#Launchpad 1991 answers

[tokuvivor]

Describe what you like about the canon friendship of Launchpad with Scrooge and Drake! And do you have any headcanons for their relationships?

Okay, this is a very interesting question! I’ll try and answer as clearly and in-depth as I can.

Canon:

There isn’t a whole lot of evidence of Launchpad and Scrooge’s friendship, but I admire that Scrooge has come to expect that Launchpad is not a perfect driver/pilot. He expects to get roughed up more often than not. Scrooge is probably also very thankful that Launchpad doesn’t usually get them hurt. And he seems to appreciate Launchpad’s loyalty. There are probably any number of things Launchpad has done/crashes he’s gotten into that could’ve gotten him fired, but it just hasn’t happened (per that one short).

As for Drake, I love how their friendship seems to be a lot less one-sides than it usually is in the 1991 series. I love their mutual bond over the Darkwing Duck show, and how they just sit around, playing with the action figures, genuinely enjoying themselves. And their trust in one another just amplifies tenfold in Let’s Get Dangerous!. I really hope that if there’s a new Darkwing Duck series, we get these iterations of them in it (and Gosalyn).

Headcanon:

Okay, let’s start with Launchpad and Scrooge.

Even though Scrooge is his boss, Launchpad probably goes to him for advice on occasion. Even if he doesn’t always understand Launchpad’s situation, Scrooge tries to help out as best he can.

Whenever Scrooge goes on an adventure, he always makes sure to go through a checklist of items necessary for the excursion. Occasionally, though, he tends to forget an item, and when Launchpad notices it, he’ll run and get it. Also, due to his strength, whenever he’s the designated pilot for an adventure, he helps Scrooge load up the Sunchaser. Sometimes, he even ends up doing it on his own.

Now for Launchpad and Drake!

This one is a fairly obvious one: They both end up adopting Gosalyn at some point after Let’s Get Dangerous!. Drake ends up usually staying in St. Canard with her, while Launchpad commutes between St. Canard and Duckburg.

They both love the original Darkwing Duck show. Once a week, they have Darkwing viewing nights. Not that they’re entirely necessary, though, as they can recite episodes pretty much verbatim. Since Launchpad got Beakley into the show, she occasionally joins them.

When it comes to cooking, Drake starts out as the more proficient one. But eventually, Launchpad works his culinary skills up to a point where he’s fairly on par with Drake.

Sorry this is so belatedly posted, but I hope that answers it for you, whomever you may be!

[dvlaunchpad-mcquack]

Launchpad, what are you looking for in a relationship?

Aww, gee. I think this quote kinda sums it up?

I know that’s not going to be an everyday thing. Some days are tough and it’s hard to listen to anything except your own head at times. But a real friend hears your silence and sees where you’re headed and gives you flags to guide ya back to the tarmac. It might not be the tarmac you were aiming for but maybe you were running low on fuel, or your altimeter is messed up. Maybe you just need to get out of the clouds for a bit and scrape the ice off the windshield.

I dunno where I’m going with this…

Any way. Friends are important all the time but a real friend helps guide ya home and meets ya midway in the storm.

[backtothefuturefan88]

Although wouldn’t it be traumatic for Drake if he came face to face with Darkwarrior Duck, finding out that this could be a possible future for him?

And sweet himbo Launchpad, how could he react to the violent, efficient Nega-Launchpad?

Oh, Drake would have a complete breakdown if he ever saw DarkWarrior and found out exactly how that version of him become like that.

He would want to know where Gos was 24/7 and would get no sleep.

He would probably try to keep a 24/7 surveillance on Megavolt and Quackerjack to insure that they both don’t go time traveling again, and if they do he’d try and keep Gosalyn as far away from them as possible. I’d say he’d even get paranoid over S.H.U.S.H.’s time traveling golf kart and would ask for it to be securely locked away somewhere where no can find it.

If Drake was never canonically afraid of becoming like Negaduck, I’m fairly certain that DarkWarrior would be the one he’d be afraid of turning into since he’s more similar to DarkWarrior than to Negaduck.

