Pokémon Nicknames: Mudbray and Mudsdale

ALOLA  COUSINS!!!

Mudbray (in Japanese: ドロバンコ  “Dorobanko”) is a GROUND-type Pokémon first found in the Alola Region. It is termed the “Donkey Pokémon”. It appears to us as a donkey (aka a “jackass”) or mule. Mudbray evolves into Mudsdale — the “Draft Horse Pokémon”  (in Japanese: バンバドロ  “Banbadoro”) at level 30, where it remains a GROUND-type. (Bulbapedia reference here.)

Could Mudbray be a mule too? Not technically, since they call it the “donkey Pokémon”. Donkeys, burros and mules all share some resemblance in form however, so I will still use “mule” type names. A mule is produced when a male donkey is bred with a female horse (mare). Another mule-like animal the “Hinny,” is produced when you breed a male horse (stallion)  to a female donkey.

Did anyone ever try breeding a male Mudbray with a female Mudsdale, or a female Mudbray with a male Mudsdale? Go try that at Paniolo Ranch!

Mules are bred to be smaller, but stronger and more durable than a horse. Mules are less obstinate than a donkey. Donkey’s are hard to get along with. There is a reason why donkeys are called “Jackasses”. Jackasses are narrow minded, and they will not listen.  Mules are thus a better choice to be a pack-animal. However, hybrid mules are usually sterile and unable to breed offspring.

When breeding goes wrong at the Paniolo Ranch

“Knoxville” might be a good Mudboy name, after actor Johnny Knoxville who starred in the “Jackass” movie and reality TV show of the same name. I never saw it, let alone ever “tried it at home.” Apparently American audiences thought it was hilariously funny to watch people fall down. Also, lot of people in Knoxville, TN also like to get “down and dirty” like a ground-type should.

They call her “Bucky Becky”. Just be careful with the teeth there Becky.

“Democrat” could be another good donkey name, as the jackass is the symbol of America’s Democratic Party. (Off topic: Elephants are the symbol of the Republican Party, so you could name your Phanpy or Donphan  a GOP themed name, then have them all battle in one big double battle.)

… it lost, but it had such potential!

A great name for a donkey is “Quixote” after Don Quixote the story, the play and the movie. Perhaps “Donkey Oatey” or some variation. Go ahead, and dream the impossible dream.

It used to be that the Pokémon Name Censor would not let you use the letters “ass” – not even in names with the word “grass” as part of them. Apparently this has changed, so “Ass” names will now work, particularly within your own Sun and Moon  game. Suggestions: “AllAbotD.Ass” or some variation.

Sometimes the law … is an ASS!

Teachers might like to use names like “ASS=U+ME” after the old saying – What happens when you assume? … you make an ASS out of YOU and ME. Ha Ha.

“Eddie” after Eddie Murphy who played “Donkey” in the Shrek movies.

Not Eddie Murphy

“My Fav Honky” or “Favrit Honky” is good, if you remember the line in the Steve Martin novelty record “King Tut” (linked here). The record was actually not funny at all, but when he performed it on Saturday Night Live or in concert, it was much, much better with Mr. Martin making his wild-and-crazy Egyptian arm movements.

“Buried with a Donkey – He’s my favorite Honky – King Tut ! ”

The name “Brayboy” is a play on the words”bray” and  “playboy” because jackasses do bray like — well — like jackasses. Plus, most “playboys” are narcissistic jackasses. They think they are “Plow Boys” though.

Sometimes you can base a name on which “Hidden Power” it can learn. For example, “Assisgrass” learned “grass type” as its Hidden Power.

Other famous donkeys include “Eeyore” from Winnie The Poo, “Benjamin” from George Orwell’s “Animal Farm” and the funny sounding “Baba Looey” from the old Hanna-Barbara cartoon Quick Draw McGraw.

You could play with Burro names, like “BurroSupreme” for Taco Bell lovers. “Paco Packo” or similar — since burros are good pack animals.

The name “Forty Acres” or “40 Acres” would work for a mule, after the famous American expression regarding the lost “American Dream” — “Where is MY 40 acres and a mule?”

