Pokémon Nicknames: Cherubi and Cherrim

Pokémon Nicknames: Cherubi and Cherrim

Indeed, you have incredible skills, Miss Ludens, but could you please bring me my cough drops when you finish that?

 Cherubi (in Japanese: チェリンボ  “Cherinbo”) is a GRASS-type Pokémon. Cherubi is known a “the Cherry” Pokémon. The following is a direct quote from Bulbapedia:

“Cherubi is a small cherry-like Pokémon with a round, deep-pink body with two stubby feet. It has beady eyes and a purple-red stripe running down part of its face. Cherubi has a short stem with two big, green leaves and a second, much smaller head growing out of it. This second head is vestigial in terms of function, but it contains nutrients that contribute to Cherubi’s growth as its initial source of food. As the second head is apparently edible, several Pokémon have been seen trying to pluck it off. When the second head begins to bloom it means Cherubi is close to evolving. It has been known to sun bathe on warm days. When it is about to evolve, the second head starts to wilt. Cherubi mainly photosynthesizes, and it is attracted to honey.”

Cherubi evolves into Cherrim starting at level 25. Cherrim (in Japanese: チェリム  “Cherrim”) remains a GRASS-type. Cherrim It is known “the Blossom” Pokémon – it changes its appearance in sunny weather.

The following is again quoted from Bulbapedia:

“Cherrim is a small Pokémon with two different forms, both of which are dependent on the weather. During normal weather conditions, Cherrim is in its Overcast Form. Two purple petals enclose its deep pink body. A short purple stem and a green leafy sepal sprout from the top of the petals. Its eyes appear to be near its short legs in this form.

When there is strong sunlight, Cherrim is in its Sunshine Form.

Everyday is a “Sunny Day” with you, my dear cherry girl!

Pink petals similar to cherry blossoms surround its head and cover its chest. Several of the petals radiate outward from a yellow sphere on the back of its head. There is a small, triangular patch of green on its neck. Additionally, two berry-like orbs, resembling cherry-shaped hair ornaments, adorn its head. It has stubby limbs, with the arms being pink and the legs being yellow.

Cherrim waits quietly as a bud for a ray of sunlight. When it is hit with strong sunlight, it blooms and absorbs the rays with its entire body. It quickly changes from quiet to excitable and active. It will attempt to make up for everything it had to endure as a bud while the sunlight lasts. Once the light is gone, Cherrim folds back into a bud.”

Obviously a nickname for female Cherrubi/Cherrim would be “Sakura” – Japanese for Cherry Blossoms. AUHHH … (Denny sighs) … Oh, my lovely daughter Sakura Miyawaki …she has grown up so fast these past few months …. Ok, I digressed.

Yes, you look amazing in your “Sunshine Form” Sakura-tan!

Oh, right — good nicknames you search for: I think that “Maraschino” is a great name for males, as in Maraschino cherries.

“Cherry-on-Top” could be used. How about “Wild Cherry” or “Wild Bill” as possible names? How about “Buster” as in … well, you know.

“Cherry Coke” may be good, but watch out for that company’s lawyers.

“Virginity” or “My Virginity” may be a playful nickname. (You know why.)

I have named them “Ludens” or “Miss Ludens” after the famous “Wild Cherry” flavor cough drops.

(I could really use one writing this just now.) Since Cherrim is two cherries, males could be named “Smith Broths.” – after the other major brand of cough drops.

“WhiteHouse” is also one of my suggestions, based on the ice cream. The WhiteHouse ice cream flavor is white vanilla ice cream with red cherries. The reason it is called “WhiteHouse” is because of the Cherry Blossom trees which characterize Washington DC. The white ice cream is the same shade of white as governmental buildings such as the Lincoln Memorial or the White House.

When the going gets tough … go out for ice cream!

My favorite name for Cherrubi is “Sherry” or “Sherry Baby” as in the old Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons song “Sherry Baby.”

It may be a stretch, but I have also named male Cherrum “FrankieValli” hoping someone would see the connection.

“… I wanna make you mine-yine-yine …”

Can you get hepatitis from sharing Keith Richards’ mp3s?

I will indeed admit it when I am wrong. I watched the new Keith Richards documentary “Under The Influence” on Netflix streaming a few weeks ago. I went in with very low expectations, and I expected it to be crap. WOW, WAS I EVER WRONG!!!

I LOVED it. I was a Rolling Stones fan in the 1970s like all my friends were, but I was never super crazy about them. I was more of a Zeppelin/Who fan. Although I was a 70s rocker, I don’t get into it anymore … now that I have turned my life over to the Idols. So, I thought I was going to have a laugh-fest making fun of an out-of-touch, burned out, rich, arrogant old wanker.

Now I am feeling guilty about that. Mr. Richards showed himself to be a great artist worthy of my (and your) respect. He has aged, but that has only added to his deep, historic perspectives on rock-and-roll music. The documentary is a treat for an amateur music historian (that’s me). Mr. Richards is a MASTER of music history.  The documentary shows his love and respect for the roots-music of American Rock-and-Roll, Blues, Country, Rockabilly and Folk.

