: Jesus – look at the time. I have to get back to work … and how did these web pages crop up?

Pokémon Nicknames: Mareanie and Toxapex

“Alola cousins! Do you have time for one more walk down to the fishing hole? Just watch where you step.”

Mareanie (in Japanese: ヒドイデ “Hidoide”) is a Poison and Water dual-type Pokémon introduced in the Alola Region (Generation VII). Mareanie was one of the hardest Pokémon to catch in Sun and Moon. You had to fish for Corsola, then wait for the coral Pokémon to call for help.

Mareanie evolves into Toxapex (in Japanese: ドヒドイデ  “Dohidoide” ) starting at level 38, where it remains a Poison and Water dual-type. (Reference: Bulbapedia.)

Mareanie and Toxapex are modeled after poisonous sea urchins or spiny starfish. These echinoderms* are sea animals common in rocky inter-tidal pools.

My favorite name for Mareanie is “Poison Pen” after the phrase “poison pen letter”. Once upon a time (before the Internet) people would write and send letters to each other through the mail. A poison pen letter is a type of malicious hate mail sent to a recipient for the specific purpose of upsetting them. These letters were always sent anonymously. Sometimes a letter would be sent to a third party detailing how terrible another person is. No one writes anonymous poison pen letters anymore — as trolls have the anonymity of the Internet to malicious harass another. On that note, “Malicious” might be a good name for this poison-type.

Some Sea Urchins have venom, and many have sharp, prickly spines. Thus, “Spiny Norman” (after the Monty Python reference) may be a good name for a male.

Other, “prickly” names could be used, such as “Pin Cushion”. “AccuPuncher” after the Chinese “acupuncture” medical technique (which is actually supposed to rid you of toxins).

“Blue-Meanie” after the characters in the Yellow Submarine movie.

“Mean Gene” after the sports name given to anyone named Eugene.

After evolution, then … um … Toxapex?  (Denny scoffs) It sounds like a feminine hygiene product!

(insert cricket noises here)

Aw, come on … Don’t you get it – the name sounds like “Tampax” or “Kotex” … only toxic.

Nice.

You could probably just name it “Kotex” or perhaps “Toxic Shock” after the medical condition linked to super absorbent tampons.

If you want to make a snarky comment on the ongoing “Battle of the Sexes” you could name your male Toxapex “Masculinity” after that “toxic masculinity” phrase that sophomore sociology majors use to blame their own failures on. Conversely, you could name a female Toxapex “Feminism” after the “toxic feminism” encountered so often by frustrated STEM majors.

 

What is the name of your toxic little sticker? Please comment!

*See my post about the other echinoderm Pokemon Pyukumuku is linked here.

Pokémon Nicknames: Stunky and Skuntank

 

Stunky (in Japanese: スカンプー  “Skunpuu”) is a POISON and DARK dual-type introduced in Generation IV (Sinnoh Region). Stunky evolves into Skuntank (in Japanese: スカタンク “Skutank”) at level 34, where it is still a dual Poison and Dark type. Stunky and Stuntank are in the “Skunk Pokémon” category. (Reference: Bulbapedia.)

Skunk nicknames?… You have to think for a moment about “what kind of things stink?” then go from there.

“Pew-Research” is after the Pew Research Center. A well documented source of information.

If you want to name a skunk, then a good name is “Pepé” or “Le Pew” as in “Pepé Le Pew” the famous French skunk from the old Looney Tunes cartoons. I remember watching a number of these shorts when I was eight years old. The storyline was always the same. Pepé would arrive in a town, and at the same time a female black cat would encounter some type of accident involving white paint. The paint would drip or get rubbed down her back, so that the cat would look like a skunk. Then Pepé would see the lady “skunk” … rush over to her and start hugging and kissing her. The cat would resist the unwanted kisses, and then she would get a wiff of Pepé’s skunk-stink cloud. Then she would really, really struggle to get away. Pepé would continue kissing her, and telling her that he wanted to “take her away to the Casbah” with his French accent.  That’s how my generation learned our stereotypes — from Mel Blanc in Warner Bros. cartoons.  When I was eight years old, we didn’t see Pepé as a predator. We just thought it was funny that the cat smelled stinky-stink and wanted to get away. I don’t think they could make these cartoons today, as sexual harassment is not funny. The poor kitty. Hashtag Me Too.

Why the hell did he always want to take her away to the Casbah? I don’t think it would smell any better there.

I used “PooPooPeDoop” as a variant of the old “Betty Boop” phrase. Great in black and white. She sings a song with the “Boop Oop A Doop” line. This has been switched up and covered by many campy singers.