Now Launchpad…

I think Launchpad would start questioning his loyalty to DW.

Not that he thinks that DW could turn into Negaduck or DarkWarrior really, but should he really just go with whatever DW does and not question it? Is he himself really that violent.

But I think it would mostly be him questioning DW’s decisions or morals, and whether if DW is actually the superhero he looks up too.

[askdarkwingduck]

"Hey DW, I wanna propose Donald to Marry me do you think i should go for it?"

Woah!! A Launchpad from another universe?!?! This is really cool!! I wonder how my fellow Launchpad would react right now...

I see you have the hots for your universe's Donald huh? You should go for whoever you're heart desires!! If you want to marry Donald, then go for it!!

Gosh!! It's so exciting to meet a fellow Launchpad from another universe!!

[ducklooney]

Problems in the Mallard family

Here, I got to the important part. From now on, my fanfiction will relate to a crossover between two series or between two super heroes or between two ducks living in the same world who have similar traits and personalities, similar problems, and both are parents. Yes, this story refers to it as well as the later story of the hero's fight against the villains. I know I'm not the only one who writes like this, there are others who wrote it, but no one but me (and I mean another person) has ever written fanfiction related to the Donald Duck comic book, Ducktales (above all I mean the 1987 version), Darkwing Duck and on the Quack Pack (as far as I can see no one has ever written a crossover between Darkwing Duck and the Quack Pack), so maybe I'm the first to write about this and maybe not. What I'm going to write now is from my point of view and the way I see it. If there is anything I did wrong, feel free to correct me. Before I go any further, let me just inform you about some things, so that you can understand later my story, that is, the continuation of my fanfiction story. First, I'll use Darkving Duck or Drake Mallard from the original series (1991 version), so this Drake has nothing to do with Jim Starling or Drake Mallard from the Ducktales reboot. Secondly, as far as Launchpad is concerned, there is no need for me to explain, since one knows what kind of person he is, just to emphasize that he is not too stupid, that is, he is not too idiot as some think. Third, Gosalyn and Honker will be in their teens (between 13 and 15 years old) as Webby and Huey, Dewey and Louie Duck in my previous chapters of my fanfiction story, and that I use the Webby version from the original Ducktales series, not the Ducktales reboot, similar to the Huey, Dewey and Louie Duck I use their Quack Pack version and have nothing to do with the Ducktales reboot version. Let’s understand, I have nothing against their Ducktales reboot version except for some things, but in my fanfiction story I’ll use their Quack Pack version so you understand later what I’ll write about them. So Gosalyn, Honker, Huey, Dewey and Louie are the same age, and Webby is one year or two younger, you know. I always wondered what Gosalyn and Honker would look like as teenagers, I know there is some fanart about it, and I'll probably describe them based on my vision in my fanfiction story. Fourth, they will meet again (this is their second encounter, their first encounter as children, their second encounter as teens, I think of Huey, Dewey, Louie, Webby, Gosalyn and Honker) because they have met before (based on the comic book "Dangerous Currency" when they met Scrooge McDuck and Darkwing Duck and saw their first encounter). Yes, I do not forget, Gosalyn will have similar personalities as in the original, except that she will have some traits (and personalities), typical of teens and that her trait (personalities) will be similar to those of Huey, Dewey and Louie. Fifth, Morgana Macawber in my fanfiction story will be different, in terms of her appearance, namely that she wears wavy hair, not a comb of hair (if that's on what I think it is). The rest will be the same as the old one, but Honker's brother Tank will be an older boy, older than Honker and a little more awkward, and let me just say that I'm not a fan of Honker's brother Tank because he's a really uncultured and uninteresting character, at least to me. I told Donald and Daisy in my fanfiction story earlier. And this is it for now, if there are any questions regarding this, feel free to ask me, I'm free to give you answers. And here I am to continue my story where I left off.

