Pokémon Nicknames: Hoothoot and Noctowl

ShadowBall, use your hooters … er … I mean, Hooters — use ShadowBall!

Hoothoot (in Japanese: ホーホー  “Hoho”) is the “Owl Pokémon”. The little hooter is a dual-type Normal & Flying Pokémon. Hoothoot evolves into Noctowl (in Japanese: ヨルノズク “Yorunozuku”) at level 20, where it remains a Normal/Flying dual-type.

Thus far, there is not a mega-evolved form. Noctowl is a fun Pokémon, but it is not particularly strong. I hope that there will be a mega-evolution someday, where it might be a powerful dual Flying and Psychic type. I like to teach this mysterious bird psychic moves like “Hypnosis” in order to make your opponent sleep.

My favorite name for Noctowl is “Fly-By-Night”. I more often use the music note symbol instead of a dash, because it stands for the RUSH song and album “Fly By Night”. I also like to catch them with a Timer Ball, as the clock graphic seems to fit the name, and the Rush lyrics.

I thought that “Noctowl” sounded like a sleep-aide  or cold medicine, so I named one “Nyquil”. I also named a Hoothoot “Hooterville” after the fictional rural town in the TV series “Green Acres” and “Petticoat Junction”. Even “The Beverly Hillbillies” once went to Hooterville. I named one “Drucker” after Sam Drucker, the grocer at the Hooterville general store.

An obvious owl-related name would be “Hooters” after the famous chicken-wing restaurant. I think I know the reason why that wings restaurant is called “Hooters”. When one eats chicken wings which are a little too spicy, your mouth burns, and you try to fan off your mouth and say “Hooo hot …. “hooo”.

Re-size to fit page.

With all those diners saying “Hooo…” so much, they probably thought that it sounded like owls, and so they might as well just call the place “Hooters”!

Ahem. Other names I might suggest include: “Nox” as a short form of “Equinox” — which might be a cool name too. I think that “Twin Peeks” is good, especially for little Hoothoot. I loved the old TV miniseries “Twin Peaks” created by director David Lynch (the hauntingly beautiful theme song is linked here). Owls were part of the symbolism in this mystery. “Peaks” might mean two glorious mounds of inspiration. but spelled as “Peeks” it refers to the eyes of the owl.

Notice how the viewer is drawn in to that beautiful pair of owl-like peekers.

As seen above, “Who-Are-You” may be a fun name if you like classic rock or that CSI TV show.

I always like that Tootsie Pop commercial with Mr. Owl. I did not find much I liked on the Name Rater site, but I did like these “Dr. Who“, “Nightwing” “and “Athena“.

Owl nicknames may be a topic to explore further! There will be an owl starter Pokémon (named Rowlet) in the new game —  Pokémon Sun and Moon. It releases this November 18th.

What do you name your little hooters? Please comment!

References:

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

http://www.serebii.net/

 

 

Denny’s Classroom — Two centuries of British songwriting, Part 27: “Bodies” by the Sex Pistols

Good morning class. Today in “Two Centuries of British Song and Poetry” we travel back to the late-twentieth century. We will study the origin and development of  “punk rock” theory. (Denny rustles lecture notes on the podium.) We will celebrate and explore the musical and lyrical genius of Mr. Johnny Rotten and Mr. Sid Vicious (now deceased). The song is “Bodies” from the “Never Mind The Bollocks” album by The Sex Pistols, released in October 1977.

Abortion is a serious and controversial topic. There are relatively few pop songs which cover the issue however. Who else to explore this debate than with these preeminent and prototypical late 1970s punk rock icons? (Ahem.) Perhaps it is best if we play the song first. Please hold your discussion points until AFTER the song plays. (Denny senses some distracted students.) The lyrics are here for you to follow along with.

She was a girl from Birmingham
She just had an abortion
She was a case of insanity
Her name was Pauline  (she lived in a tree)

She was a no one who killed her baby
She sent her letters from the country
She was an animal
She was a bloody disgrace!

Body! I’m not an animal
Body! I’m not an animal

Dragged on a table in factory
Illegitimate place to be
In a packet in a lavatory
Die little baby screaming!!!
Body! screaming fucking bloody mess
Not an animal
It’s an abortion 

Body! I’m not animal!
Mummy! I’m not an abortion!

[Spoken]
Throbbing squirm,
gurgling bloody mess
I’m not a discharge!
I’m not a loss in protein!
I’m not a throbbing squirm!