My eight-year old cartoon-watching friends and I always thought that she was signing about poop. That’s the thing about kids. Unlike sophisticated adults, little kids think that fart and poop jokes are hilariously funny. “PooPooPeeDo” is also the name of a kitty litter disposal system. “PullMyFinger” may result in a funny name. I have heard the term “Stinkfinger” — but I had to look what it meant. In The Urban Dictionary, “Stinkfinger” is defined as “The (usually) surreptitious action of savoring the pheromone laden evidence of digital exploration of the magical female orifice.” Ahem … well that led me to think of “Badfinger” — an early 1970s rock group.

What else might stink? I’m not laughing at “Vagisil“. It is an important product, and it is used in the world’s greatest real estate. The cream has inspired a number of funny memes however.

Some ladies like a black and white stripped hair color scheme. Not sure why it is popular — doesn’t it look like a skunk stripe? So maybe a name like “Stripes” or “Lucky Stripe” would fit? A good name for a female Stunky might be “Alexandra”. If you are a fan of “Archie” comics, you may know that Josie (of Josie and The PussyCats”) had a rival named Alexandra Cabot – who had one of those black and white skunk-striped hairdos. She was always stinking up the place for Josie.

My favorite nickname for Stunky is “Lil’Stinker”. If it evolves into Skuntank, then it could be “A-Big-Stink” as in the phrase: “they made a big stink about it”, meaning excessive complaining over something trivial. Unexpectedly smelling something stinky is not trivial however. “P.U.” … as in “StinkyCheese“. “Limburger” might be a good stink name.

When I was eight years old, my classmates and rarely used the word “fart”. It was always “stinker”. We would say “someone let a stinker” when someone passed gas. I never really thought about it too deeply, but a stinker had to be LET … as in it was allowed. The self and the stinker are perhaps one. The stinker has to be contained, and one chooses to “let” it loose. One has to have some understanding of the stinker coexisting, and building inside oneself. Eventually, the stinker surpasses the self, you come to accept the stinker – you let the stinker. Kind of Zen-Like when I think about it that way.

Skuntank could be re-worded to “Stun-Tank” because the little critter will certainly stun anything that gets shot by its stream of smelly spray. On that note I thought “FunkySpunk” would be a good name for Skuntank, after the Sex-and-the-City episode.

Yeah, I would think this was funny when I was eight. This Sinnoh Region skunk can learn “Flamethrower, so it should also be able to light the fart, then burn up the gas. Maybe it could use lighted farts as a special attack? One question: Why would the other Poison-types faint though? Back then you could not poison a poison type.

What do you call your little stinker? Please comment.

Pokémon Nicknames: Combee and Vespiquen

Pokémon Nicknames: Combee and Vespiquen

Combee (in Japanese: ミツハニー “Mitsuhoney”) is a dual-type Bug and Flying Pokémon introduced in the Sinnoh region – Generation IV. (Source: Bulbapedia). Combee is known as the “Tiny Bee Pokémon”.

Dawn told me she was going to “slather some honey” on my Sinnoh Region tree.

Only female Combee are able to evolve into the “Beehive Pokémon” Vespiquen (in Japanese: ビークイン “Beequen”) starting at level 21. It remains a Bug and Flying type. Male Combee do not evolve, or change into any known form.

Male Combee are just useless male drones I suppose. You could still level it up to 100, and give it some cool moves, but they are overall a weak Pokémon.  I like to name the male Combee “Buzz” related names, for example “Buzz Aldrin” or “A Good Buzz“.  I thought that “Son-of-a-Buzz” or “Sons of Buzz” was cool, the later reminding me of the TV show “Sons of Anarchy”. Consider “BuzzBuzzBuzz“,  just because. “DrumBassBone” after Jazz trios that utilize just a snare drum, stand-up bass, and trombone.

Male bees are termed “Drones”, so there are many “drone” variations to play with. “Drone Strike” after the popularity of using flying drones as weapons.

Did you see how the drone recognized the specific dummy by using its facial recognition programming, then only whacked the exact target? What could possibly go wrong? … and I digress. The Pokémon censor will not let you use the word “kill”, so you would have to make a variant, such as “Kilbot Drone“. What a “Buzzkill“. Ha, just use number ones in place of lowercase L. “GameOfDrones” just makes the 12 character limit.

Perhaps use something along the lines of “Bees-Whack” as a play on “Beeswax”. Mind your own beeswax. There are three of them, so names based on threes might be good. “Strike 3” from baseball. No, not “Three-Way” — I would not even want to think about that situation. How about “KingstonTrio” after the Kingston Trio perhaps.

“Aunt Bee” is a straightforward name for Vespiquen, that is if you are old enough to remember the old Andy Griffith Show. If you have seen the “Miraculous Ladybug” show, I suggest “Chloe” after the cartoon character.