Chapter Four

It was four in the afternoon, at St. Canard was still hot during the month of July and was quiet in one part of the city, since there were no skyscrapers or heavy traffic in that part of the city, and there were all kinds of houses. At one of those houses, a duck entered his house tired of the hard work he had been doing for most of the day, since the morning. as soon as he entered his house he said: "I am the terror that flaps in the night...ah, I forgot the other day, and I'm not even dressed as a super hero. Oops, I have to close the door so someone won't hear me whispering," said the tired Drake Mallard, realizing that he still hadn't yet to say his famous phrase by which he is known as Darkwing Duck (his secret superhero alter ego). As soon as he closed the door, he made his way to his room, seeing his friend, and partly his partner, Launchpad McQuack, watching TV showing sales of some goods, known as the TV Shop. "Hi Drake, you're probably tired now after the hard work you've had. Here, I'm looking at selling comfortable pillows where you can have a good night's sleep. You want me to order it?" Said Launchpad Mcquack to Drake. Launchapd himself was in a Hawaiian T-shirt, a little different from Donald's shirt and in short pants, while Drake was in one business man's suit except that he was not wearing pants. "Yes, Launchpad. Free."-replied Drake, changing his mind for a moment and becoming a little dissatisfied, "Wait, just a second. Is that a pillow that shakes a little like it relaxes me? Is that an advertisement ?!" "Yes, that's the one," Launchpad replied. "Well, I certainly won't.After all, I don't believe in these silly commercials and TV shops at all. Last time I bought a pillow that makes me dream, I almost choke. Not to mention the vacuum cleaner that destroyed my forehead. Please Launchpad, change the channel quickly so I don't throw this purse in my hand right on the TV."-Drake replied dissatisfied. "Fine, I will. But you really won't buy a pillow, maybe it's just the right pillow to help you sleep." "Thank you, Launchpad, but no. I am no longer naive to believe those silly messages to whom they want to push us through their wares and steal our money from this vicious people who have to pay taxes immensely." "Hm, isn't the goal for them to make some money for themselves through their goods?" "Exactly, Launchpad. You see you're not stupid as many people talk and know how to insult," Drake said, taking off his tie and slim coat. "Just a Launchpad to get to my room to change and go back immediately. God, how hot it is for me, it's too warm here," Drake said, sweating and taking quick steps to his room to change and put on his Hawaiian shirt and return be back after one minute. "Of course, but you see the fan working so it's no problem," Launchpad replied. "Yeah, just because he cools you down, not me at all. Just drink this lemonade," Drake said, and took the lemonade that was on the table, drank it, but spit it out at the same time (sorry for the expression). "What's this lemonade? Sour and not cold at all ?!" Drake complains. "Well, lemon is sour," Launchpad replied. "I mean the juice," Drake replied. "You meant lemonade ?! And, this lemonade shouldn't be, maybe I put lemon in the water too much," Launchpad said, scratching his head a little as he thought about it. "Did you put some sugar in?" "Yes, I did not, at all. I forgot completely." - Launchpad replied, slightly embarrassed. Drake glares at him, "Launchpad! Well, he has to put some sugar in the lemonade to make it sweet. Isn't that right ?!" "Yes, of course. Although when I drank it, it wasn't sour at the time, it was sweet to me," Launchpad replied. Drake looks at him a little puzzled and starts to think that he didn't overdo it a bit and starts to slowly drink one glass of lemonade again, but sip at the sip. "Well, it doesn't look so bad. Well, it tastes good, but a little bit, but it's still sour. Of course, Launchpad thank you and sorry for the moment." "You don't have to apologize to me. It's okay and it's happening. Maybe you're a little nervous considering you're tired." "You're right Launchpad. I have to sit down and rest for a moment," Drake said, sitting in his armchair. Drake continued, "Yes, I'm exhausted, tired, nervous, and a little more worried about some things. First, my Morgana. For now, we're engaged, I don't know when we're going to get married. I'm worried I'll have to share some things." with her that I don't like at all, like the dishes she prepares. " "Don't worry Drake. She knows Morgan, what you don't like, and I don't believe you will break up for some little things. Admittedly, she loves you as a Darkwing Duck, not like Drake Mallard." "Yes, Launchpad, but I told her my secret identity so she knows. She doesn't like Morgan. When something is said against her that she loves very much, it breaks her heart a little and makes her very angry. Not to say, how does she it has spiders and bats behind it, and it also deals with magic, which many people view as some kind of witchcraft. ”Drake replied anxiously. "Did you tell Morgana about having to adjust to a life where she doesn't need to use some of her abilities to keep herself from explaining herself?" "I'm not a Launchpad. After all, if you told her that, you would be mad at me." "I don't think so. Morgana, you may be a dangerous woman, but she is very caring. She saved your life several times." "I know Launchpad as I do to her. And my Gosalyn likes it too. My Gosalyn loves Morgan as if he were his mother, and I'm sure Gosalyn would love to have his other parent as well." 