I like the name “Okey Dokey” for a donkey or a draft horse.

Mudsdale is a “draft horse” or workhorse, bred to pull a wagon load. Such horses were not bred to be racehorses, however some racehorses are bred to be “mudders” — able to run fast in muddy tracks. Thus, you should breed your female Mudsdale to be an effective ground type. “His mudder was a mudder” is a common phrase for bookies handicapping a race. Thus you should use a mudder-type name — I suggest “Tuff Mudder” or “Mudder Effer“.

Mudsdale’s signature move is a kicking move: “High Horsepower“. Kicking-type names like “Kick-Grass” — or horsepower type names like “500 Ponies”  may work. “Horse Sense” might make sense.

A good name for a horse is “Hot-to-Trot“. Oh —  and you may want to view my suggestions for Ponyta and Zebstrika for other equus suggestions. I would like to someday compose an all-Equus Pokémon team.  You could have Clydesdale, Mudbray, Rapidash, and Ponyta. Plus, Zebstrika and Blitzle could be there too.

Mudsdale also appears to have dreadlocks or a braided mane.  You could try “braid” type names — but I can’t think of many.

Found on Deviantart website. I might name a Mudsdale “Greco-Roman” now.

You could base names on the large hairy hooves this horse breed has — “Horseplop“ for example, after the sound of hooves clopping down the road. “Cloggs” might resonate, if you like that type of shoes.

I would like to use the name “Kadiddlehopper” after the famous Red Skelton character Clem Kadiddlehopper .  Unfortunately there are too many letters. Maybe just “Kadiddle” would be a fun name for a plucky horse companion. The Mudsdale which I raised to battle the Alola Champion was called “Diddly Doo” — after the phrase made famous by Simpson’s neighbor Ned Flanders.

Mudsdale is obviously based on a “Clydesdale” horse. We all know about Clydesdales from watching Budweiser beer’s Super Bowl commercials. When I was just a kid, and my teenage friends and I would illegally sneak and drink beer, we would call them “Butt-weipers.” (Everything was funnier back then.) Thus, Clydesdale names might be  “Clyde” or “Bud Wiser” for males.  You could use horse names like “Happy Hoofer” (after the “Happy Hooker” books and advice column) for female Mudsdales.

The late TV announcer Ed McMahon  was long associated with the Clydesdales. He was also famous for his drinking. When I used to see the McMahon-narrated Clydesdale commercial of the horses pulling a big wagon packed tall with cases of beer —  I would joke “Yup, they are on the way to Ed McMahon’s garage.”

McMahon was Johnny Carson’s sidekick – or second banana – but he had a great jovial  laugh which made him agreeable to everyone. So name your Pokémon “McMahon”, “HiYo!” or “Sidekick”, especially since Mudsdale has strong kicking moves.

You know, I can do a pretty good Ed McMahon imitation. I know that it is dated, but just listen to my loud, boisterous laugh:

PUUUUHH  HUUUH  HUUH ,  PUUUUUUUUUUHHH ,  HUHH  HUH  HUHH

…. HOO  HOOH  PUUUHHH  HAAAH.

I sound just like him, right?

Pokémon Nicknames: Bidoof and Bibarel

 

Bibarel, the “Beaver Pokémon (in Japanese: ビーダル  “Beadaru”) is both a Normal-type and Water-type. Bibarel evolves from Bidoof starting at level 15. Bidoof (in Japanese: ビッパ  “Bippa” ) is the “Plump Mouse Pokémon”. It is a Normal-type. Although Bidoof is a mouse, it resembles a beaver. Many players consider it to be a useless Pokémon, however it can learn most HMs. A fun nickname may also help.

I enjoyed naming Bidoof/Bibarel funny names while playing Pokémon Platinum. However since the introduction of the X-Y Name censor, you may no longer use the word “Beaver” as part of any name. “LoveBeaver” used to be good. I wish that there were more than 10 spaces available however — as I would prefer to name one “The Love Beaver” as a play on “The Love Boat” (I’m imagining the theme right now … “The love beaver, soon will be having another run …” (Denny singing in his “polyester-lounge-singer” voice). Put a LoveBeaver on your team!