Fuck this and fuck that —
Fuck it all and fuck a fucking brat
She don’t wanna baby that looks like that
I don’t wanna baby that looks like that
Body, I’m not an animal
Body, an abortion

Body! I’m not an animal
Body! I’m not an animal
An animal
I’m not an animal…..
I’m an abortion…..

Mummy! UGH!

We should also enjoy this lovely live version from way back in 1978. This really really takes me back to my youth. I’m the guy with glasses in the third row. 

The lyrics – which are tame by today’s standards – were quite shocking in 1977, as were the Sex Pistols, as was British punk rock music in general. The protagonist of the song is an unborn fetus. It pleads to its insipid mother that “I am not an animal”. To no avail. It dies a “screaming bloody gurgling mess” during an illegal abortion. If you watch the live version, note that at one point Johnny Rotten twists his microphone cord around his neck to symbolize the abortion procedure against the unborn child. Sid Vicious was cutting himself on stage by that time, so the extra blood further illustrates the poetic complexity. The last lyric line is simply “Ugh” — the death of the would-be human baby.

What would the world have been like if the mother of John Lydon had an abortion?

The music is exemplary punk rock music. When I young musicians, and they sometimes tell me that “the Pistols” are one of their influences. I always say “Do you know what the Sex Pistols were really like?!?” It is true, their album is full of what would now be considered punk clichés. They invented the punk rock standard.  (I suggest that readers view the interesting mocumentary “The Great Rock-and-Roll Swindle” for a fuller story.)

The lyrics do open up a number of questions of course …

Now, I know what you are thinking: How right-wing reactionary they must have been …  writing an anti-abortion song. Of course, the Sex Pistols were anything but conservative – they were very much the opposite actually .. despite the Pro-Life message of this song.

The 20 week fetus: I’M NOT AN ANIMAL!

I think the reason why they presented this horror show was to shake up the complacency of British society. Abortions by this time were legal, although restricted, in Britain. Middle and upper class British women having abortions would just be another thing for Mr. Rotten to be critical of. He would also be critical of “all the bloody starvation and oppression” in the world as well.  The ant-abortion statement here, I believe, is just another way for him to say “Fuck you England – you’re stupid”. Whatever is the norm, he would seek to tear down. Anything against the British majority — which would make him correct only 80% of the time! (Denny looks out at students to see if anyone is challenged by his last statement).

“God save the Queen – because this is a FASCIST regime … there is no future for you …. and England’s dreaming …”.

(cough). Oh, that one is actually another song for perhaps another lesson. It is thematic of the entire record however. (Denny desperately trying to get a student reaction.)

Now would that also be true for …

(Bell rings: Sound of students packing, getting up, leaving, talking.)  … As a reminder … (Denny speaking over the clamoring sounds of students packing)  … class … please post your comments to the course message board by Monday at 9:00 am. Oh, and I will NOT be in my office on Tuesday … but I will hold an extra hour after my regular office hours on Thursday.

Starlight: 1977 … Hmm … For right or for wrong … the Sex Pistols and punk rock were part of my transitioning to reject drugs, my neighborhood, my school, and my hometown.

Kimonos on Monday: I love my, love my, love my JKT48 Calendar girls, yeah, my Jakarta girls …

Starlight: It took over two months for this starlight to reach my world.

Usually I provide the starlight distance at the end of a post, but I feel very embarrassed that it has taken me so long to find the JKT48 in Kimonos Calendar for 2016. These would be great images for your desktop. They were created by a contest last year, where JKT fans got to vote for their favorite “Calendar Girl” (Denny starts humming Neil Sedaka‘s tune already). The 13 women who received the most votes got a month (plus one leap day).

I suggest listening to the song linked here (it will open in a new window, I copied his lyrics in the photo cations). Then just click on the image for the full, WALLPAPER SIZE! Set it as your background each month! The holidays noted on each month are for recognized days in Indonesia. All major religions are noted. I (HEART) you Indonesia, and your religious tolerance*.

Denny singing: Yeah, yeah, my heart’s in a whirl — I love, I love, I love my Monday kimono girls —

January! You start the year off fine!

February! You’re my little valentine!

March! I’m gonna march you down the aisle!

April! You’re the Easter Bunny when you smile!

May! May-be if I ask your dad and mom!

June! They’ll let me take you to the JUNE-ior Prom!

July! … Like a firecracker — all aglow!

August! When you’re on the beach, you steal the show!

September! Light the candles at your Sweet Sixteen!

October! We’re Romeo and Juliet on Halloween!!!

November! I’ll give THANKS that you belong to me

December! You’re the present ‘neath my Christmas tree!!!