"Then the matter is resolved. Just make a deal with her, she'll understand you and the finished thing," Launchpad replied cheerfully. "Thank you Launchpad, but there's one problem," Drake replied sadly. “What ?!” Launchpad asked. "I'm moving." "Well that's not bad." "Not bad, considering I don't have to suffer those Muddlefoot except Honker certainly, but it's bad that I'll be further from my Morgan." "Why?" "Because in a month I have to move to Duckburg. I got a new job." "Duckburg ?! Well that's great, considering I lived there for a while and worked there. I'd love to go back there," Launchpad said excitedly. "Yes, to work again with that miserable rich duck who just orders ?!" "Yes, I worked for Mr McDee as a pilot for a while, and I haven't seen him in a long time. Like the boys, Webby, Donald, Duckworth, Beakly, Fenton ..." "Fenton ?! You mean Gizmoduck ?! That crazy duck ?!" "I don't know if he's a Gizmoduck and I don't know if he's crazy, but yes, I'd love to meet Fenton again. Wait, aren't you and Fenton friends ?!" "Friends ?! Nah. Maybe, we're more partners, and Fenton isn't interesting to me either." "Why ?! He really is to me." "For you yes, for me not. He is loved more by people than by me." "Don't be jealous. I think you misunderstand the point. They prefer him as a super hero rather than as a common man. As a common man and his accountant, everyone goes out except Scrooge, and his job is easier now than before," Launchpad replied. 