I like ““LuvBeaver”, but again — the name censor will no longer allow it. The trick is to change the word to a similar form similar words – such as Beever or Beavre.  Now “beaver” does not have to be a dirty word! Have we gotten to the PC point where we cannot even call a real beaver “a beaver”?

Oh, Love won’t hurt anymore …

It’s an open smile …

On a friendly shore …

“L.I.T.B.” may be good, as that is the acronym for “Leave it to Beaver”. I have also named them “Mathers” after Jerry Mathers” the young actor who played “The Beaver” on that legendary TV show.

I like to use Canada or Hockey themed names for these Pokémon as well. My favorite Bidoof/Bibarel nickname is “Slapshot”. If you are a hockey fan, then you have seen Slapshot. It is a primer on funny in the 1970s, and holds up well today. One bit of advice, if you see it on TV, make sure it is the uncensored version. I used to see this on late night TV, where instead of saying “F@3% You, you C@#^*&@!!!” the dub would have “Oh, you bad guy!” Such an injustice to a film which took profanity to an entirely new level! Here is a good “Hanson Brothers” scene:

A Beaver’s tail can slap, and perhaps it could hit a hockey puck “Puck” might be a good name. I also like “Patty” because the beaver tail should be able to pat a rhythm.

Experiment with other Canadian names like “Canuk” or “Buck Canuck“. 

Other Canadian-fur-trapper names may also be fun. “Jacques Fur”, or “FurrBurgre” for example.You play around with it. I use “Bucky” sometimes as this Pokémon is “buck-toothed” — and “Bucky Becky” for females. Other teeth or wood-themed names are suggested.  Beavers build dams so that could be another theme. (“Hoover Dam”, etc.)  “Ms.Woodmunch” makes it at 12 letters.

Others: “Beiber” as in Justin Beiber – as “Beiber” and “beaver” sound nearly the same. “Daggett” is a reference to the Nickelodeon show. “Gibson” may be a reference to the Mel Gibson Beaver movie.

For Bidoof: “Derp” or “Derp Face” is used due to how it looks. “Muffin” or “Stuff Muffin” might be good for Bidoof as it looks like a muffin, but this makes lese sense for Bibarel.

What do you like to call your Beaver?

Bibarel use surf while I sing the L.B. Theme! “Come aboard …”

KIMONOS ON MONDAY: Kimono costume wardrobe worn in the 1980 TV series “Shogun”

Blackthorne: “Is this the Japans?”

Kimono costume wardrobe in the 1980 TV series “Shogun”:

I watched the “Shogun” TV miniseries when it first aired way back in 1980. I watched it again last year. Now that I have a much greater interest in kimonos and Japanese culture, I enjoyed it a lot more.

The show was a ground breaking series. Much as European countries knew little about “The Japans” in the 16^th century, most Americans knew little about Japanese culture in 1980. (Yes, count me too.) I can recall back then when the “urination scene” and the “beheading scene” caused a lot of reaction.* The great thing about re-watching it on Netflix DVD was that there are many “making of” special features and interviews included.  One of the irritating things is that there are no subtitles or closed captions. Like Richard Chamberlain‘s “Blackthorne” character, the viewer has to keep asking “What did he say”?  The sets, the artwork and the costumes were great.  It was a treat to watch the great Toshiro Mifune as Shogun Toranaga. At one point in the interviews, the director said that millions of American men fell in love with the “Mariko” character. (Yes, count me too.) The actress Yoko Shimada was cast at the last minute, when the original actress left for a singing career. She was  fascinating to watch.

*I encourage you to watch-it-again-for-the-first-time!

Here is a snippet from the gentle musical soundtrack (from there, YouTube links to more).

Starlight: It took 34 years for me to re-view this wonderful TV miniseries! 

Pokémon Nicknames: Vulpix and Ninetales

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Vulpix and Ninetales

Vulpix (in Japanese: ロコン “Rokon”) is a Fire-type Pokémon. Vulpix evolves into the Fire-type Ninetales (in Japanese: キュウコン  “Kyukon”) when exposed to a Fire Stone.