The sound of the word “Vespiquen” resonates like “lesbian” so it may be fun to arrange various lesbian names, like “LezBeeQueen“. Which begs the question … “are lesbians fun”?  Well, it depends … do you mean the good kind of lesbians, or the sophomore sociology major type lesbians … and yes, I see that I have digressed once again …

“LezBeeFriend” just makes the 12 character limit. You could also annotate your little Combee trio of “LezBees” with the female symbols. You have to wonder what a “three way” of girl honeybees would look like.

Ha. For Baby-Boomers only: Remember: “The Honey Bees” episode from Gilligan’s Island?

I remember trading the Pokémon with a friend, so that when he received it, the screen would have said “Denny send over LezBeeFriend”. Ha. At least I remember that it was funny. A warning should be made however. It is one thing to make suggestive Pokemon names and share them with your friends. Do not send out such named Pokemon on the WonderTrade. It could be sent to a kid. Kids should not be exposed to such things. There are no kids allowed in the Over21 lounge for my 1962 Las Vegas stand-up comedy act.

Ahem … Queen bees are also known for controlling useless males with their pheromones. Vespiquen’s signature move is “Attack Order“. She calls out her Combee drones to pummel her opponent. The move has a high critical hit rate.

          “Yes, my Queen … I will obey …”

“Bee” advised for more names … You could probably use some of my previously suggested names for Beedrill linked here.

     Beedrill and Vespiquen make a “bee-utiful” couple.

“That might be a queen, but they ain’t no bee.”

What is the name of your honey gatherer? Please comment!

Pokémon Nicknames: Binacle and Barbaracle

Pokémon Nicknames:

Binacle (in Japanese: カメテテ “Kametete”) is a dual-type Rock and Water Pokémon native to the Kalos Region (Generation 6). Binacle is “bi” because it is two barnacles. It is a double headed Pokémon that evolves into Barbaracle at level 39. Barbaracle (in Japanese: ガメノデス “Gamenodes”) remains a Rock and Water dual- type at level 39.  (reference: Bulbapedia) However, the evolved form becomes more “single headed” but still “multi-handed”.

I always like to use the names of famous duos when naming them. “Laurel+Hardy”, “Burt-N-Ernie” or “Bruce+Dick”, etc for males. How about a movie reference like “TheTwoJakes“?

My favorite male Binacle name is “Ford-Dole’76“, after the losers of the 1976 U.S. presidential election.

Since Binacle is either male or female, you will have to choose famous team-ups of the same gender. For females, my favorite is “Patty/Selma” after the characters from The Simpsons.

The name “Salt-N-Peppa” always go together. Maybe the term “Honor+Offer” after my old Las Vegas lounge act. Binacle is also a “Bi” so you can have fun with binary computer code names, like “Zero and One“.

Be creative! You have 12 letters starting in the Kalos Region, thus you have room for combined names. You will have to add a “+” symbol as a substitute for “and” because Pokémon text does not have the “&” symbol. You can also use a “/” symbol to divide the names, especially if the names are nearly identical or opposites.

It might be a hoot to name Binacle “Laurel/Yanni” after the viral internet debate all the rage in early 2018. Some people heard “Laurel”, while others heard “Yanni” on the sound clip.

It was weird how people heard the exact same physical sound, yet interpreted it differently. Kind of like how women often hear things differently than reasonable people … huh heh  … um … er … but I digress …

If you let or make your Binacle Pokémon evolve, then the duo-names no longer fit. Barbaracle has only the one head, which is still shaped like a hand. It has four other hands, the top two of which have eyes, plus two feet which are also barnacle-hand shaped. It is hard to bridge that difference in appearance to a duo name, so you might change it at the Name Rater’s place.

“BarnacleBoy” was a character from from the SpongeBob show, but I don’t care for that name. Maybe “Big Barney” after the sandwich.

The name “High Five” might work, as the Pokémon has five hand appendages. I might suggest “HandyManny” after the kids cartoon program, or “HandJive” after the Johnny Otis 1950s rock and roll song. “All Hands” or “Roman Hands” may fit for an active hands Pokémon, as many women have had to put up with a date who becomes a little too forward with the hands. Perhaps “Tag Team” if you get the wrestling reference. How about “Mr. Shiva” for the multi-armed Hindu Deity? I named one “YeahYeahYeah” because love me do, I wanna hold your hand, she loves you. I finally settled on “Talk-2D-Hand” for my hyper-trained Barbaracle with outstanding stats.

What is the name of your barnacle duo? Do you have a handy nickname? Please comment.

Note: I apologize for the lack of cosplay models for this post. I tried a web search for “sexy barnacles” but all I found were pictures of clams.