"Okay, maybe I misjudged Fenton. But again, I don't like Scrooge. His last encounter with him was bad for me, since he won me the bet, and he's a bastard." "He may have won you a bet because he always wins, but you beat the Beagle Boys, Magica de Spell, Negaduck and a few villains together and I see no reason to be angry." "Launchpad, I know you're praising because you worked for him, even if he paid you poorly, unlike me, but again he can't be a partner for me. Not to tell you he got you out of work." "He didn't drive me away. He sent me on a forced vacation and gave me a few years to do whatever I wanted, and I'm happy with that, because so far I've mostly been with you," Launchpad said, getting up and hugging Drake. "Good Launchpad, let me go." "All right," Launchpad said, letting go of Drake and returning to the couch. "Launchpad, it's actually a cancellation. You've been fired, not a vacation of several years. It doesn't exist," Drake said angrily. "Any dismissal, man. I was told by Mr McDee that I had a vacation and I took it. I don't see what the problem is?" "Good Launchpad. You've got a break. And if you go back to Duckburg now, what are you going to do there ?!" "Hm... He would probably go back to work with Mr McDee again as a pilot anyway." Drake looks at him angry seriously, but after a few moments he goes on, "Okay, let's just leave it at work. I leave your job to you and do what you want. But you have to know I'm moving to Duckburg and I'm serious this time." "Good. You'll probably bring both Gosalyn and Morgan with you." "Gosalyn yes, but I'm not sure about Morgan. I don't know how she would look at that." "She would definitely go with you." "I don't know, I'm not sure. I should talk to Morgan about it so I'll see how it will be. But I'm worried about Gosalyn again. Otherwise, where is she?" "In her room, she plays video games on her computer." "Oh, yeah. Wait, he's playing games on this hot day ?!" "Don't worry, she's got a fan in her room, and she has a cooler in her computer, so don't worry. It's cold in her room." "Good, Launchpad. I just hope she's okay. I'm worried she'll respond to the eviction, since she hangs out a lot with Honker, as well as some friends at school, even though she doesn't have many friends there, since she's most avoid her and mock her sadly. Poor my Gosalyn, neither guilty nor obliged to suffer for some of the things she is not at all guilty of, and I don't know how she would fit in Duckburg. " "Don't worry, Drake. I'm sure she'll fit better in Duckburg than St. Canard. And I have great friends Gosalyn would definitely hang out with." "I hope you're right Launchpad, since I don't worry for no reason. Launchpad, you know that she's no longer a sweet little girl, she's a teenager now and she's slowly changing. I'm worried she won't get into more trouble .I care enough and as an ordinary father, I also worry enough as a super hero, since she goes with me as a Quiverwing Quack and the older she gets, she gets involved in even more dangerous wreckage. I don't know, I'm afraid that because of some of her extreme actions, she won't fall into the trap she would really suffer from. As a father, I must not allow such things. " "Don't worry, while you're near her, she won't get hurt, and you have to let her be a little alone." "I know, Launchpad, but again, I worry. This world is too cruel where no one cares about anyone and I care how Gosalyn will adapt to it." "Drake, you worry too much. Relax, if you talk to her about some things, she will certainly have an understanding for you as well as you for her." "Thank you Launchpad. Maybe you're right. I worry too much. But then again, I'm going to be sorry for Honker. He's a very good boy and I'm worried about how he will accept our departure. I wish I could take him, but unfortunately I can't. " "Well, I mean, it would be sad, certainly, but since there are social networks now, it might not be that much. Gosalyn and Honker would certainly talk over social networks. You know, technology itself is changing." "I know, Launchpad, but it's not the same when you see yourself on mobile or computer or live for real." "Fine, but I know they certainly can't separate even if they're far away. Since they're best friends, I'm sure they'll find a way to get along." "I hope you're right Launchpad. I just have to say ..." Drake said, but as he wanted to continue, there was some loud noise outside. Someone broke through a fence and accidentally hit a tree. And a loud trumpet from the van was heard. "what the hell ?! Who broke this into the yard ?!" Drake asked suddenly. "Let's check it out," Launchpad replied, and the two got up and checked who it might be. They opened the door and saw that half the yard was in chaos, and in the middle of the yard was a van that hit a tree. That van was a van that was a small house considering it had beds, a kitchen and a toilet. Drake reacted to this by opening his mouth wide and watching as part of his yard was destroyed. He gets out of the van, two people who were anthro-ducks, one male with a Hawaiian shirt, and the other was a woman with very beautiful hair and a beautiful pink dress suitable for a TV presenter and beautiful pink shoes with heels. Launchpad looked at everyone with excited looks, partly in love, which was typical of Launchpad when he always saw beautiful ladies. At that moment, a duck with a Hawaiian shirt said, "Ah phooey! I got a tire pierced, and I have to take the van to a car mechanic, and I don't have enough money for it. Why it has to go wrong," Donald Duck said and hit with his foot in the van and after that Donald leaps upwards, holding both of his hands by the knee of the leg that hit the van. "Donald, are you okay?!" Daisy asked carefully. "Yes, Daisy. It's just that I have to take the van to the car mechanic, and I don't have enough money to repair it," Donald said angrily, not angry at Daisy, but at the van. "Don't worry, Donald, I'll pay for you. Just don't be mad, okay ?!" "All right, Daisy," Donald replied, calming. At that moment, he came out of the van and Louie Duck, with green shorts, a green sleeveless T-shirt and a backwards cap, said anxiously, "Uncle Donald! Aunt Daisy! Are you okay?!" "We're fine, Louie. It's okay. How are your brothers and Webby?!" Daisy said. "The brothers are ok, they just have a little head, now they will come out too, and Webby is fine too," Louie said. "Good. Thank God!" "Louie, could you please bring someone close to you who is expert in repairing the van, since..." - Donald asked Louie, but at that moment Donald glanced casually toward a house where two men were looking at them, one excited and shy eyes, others opening their mouths wide. Donald is surprised, too, and with him Daisy looking right at Drake and Launchpad. These were the views that would change their relationships.