I named a Vulpix “Lucy” after Lucille Ball, the television actress famous for the “I Love Lucy” TV series.  Lucy was the matriarch of zany comedy. This lady knew funny! The late actress was famous for her red hair (not her natural color).  I think that the red curly hair on Vulpix looks like classic Lucy.  You have to wonder if Vulpix would have fared any better on a chocolate factory assembly line.

Like Lucy herself, that little Vulpix is also known for getting into hilarious predicaments!

I named a male Vulpix “Fiero“ after the sporty Pontiac so common in the 1980s. Oh, so common.  You kids cannot believe how many of these faux Ferrari there were back then. (Ferrari is also a great ame for Vulpix/Ninetails!!!) Everyone was buying them.  You asked someone what kind of car they were considering buying, they would always say “I’m thinking of getting a Fiero”!!!

Despite this ad, there was actually little room in a Fiero for “Hauling Oats”!

They were actually a neat design. Most American cars in the 1980s were standard “box on wheels”. It is surprising that General Motors released this plucky little mid-engine sports car. (Reminds me of Vulpix!) Of course they were fun, until the mid-engine just underneath the passenger compartment would catch fire, and so many had to be recalled, but I digress once again ….

Ninetales of course, is based on the “Fox Spirit” in Japanese/East Asian mythology.

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Ninetales is more of a “strawberry blonde” than a redhead however.  I still think that Lucy, or other fire name will still work when it evolves.

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You could name them Fuego for a little Spanish fast fire flare.  Vixen is good for females. Kitsune (from Japanese mythology) is great for Ninetales. Fawkes (sounds like “fox”) might be good – after Guy Fawkes  the fire-bombing revolutionary so many rich, spoiled college students admire.  Just name your Vulpix/Ninetales after a fun and firey redhead who you know!

I am going to stick with Lucy.

What is the name for your little redhead?  Please Comment!

Pink Lady, I owe you an apology.

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“I would rather eat worms than ride a Jap bike”

OK, how about this for idea for an American TV series: An all-girl Jpop group comes to America and teams up with a dorky American comedy guy.  Sounds too good (for Denny) to be true?

In fact there WAS a 1980 television show close to the Denny dream,  No, I’m NOT making this up. Despite the brain cells I killed in my late 70s and early 80s “punk rocker” days, I can still recall the NBC show “Pink Lady and Jeff”.

The NBC show is regarded by most TV historians and critics as “one of the worst television shows ever”. There was a time in the late 70s/early 80s when NBC produced a number of shows now regarded as “worst ever”.  Not the type that were “so bad that they are good” – just shows that were BAD. Remember “Sherriff Lobo?!?”, “BJ and the Bear”!!?? … “Manimal”???!!!

Unfortunately, Pink Lady’s variety show is on that list. Six programs were produced, but only five aired, as it was hated so much. It did not play in Peoria. Looking back, it did NOT deserve the hatred that was set loose on it.  Full disclosure: I also thought it was pretty stupid. It was full of actors and musical acts I could not care for.  I want to make an apology to you Pink Lady, for my involvement and anything I said.

The following is from the Pink Lady and Jeff Wikipedia article:

“The series starred Japanese female singing duo Pink Lady — Mitsuyo Nemoto, (“Mie”) and Keiko Masuda  (“Kei”), and American comedian Jeff Altman (who oddly was also on “The Dukes of Hazard” show over on CBS in the same time slot – DS). The format of the show consisted of musical numbers alternating with sketch comedy. The running gag of the series was the girls’ lack of understanding of American culture and the English language; in reality, Pink Lady did not speak English. (It is cringe-inducing to watch the dialog — DS) Jeff would then attempt to translate and explain the meaning of things, which led to more confusion.”