He plays several examples, and as he does it, he does so with loving affection to the genres.  He is warm, charming, smart, very genuine and funny. I loved all the stories of the early Rolling Stones tours in the US during the 1960s. He got to meet and play with many of his blues heroes such as Buddy Guy, Muddy Waters, Chuck Berry Bo Diddley and many others. Mr. Richards describes the great influence these musicians had on him. There was a time in the 1960s when the Stones described themselves as “Rhythm and Blues” band. There are many great moments when he pays his respects to the landscapes of American culture. I also liked what he had to say about topics like English folk music being an influence on early American Blues and Rock-and-Roll — as well as Country.

Thus “Under The Influence” is surprisingly … less about DRUG influence and more about MUSICAL influences.

When Keith Richards plays or talks about American jazz, blues and folk, he does so with great LOVE. I respected that.

Other musicians such as Tom Waits and Paul Williams also are interviewed, and they discuss their admiration for Mr. Richard’s accomplishments. He still plays with a band. He can still play that guitar. There is a reason why he is a rock god. His voice is a little aged, but he can still do it. He can still play, he can still write, and he can still experiment.

I mean musically. Of course the subject of his drug and alcohol use come up when other musicians recount a number of stories. Basically, Keith drank and smoked everyone (and everything) under the table.

He even discusses that at one point. He admits that many fans and non-fans have the image of him as drug addled. Of course that subject needs to be discussed: Mr. Richards has proven that he is a SURVIVOR. True he pretty much merged his body with drugs and alcohol. He also chain-smokes during the entire documentary.

You see, drugs did not KILL Keith Richards. He made it through the 60s, 70s, etc. without dying, and that is an accomplishment in itself. I did notice that they did not mention his hard needle-drugs period. I guess that is understandable. It is one thing to portray the rock legend as a party animal – that is cool. But to show his heroin and needle-sharing period would have been in bad taste.

No, drugs did not kill him, drugs MUMMIFIED him. Mr. Richards is VERY WELL PRESERVED, THANK YOU. To that end I have made a little slide show which shows Mr. Richards as well as several real mummies:

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Can you spot the ones which are mummies, and those that are Keith? 

I am left with this music history question however: Could he have even been a better musician/composer had he not done drugs? What could he have done with his musical life if he had not been stoned much of the time?

Mr. Keith Richards, I SALUTE YOU SIR! Denny highly recommends this gem of a music documentary.

Starlight: I am old enough to remember Rolling Stones singles on my AM transistor radio.

Pokémon Nicknames: Electrode and Voltorb

Voltorb (in Japanese: ビリリダマ  “Biriridama”) is an Electric-type Pokémon of course. It appears to us like a Pokéball:  a ball that is red on top and white on the bottom.  Voltorb evolves into Electrode (In Japanese: マルマイン  “Marumine”) at level 30, where it remains an electric type. Electrode also looks like a Pokéball, except that Electrode is white on top and red on the bottom. Um …

I will admit, I often forget if Voltorb is red on the top and white on the bottom, or the other way around.

I think that the PERFECT nickname for this Pokémon would be “Cyrkle” or “The Cyrkle”.  This pop trio had a great pop hit in 1966 called “Red Rubber Ball”.

Here is the music video of The Cyrkle.  Sorry for the low volume on the first one. This particular YouTube post was apparently designed for the hearing impaired. It does have the lyrics subtitled in a large, easy-to-read font. This makes it easier to sing along with … at least for those of us who remember the single.  Note the “red rubber balls” in the back ground set. Could these really be Voltorbs in disguise? You know …  similar to how they hide themselves in buildings, such as the Team Rocket hideout?  You think it is a Pokéball ,or an item to pick up, then ZAP — you have to battle the electric balls!

This is a much better sounding YT vid. This does better justice to this proto-power-pop song.

“Red Rubber Ball” was written by legendary singer-songwriter Paul Simon (of Simon and Garfunkel fame). I think it is a well-crafted, perhaps almost “textbook” mid-sixties song. It clocks in at two minutes twenty — leaves you with the hook, and you want to play it again! Although I was just a larva in 1966, I loved listening to my transistor radio under the bedcovers at night. AM radio-pop songs were great at that time. I think that the song composition style of mid-1960s music is the template for everything I would like later.

Unfortunately, Mr. Simon did not like his own composition. He wrote the song for a publishing house, and referred to it as a period when he was a “hack” songwriter. I think it is great. In fact, I like it better than “Bridge Over Troubled Waters”. (What is that one really all about anyway?)

Check out these lyrics from RRB: “The roller-coaster ride we took is nearly at an end – I bought my ticket with my tears, that’s all I’m gonna spend”.

Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel only performed the song as a “novelty” song at just a few live performances. You can listen to that Simon and Garfunkel version linked here. Pretty cool stuff for we pop music historians!