[astrodances]

Faith Is Found In the Winds

Finished Darkwing Duck for the first time last week, so...consider this a celebration of that fact. And by “celebration,” I mean, I got a sad headcanon for the aftermath of “Darkly Dawns the Duck” and I’m bringing you all down with me.

************************************

Their first official day together as a family had already filled Drake with enough glowing memories to practically heal his injuries, he felt.

After signing the adoption papers, he, Gosalyn, and Launchpad had driven through St. Canard’s suburbs in search of a new house for the three of them, during which Gosalyn and Launchpad learned that they shared a mutual love of crooning to the car radio, much to Drake’s reluctant amusement. Drake, for his part, pointed out the various hideouts of the local crime scene when they passed them, and all three swapped stories about their lives before the Taurus Bulba fiasco. Before finding each other.

It already felt so natural, so right, to be in each other’s lives.

Of course, that didn’t mean that they didn’t still have a lot to learn about each other.

As late afternoon took a hold of the sky and Launchpad started to drive their new station wagon away from Hamburger Hippo, where they’d gotten an early dinner to go, Gosalyn piped up from the backseat. “Can we stop by the cemetery on the way home?”

If her request hadn’t been so disarming, Drake would’ve smiled at her calling Darkwing Tower “home.” Until they could make an offer on a real one, his hideout was all they had. But instead he sputtered around a mouthful of fries, “The cemetery—! Gosalyn, honey, I...why?”

“There’s someone I want you to meet,” she answered.

A shiver ran down his spine. When he called her “spirited” before, he hadn’t expected the term to be so literal. “Well, that’s not ominous in the least...”

“Y-Yeah, couldn’t it wait until tomorrow? Or until Drake can drive again? You know, when I’m not here?” Launchpad cut in. He already looked like he’d seen a ghost by the way he had the steering wheel in a death grip.

Still, she insisted. “Please? It’s important.”

One look over his shoulder was enough to convince Drake. Gosalyn didn’t look like she was trying to trick them. Gone was the boisterous, carefree attitude that had filled the car with squeaky singing earlier; rather, a somber little girl with pleading eyes stared back at him, searching for his trust, and he had the sinking feeling he knew who she wanted him to meet.

“Launchpad...go to the cemetery.”

“Aw, man!”

—————

After a quick stop at a corner flower stand to pick up a bouquet of gladioli, the trio arrived at the cemetery. Launchpad parked on the curb right outside the gate, and after giving Drake a chance to get situated with his crutch, they walked in together.

An orange glow crept over the cemetery as the sun began its descent towards the horizon, giving the rows of graves an otherworldly aura. A slight breeze made Drake wish he was in his Darkwing outfit, not only for the added warmth of the cape and thicker jacket, but to fend off the nagging sense of death lurking behind him.

While Launchpad wasn’t faring much better, Gosalyn took in her surroundings in stride. She kept her chin held high as she marched a step ahead and lead the way down a path of engraved headstones and freshly-cut grass with flowers in hand. The image filled Drake with guilt and a desire for vengeance; his daughter shouldn’t have been this familiar with a graveyard. As grateful as he was to have her in his life now, she was too young to know death this well. Too precious to have that innocence of mortality marred, and if Drake could, he would have gladly fixed things to take that knowledge away from her.

“We’re here,” Gosalyn announced.

“Let’s not stay ‘here’ more than we need to, huh?” Launchpad rambled out as he checked his personal blind spots for any ghoulish threats. “I-I say we leave before it gets dark. Or if anything besides us shows up.”

Drake shushed him with a nudge from his good elbow, then took a half-step closer to read the tombstone before them and confirm what he’d already suspected in the car: this was Professor Waddlemeyer’s grave.

As quiet as ever, Gosalyn crept forward and laid the gladioli at the base of the marker, taking the time to make sure they were adequately arranged and shielded from the wind as much as possible. When she stood back to admire her work, she instinctively reached for Drake’s hand, and he obliged her after handing his crutch off to Launchpad. It was only then that he realized she was trembling.