I do love a good fish-out-of-water story. Oh, man so much potential, and actually the ladies are pretty good.  The group was very popular in Japan (here is one of their songs “SOS” linked here), but unheard of in America. Heard that before?  VideoPirates on YouTube has produced a clip show here.  It is jaw-dropping amazing. Forget the train wreck … this is worse … you can’t look away …

See … “UN-FREAKING BELIEVABLE LOIS!!!”  Pop Culture enthusiasts: WATCH THIS!!! It is a great cross-section through the wasteland that was American popular culture.  Looking back, some acts I do like.  There was a nice moment where Pink Lady met the great Roy Orbison.

The producers Marty Krofft and Fred Silverman recall a story during production:  When the girls arrived in Los Angeles they wanted to go to Disneyland.  Of course no Americans knew who the Japanese star duo were, but there are many Japanese tourists at Disneyland, so the girls were mobbed for autographs.

They were so beautiful … and I was so dumb …

It is really too bad .. and unfair that the show was over-criticized by the American audience.  (Consider the crap we watched on our three channels at that time.)  Watch these clips.  Comedian Jerry Lewis is there, and he even performs his usual “HEY LADY” schtick.  Looking back, some of the jokes were really, really bad.  Many would be considered “politically incorrect” as well today. Some of the guest stars were has-beens, or “never-weres”.  Some like Roy Orbison and Alice Cooper would revive their careers later in the 1980s.  I have to admit it — their duet with Donny Osmond does sound pretty good. I hated seeing Playboy Hugh Hefner interacting with the girls however. (Cut to Denny imitating Homer Simpson — shaking a threatening fist ”Get away from them you old perv.”). However, all through that Mie anf Kei are GREAT!  Their sweet personalities shine through the goofy sketches. They are super pretty, look great in the bikinis, and I love their musical performances.  Well, now .. not back then … Sheena was a punk rocker.

“I would rather eat worms than ride a Jap bike”  my leather-clad biker companions would say. In fact I would see that on T-shirts. There was a significant amount of anti-Japanese sentiment and misunderstanding in the industrial cities of America in the 1970s and 1980s.

I grew up in a corrupt American steel-making city. The mill-hicks would always go ape-shit over imported steel product.

Myself, I did not ride a Harley.  I rode a “rice grinder” — a Yamaha 250 dirt bike. (FYI: This is a completely different type of motorsport than the Harley crowd). My dad was a steelworker, and cussed me out for the Japan import.  Assholes would ask me: “Why do you ride a JAP bike?” “Are you broke? .. eat your import”

Why the Japan-bashing? Well, they were beating our pants off, and we union-bleeding creeps wanted our government to “protect” us.  Meaning: “Slap a $1,000 tax on all Japanese auto imports.” I remember this statement getting a cheering ovation at my graduation. We made cars. Japan made better cars for a cheaper price. But isn’t that what America is all about? Man, I have seen factory workers smoke pot and snort THC right on the job. If you have ever seen the Michael Keaton movie “Gung Ho” – you will see how the comedy film captures the anti-Japanese feeling at the time. So many of the World War II veterans also had jobs in the mills, and you should know how they felt about Japan.

Things were different in California. Everyone drove imports there.  I think if the Pink Lady producers knew what type of resentment there was in the US Northeast, they may not have backed the show. That is beside the point of it being a goofy idea.

Pink Lady and Jeff – unfortunately — was doomed from the start.  OK, it was a goofy show, but so were all the others. Pink Lady — I apologize for the bad Hollywood television writers. I apologize for the bad taste of the American public. We just were not ready. Pink Lady (and even you Jeff) … I apologize for not seeing your beauty and talent back then.  I would love to see a reunion concert or show in America.

It would be great if the media geniuses in Hollywood would take advantage of the otaku market in America and create a Japanese variety show for the US audience.

I sure know where you can find the dumb American co-host … I will wait for the call.

Starlight: It took 24 years for me to see the beauty of Pink Lady.

Pokémon Nicknames: Miltank

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Miltank ( in Japanese: ミルタンク  “Miltank”) aka “The Milkcow Pokémon” is a  Normal-type Pokémon.  She does not evolve.

You have no idea how many “Japanese milking videos” I had to watch to snag this graphic.