Wait! There is one more. 2016 has an extra LEAP day — so why not AN EXTRA KIMONO …  

Oh, you need a wallpaper sized for your MOBILE? No problem. Click on any of the thumbnails and save one for your mobile device.

I love, I love, I love my calendar girls — Yeah, sweet Jakarta kimono girls
I love, I love, I love my Indonesian girls — Each and every day of the year!

———————————————————————————-

(Not Neil Sedaka. )

*Check out marvelous Melody’s month of May. Indonesia recognizes Christianity, Islam and Buddhism.  (….and if you consider Marxism to be a “religion”, then even that!).

The national motto of Indonesia is “Unity in Diversity”. Indonesia is predominantly Muslim of course, but other religions are also represented and tolerated. Protestant denominations are from the Dutch colonial period, Roman Catholics dominate near Timor, Bali is Hindu,  Buddhism and Chinese religions are common in most urban places.  

Gratuitous Valentine’s Day Post #27: “Love Without Anger” by DEVO.

 

Nothing says love … like a chocolates box filled with earthworms?  Well, how about a holiday created by a candy corporation?

Today’s music history lesson takes us all the way back to 1981 for a track from Devo’s innovative “New Traditionalists” album.  Way back then DEVO were video poets. They were creative, they were funny. I loved their retro-cool pop cultural references — and their takes on the old sci-fi movies, health films, 1950s politics, etc.  They were despised by the mainstream American culture of course.  Want to get beaten up? Say that you liked Devo. I have fond memories of these Kent-State-University-art-students-turned-new-wave-pop-stars. This song —  “Love Without Anger” featured a mixture of costumes, stop-motion animation, quirky retro references, subliminal messaging and a couple broken eggs. (Lyrics here.)

Oh, it really takes me back to when I was just a spud. Kids, back when Devo started their careers, there was no MTV, and rock music videos were seldom seem. I know, that “Barbie and Ken” animation bit looks like something directly out of “Robot Chicken“. It is crude in comparison, but that is part of its retro-charm. I also believe that this MV inspired Seth Green to create his series.

If you find this MV to be quirky and amusing, please check out the Devo playlists on YerTube. Tell ’em “Boogie Boy” sent yas.

Starlight: 1981 — my period of surfboards and plastic hair. 

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 …”

Pokémon Nicknames: Aerodactyl

(18+ NSFW post) 

Aerodactyl (in Japanese: プテラ “Ptera”) is a “Fossil” Pokémon. Aerodactyl is a Rock-Flying dual type. Given this Pokémon’s large size, Aerodactyl may be more of a Pteranodon rather than a Pterodactyl.

There is not a known pre-evolutionary form of this Pterodactyl-like Pokémon, however it is resurrected from an “Old Amber” fossil. Aerodactyl can Mega-Evolve into Mega Aerodactyl using the Aerodactylite.

You can get the stone in XY from a scientist in the Fossil Lab after you have gone through Glittering Cave. In Alpha-Omega, you can find the stone on the top floor of Meteor Falls after you have the  legendary battle in Sootopolis. It is down the ledges below Zinnia’s grandmother.

Aerodactyle may also be reproduced by breeding, although 87.5% hatch as male. Try hatching a female Aerodactyl. I like to name the females “Terry” or “Petra”.

Actually I was not too sure what hatched here …

… and speaking of breeding like a Pteradactyl … I … er … um … explains the 87.5 to 12.5% ratio .. um …

Readers: When I started this post I truly had NO IDEA that “Dinosaur porn” was indeed a real sub-genre. Ahem.

Not … my … thing … at … all. Like a lot of the sub-genres in pornography … I really do not want to know. I guess I have led a sheltered life … and I probably digress once again.

One name I used was “ToraToraTora” after the Pear Harbor film.

My favorite name for Aerodactyl though is “Aerosmith” after the famous hard rock band. When I was 15, I bought my first Aerosmith album “Get Your Wings”.  (GYW full album linked here.)

I also got to naming them along an Aerosmith theme. I named one “GetYourWings”. I also named another “Dream On”  and added the musical notes to both end of the name.

I’m actually listening to the album right now… haven’t heard it in decades … really takes me back to when I was 15 … (Denny goes into a reverie)

The scene: Denny and his friends in Denny’s basement listening to his new Aerosmith record. “Same Old Song and Dance” is playing.

15-year old Denny: I love this song — rock and roll… Yeah!!! (Denny desperately trying to be cool)

Denny’s Friend #1: “Get  Your Wings”? …  pretty cool. I have the one with “Dream On”.

