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.

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 …”

KIMONOS ON MONDAY: Squeezing out some sweetness with Mion Mukaichi

Time to cool down this blazing hot summer with some light colored floral kimonos, and some creamy sweetness of AKB48 member Mion Mukaichi.

I mean that ice cream thing young Miion is holding …

Papico is a brand of Japanese ice cream treats. Seen here is the “Chocolate Coffee” flavor, although Miion knows that my favorite is “Vanilla Shake” flavor. The company also makes several “seasonal” and “special” flavors each year.

This is an unusual way to package an ice cream treat! Each pack contains two plastic “bottles” that must be broken and twisted open.  When I first saw this photo, I did not know the package was ice cream. The top of the bottle looks to me like some type of ladies razor, good for trimming certain sensitive areas, well … you know.  My mind wanders when I get hungry.

Papico is popular with both kids and adults, despite the odd packaging. The reward is you can suck out the sweetness from the bottle – but don’t be greedy. You can share the other one. Warning: There are stories of  ice cream lovers who have damaged their gums on the plastic, trying to suck out the last, small amounts of sweetness.

Everyone should be as open to trying new things like this 17-year old Team K member.

I chose Miion because of her sandals!

Miion is wearing a perfect summer kimono combo here. Her hair ornaments and sandals fit the outfit perfectly.

Perfect for sharing with another member. “Everybody Suck” indeed (non-kimono song). Also enjoy how lovely the other members were this day!

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

For more AKB48 members in colorful kimonos see this TV commercial linked here.

http://papico.glico.com/cm/15papico_cm2_30.html

Starlight: Mion Mukaichi 向井地 美音   (Mukaichi Mion) born January 29, 1998 in Saitama Prefecture.

My tastes are NOT “Vanilla” !

Image

I look at this and wonder if I will be eating beaver …

When someone asks my favorite ice cream flavor I always say “vanilla” — but often to a look of indignant disbelief. “You must be boring” they think. I guess my tastes are vanilla – but I am referring to the real vanilla.

“Vanilla” does NOT mean “flavorless.” Vanilla IS a flavor.

I also think that vanilla complements the true flavor of ice cream better than other flavors. Oh you can have your “50 shades” of different syrups if you want. Maybe you want to try it all, that’s OK. You have the right to experiment a little — but you are deviating from what is really ice cream.  If you have to dress your ice cream with all kinds of syrups, nuts, springy-jelly things and the like, then I would say that you are missing the point of ice cream! That weird stuff is NOT a real ice cream experience.

Somehow in your mind all those strange add-on things are taking the place of the real ice cream. I will just mash my face in vanilla thank you.

Just the vanilla ice cream is all I need. Me, my mouth, and the ice cream. I love how I get that “pre taste” from the ice cream just as my mouth glides to it.  The anticipation — the excitement — the electricity. Before my mouth is even on it I can perceive the affective flavor.  My tongue will glide forward, that’s when I am hit with my favorite flavor. My mouth and the mounds of creamy goodness become intertwined. Real vanilla is rich, deep and luxurious. Toppings? I do not want or need anything weird or distracting.

Vanilla is not “bland” – in fact, real vanilla is a very intense and sumptuous flavor. Vanilla flavor is derived from the orchid pods of Vanilla planifolia, a flower indigenous to Central America. There are three sub-species of Vanilla, the best and most famous is “Bourbon vanilla” aka “Madagascar vanilla”.

The wonderful flavor comes from a special place near the ovaries.

Madagascar and surrounding Indian Ocean counties are where much of the world’s commercial vanilla is grown. Check that bottle of vanilla extract in your cupboard! I bet it says that it is a product of Madagascar. I hope it does.

I love the scent and taste of vanilla extract! … as long as it is the real thing. When I purchase vanilla ice cream, I never buy those with “artificial” flavoring. There I might agree … THAT artificial vanilla is boring. You might as well just be eating a picture of vanilla, because “that ain’t vanilla.” Nothing artificial should be part of the ice cream experience.

Let me warn you, there is another way to obtain — quotes: “natural flavoring” — of vanilla. Extract from the anal oil glands of beavers is used to create “vanilla” flavoring. (No, I am NOT making that up.) Now, the real Vanilla sp. plant is very labor expensive because it must be hand pollinated. (The plant can only be pollinated by a species of bee found only in a small region of Middle America.)

The substitute vanilla, made from beaver, is very common in ice cream packaged as “naturally flavored” vanilla.  You see, if you create a vanilla-like flavor from an animal – then that legally counts as “natural”. It is just our human taste chemistry. Thus, the best part of a beaver tastes like rich, creamy vanilla.

I admit, I like to eat the beaver on occasion. You have probably licked beaver yourself. It is highly likely that you were munching the furry rodent if have eaten some “naturally flavored” vanilla.  Naturally flavored, but not naturally flavored with Madagascar vanilla – naturally flavored with – ahem – you know.

Pick up some “vanilla bean” ice cream today, and dive into its intoxicating creamy flavor.

https://www.beanilla.com/madagascar-vanilla-beans

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vanilla

http://voices.nationalgeographic.com/2013/10/01/beaver-butts-emit-goo-used-for-vanilla-flavoring/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castoreum

They should wait, maybe the dessert will be “naturally flavored”.

Starlight: I can’t count how many times I was actually munching the furry rodent.