Oh, right … electric balls again …

I named one “Cold-Hearted” as in “cold hearted orb which rules the night” line from the famous poem “Late Lament.”

“Voltaire” is a literary reference for any sophisticated Voltorb trainers.

Other names I have seen for Voltorb and Electrode include:

“Da Bomb” “BOOOOM” or “Ka-Boom” and the like are common, as Voltorb may use moves such as Explosion and Self-Destruct. Some players have named Voltorb after terrorists/suicide bombers — because they blow themselves up.

“Thunderball”, or “Oddball” may be good. How about “RollerBall” as in the classic1975 sci-fi film? Pretty cool metal ball!

Regarding the “balls” names: If you want, add an “s” or “z” to the end as in “Lectro-Ballz”.

Other names for electric types such as “Shocker” or some variant would be OK. I might suggest the name “Shockey” as in the former NFL tight-end Jeremy Shockey.

Electrode has no Mega-Evolved form. If someday there is one, I hope that it will be a Steel and Electric dual type, and look something like the RollerBall in the movie poster.

What do you name your electric balls of steel?  Please comment.

Pokémon Nicknames: Joltik and Galvantula

Joltik (in Japanese: バチュル  “Bachuru” ) is a dual-type Bug and Electric Pokémon.

The little creepy crawler evolves into Galvantula (in Japanese: デンチュラ  “Dentula”) at level 36, where it remains a bug/electric dual type. This little electric arachnid is often found in caves.

Galvantula does not Mega-Evolve, at least not at this time. Apparently they are easy to breed.

You could name a male Joltik “Joltin Joe” after baseball legend “Joltin’ Joe DiMaggio“. I was at a loss for what to name a female Joltik … I thought … “it is a crawler … No, a walker…” so I finally came up with “WalkAwayRené” after the famous 1966 hit song by Left Banke — “Walk Away Renée”.  I maxed out my 12 allowed letters.

Listening to this really takes me back. Here is the original black and white music video. It is pretty cool for a 1960s promo clip. Remember there was not an MTV or such outlet for this type of promo film back then! Watch for Renée to appear in the clouds above the trees  —  it is a sweet moment. The sound of this vid was recorded very low however. You can also listen to a 45 record with better sound linked here, or a crystal clear CD linked here.  Lyrics are linked here. You will note that this song has a very pretty melody. It is also a sad and haunting melody. You see, back in the mid 1960s — pop songs actually had  melodies!!! Kids, learn something from this well-crafted 1960s song.

Dozens of singers have recorded “Walk Away Renée”.  I have links here for versions by Linda Ronstandt, Marshall Crenshaw (my fav cover), The Four Tops (Motown version), Rickie Lee Jones, and Cyndi Lauper, to list just a few. Perhaps your favorite singer has covered it. This cover by Herman’s Hermits is spot on.

I bet you will be getting into it when you try it at karaoke tonight … you shy little spider.

Remember Renée from up in the clouds? Well, here she is again in a little Galvantula cosplay:

“Your name and mine inside a heart upon a wall — Still finds a way to haunt me —  though they’re so small”

“Just walk away, Renee — You won’t see me follow you back home — The empty sidewalks on my block — are not the same …”

Considering Galvantula:  I chose the name “Boris” as a tribute to John Entwistle’s song made famous by The Who.

The spider can learn moves like Electroweb, Electroball and Sticky  Web. However, I prefer straight ahead attacks such as X-Scisscor, Bug-Bite or Thunderbolt.

I have also used the name “Galveston” after the town out on the barrier island coast of Texas — and the Glen Campbell song of the same name!

Galveston should never be confused with Houston, Texas however. Both cities are coastal, but there are some notable differences between them. Galveston is a more idyllic resort area. Not so with Houston. Galveston is well known as a good place to go for Spring Break! Galveston has several “Bikini Contests” each season.

“I clean my gun … and dream of Galveston” — Glen Campbell.

Houston? Meh. There is this old joke about the married couple from Dallas, Texas who wanted to spice-up their sex life. The man asks his wife if there was anything new he could do to please her in sexually. She replies “I want you to kiss me in that place that is down-and-dirty.”  So he drives her to Houston.

Oh, yeah … I was talking about yellow electric spiders … Other names I have seen for Galvantula include “Voltaire” – after the French writer of the Enlightenment. Voltaire might be a good name for any electric type, and would be probably be a better nickname for a Voltorb. Voltaire wrote during The Enlightenment, so do you think he ever used “Flash“?

“ArachNode” – after a “node” or an interescting point of electrical wiring. “Killabite” would be a play on the kilobyte term in computers and electronics. “Kumonga” – the name of the giant spider who battled Godzilla. “Tetrawatt” or “Quadravolt” may work, as these are both plays on the fact that Garvantula only has four legs apparently. Four less than a spider should have.

What is the name of your electric spider? Please comment.