Denny: Cool

Denny’s Friend #2: Hey Denny, are you going to “get your wings”?

Denny: Yeah — I would love to be a pilot someday. I have my motorcycle, but someday I going to get a pilots license and learn to fly too.

Denny’s Friend #1: No, you asshole … (laughs) don’t you now what “get your wings means” … or “earn your redwings”.

Denny: (sheepishly) uh … yeah … no.

Denny’s Friend #2: That is when you are eating a chick out and she starts having her period. You get her blood all over your face and it looks like a big spread of wings … My brother is a biker and told me all about it.

Denny’s Friend #1: You’ve eaten a girl out before — right?

Denny: Oh … yeah (Laughs nervously, trying to be all-knowing.) 

Actually that would not happen for another dinosaur age.

One of Aerodactyl’s ability’s is “Rock Head” so you can play around with names along that theme: “Flying Rock” or “Drop-A-Rock” (appropriate as Aerodactyl can learn the “Skydrop” move). I like “Rockford” after the old TV show “The Rockford Files” with the late James Garner.

References: As always, I get a lot of my basic information from the Bulbapedia and Serebii websites. The rest of it is … “the same old song and dance — my friend.”

What is the name for your rock-hard Pterodactyl? Please comment.

Pokémon Nicknames: Corphish and Crawdaunt

Image

… and I just happen to HAVE some butter, Miss Misaki!

Corphish (in Japanese: ヘイガニ  “Heigani”) is a Water-type Pokémon. Corphish evolves into Crawdaunt (in Japanese: シザリガー  “Shizariger”) starting at level 30. Where it becomes a WATER & DARK dual- type. Corphish is basically a “crawfish” or “crayfish”. When Corphic evolves into Crawdaunt, it is a much larger, daunting crawfish. Crawdaunt may also be some type of lobster, as it certainly looks enough one.

One of the nonsensical or non-science-i-cal aspects about Pokémon is that Water-types do not appear to be confined to either freshwater or saltwater environments. If Corphish is a freshwater crayfish, it should not evolve into a salt-water lobster. These and other Water-type Pokémon may be caught in either environment apparently – as long as there is a water body — sometime coastal, but then sometimes inland.

I named one Corphish/Crawdaunt the name “Crawdaddy” which is another name for fereshwater crayfish. Crawdaddy was also the name of the 1970s counter-culture magazine, which featured articles on rock music and popular culture. If you love classic rock, you should see if your library has old copies of Crawdaddy.

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The magazine was a lot like “RollingStone”, at least before RollingStone magazine became musically irrelevant and unreadable by the 1990s, … but I digress once again. Kids, it is OK to NOT CARE a lobster shit what RollingStone says. It sucks — but not like in the way you eat a crawdad.

I think that she is the best singer in AKB48, and probably the least “shellfish”.

These photos of Iwasa Misaki (oh … Wasamin … my oshimen … Denny faints … THUD) were taken for her participation in the most recent AKB48 “Janken” tournament. Participants in the tournament always dress in costume. Wasamin came to the event dressed as some type of crustacean. I think she might actually be a shrimp however, not a crayfish. I don’t care – she could be a krill, it is close enough to crawfish for me.  People put butter all over their crayfish and then suck out all the wonderful juice … er .. not that I would ever do that to Wasamin …and I am obviously meandering again.

Some people like to suck the head — the New Orleans method:

I have use the name “Scampi”, after the shrimp dish, but arguably that might be better for the shrimp-like Pokémon Clauncher.

I have also used the name “Prawn Star” because shrimp are prawns, and it sounds like “Porn Star” and Crawdaunt has a yellow star on its head for some reason … or is that just a star-shaped tab of butter?

Other names:

“Pinchy” after the Simpsons episode where Homer adopts a lobster.

“Robert Cray” after the blues guitarist.

“CrayBoy” as word play on the men’s magazine that … um … er … never mind.

“Cray Lola” for a female, word play based on the name for the famous crayon maker.

Of course you can think of other names which have to do with eating southern cooked crawfish. Such names as “Cajun”, “Louisiana”, “Gumbo” , “Jambalaya”,  “Cayenne” “Red Bayou” , etc. come to mind.

What is the name for your suckable crustacean? Please comment!

References: As always, I get a lot of my basic information from the Bulbapedia and Serebii websites. The rest of it is always just a hazy memory of pale ale and cheesecake.

Starlight: Have not smoked a crawdad since 1979.

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.