I named a Miltank “Lisa Cuddy”.  Lisa Cuddy was a character played by Lisa Edelstein on the Medical-mystery TV series “House”. Sometimes I just name them “Lisa” or “Cuddy”.

I think that the name is appropriate because the name “Cuddy” sounds and resonates like “udders” as in cow’s udders. Also, cows chew their “cud”, so that is another cow reference. Also, “Edelstein” (her Twitter linked here), sounds like a breed of cow, similar to “Holstein”. Of course both of those names may be appropriate variants for Miltank – but how many Miltank do you really want in your Pokémon Bank?

“More Cowbell” is a good name for fans of 1970s rock bands.

I like a Miltank to have the “Thick Fat” ability.  It seems fitting for a defensive cow. Some trainers think that her “Milk drink” move is a little bizarre, however.

Of course, “Bossie” might be good as a cow name. I think that some variant of “Elsie” or “Borden” may be good, as those were famous dairy examples.

I caught one in a Timerball which I named “Milking Time“.

Please enjoy some of these Pokémon Miltank cosplays:

When I was growing up, Fathers often used this phrase as a warning to their daughters. You know the old saying:

Why marry a cow, when you can drink milk at home.

Wait, that’s not it … was it: Why buy a cow, when you can pay for your own milk?

… and I don’t think that is it …

Why have sex with a cow, when Lisa Edelstein is married?

No, that’s definitely not it.  Um …

Do you have a favorite name for this unique Pokémon? Please comment!

“She has a smooth face, because she thinks smooth thoughts.”

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Japanese-American actress Miyoshi Umeki (1929-2007) poses with her Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. She is the only Asian actress to have won an Oscar in a major category.  She is best known for the role as “Katsumi”  the wife of  an American soldier (Red Button) in  the 1957  film Sayanora.  Pop Culture addicts know her better as “Mrs Livingston”!  Aging baby boomers and American television historians are all familiar with “The Courtship of Eddie’s Father” .  It starred Bill Bixby (before he became The Incredible Hulk), Brandon Cruz, and the beautiful Miyoshi Umeki.

The show was about a widowed father Tom Corbett, played by Bixby. Brandon Cruz was his son Eddie, and Miyoshi Umeki who played their Japanese housekeeper “Mrs. Livingston.”  We might assume that Mrs. Livingston is a widow who had been married to a Brit (and maybe an explorer? … ha ha).  The series mostly was about Eddie, who wanted his father to remarry so he could have a mother.  Eddie would try to manipulate his father’s relationships with women, sometimes even trying to set his father up, or to get him to  fall for women Eddie knows and liked first. (Boomers will remember the famous theme song by Harry Nilson linked here.)

Mrs. Livingston was a serene woman, full of wisdom, and (arguably) took on the role as surrogate parent. One of Mrs, Livingston’s most endearing ways was her habit of always addressing Tom Corbett– her employer — as “Mr. Eddie’s Father”! This was her way of expressing who she considered to be the most important member of the family under her care.

The show always had an opening scene where Eddie and his father would be having these simple, yet deep conversations along a beach or a playground.  The conversations between father and son reminded us of our own interactions with our fathers.  Once, when Eddie broached the subject of Mrs. Livingston, Eddie made this Zen-like observation: “Mrs. Livingston has a nice face.  It is very smooth.  She has a smooth face because she thinks smooth thoughts”.

Indeed.

Ms. Umeki-san was also a respected singer of American standards.  She played Asian roles of course:  She was notable for her role as “Mei Li” in the 1958 Broadway musical and subsequent 1961 film “Flower Drum Song”.  Here is a clip of Miyoshi-san singing “My Ship” on the old Andy Williams show.  Beautiful.  Sorry for the low quality video.  but now I’m melting …

I will also include this playlist from YouTube.  There are many moments of interesting American television history here.  I like how she accepted her Oscar wearing a kimono (see the second video in the playlist).  She is the only one in Academy Awards history to ever do so!  I loved seeing her come down the isle in kimono!!!

I raise my glass, and drink a toast to remember you dear lady.