Before he could do anything about it, Gosalyn gave his hand a gentle tug to have him shuffle forward a few steps with her. “Grandpa, this is Drake,” she presented, her voice surprisingly calm. “He’s gonna be my new dad and take care of me, right?” She looked up at him with green eyes full of hope and want.

Drake choked up as tears pricked the corners of his vision. He hadn’t expected Gosalyn to want to come to the cemetery to do this; at most he thought “meeting someone” would’ve just entailed paying their respects with the flowers.

Despite feeling caught off-guard, he nodded and cleared his throat. “Right. I...” he faltered as a delayed sense of responsibility slid onto his shoulders. “Right. I promise.” He pulled Gosalyn close to his side in a one-armed hug that she returned, which seemed to calm her nerves.

They all stood there for a moment longer as the breeze whistled past them. All the words of comfort that failed Drake’s beak, he squeezed into her shoulders, and that seemed to spur her on.

“Y’know, Grandpa used to tell me that if something ever happened to him, he would send the brightest star in the night sky to watch over me, and a rainbow to reach it so I could talk to him.”

If his heart wasn’t already shattered at his feet before, it sure was now. He needed to say something, lest he start crying. “Gosalyn, sweetie, I don’t think he needs to send you a rainbow so you can talk to him.”

“He doesn’t?”

“Nah. It’s like he sang to you: you’ve got a rainbow right inside of you.” Drake punctuated his point by poking her shoulder with his finger. “You are a rainbow. My little rainbow, now.”

Gosalyn buried her face into his side, and this time, he was positive he heard her sniffling. He soothed a hand down her back and planted a kiss on her forehead, and figured it was best time that they headed home. Only, now that he was here, there was one more thing he wanted to do.

Drake kept an eye on the grave as he leaned back to whisper, “Launchpad, will you take Gos back to the car, please?” When he didn’t get an answer, he turned to find Launchpad downright blubbering over their exchange. “Whoa, you okay, buddy?”

“Just fine, DW.” Launchpad blew into a bandana he must’ve kept in his pocket. “Just some allergies...probably from the grass. Sorry. Yeah, I’ll take her back.”

Drake gave him a sympathetic smile before looking down to answer Gosalyn’s questioning stare. “I’ll just be a second.”

“M’kay.” She gave him one last hug before walking over to place a hand on Waddlemeyer’s tombstone, looking back at Drake as she murmured, “Thanks, Grandpa.”

After giving him back his crutch, Launchpad took Gosalyn by the hand and together they walked back to the gate, leaving Drake with glassy eyes and silence. He thought about what he was going to say as he waited for them to be out of earshot, the sky growing dim above.

“She’s a brave one, that kid...” he began once he was completely alone, his gaze transfixed on the tiny indents he was making in the grass with his crutch. “After everything she’s lost, she still refuses to lose her spirit.” He chuckled softly. If it came down to the end of the world versus Gosalyn’s spunk, he’d put his money on her without a second thought.

The petals of the gladioli rustled in kind, and Drake sighed, growing serious and turning his stare back to the grave.

“Mr. Waddlemeyer...er, sir...I don’t know if you can hear me, but I’ll do everything in my power to watch over Gosalyn, just as I know you are. But...” he swallowed thickly. What he was about to ask was so selfish, he knew, but something in the back of his mind needed to get this off his chest. A sort of hero’s prayer he needed to offer to the heavens. To that star shining down on St. Canard.

“I know I live a dangerous life, so...please, keep me safe, for Gosalyn’s sake. Keep me safe, so I can keep her safe and protect her for you. Please...”

It was all he had to live for now, keeping Gosalyn out of harm’s way so she could light up the world. He didn’t want to fail her, or her grandfather.

The wind picked up once again. Despite the way his daughter had so carefully arranged the bouquet, a petal broke free from the gladioli and flew towards Drake, landing squarely on his chest. He’d never been one to give much thought to them before, but Drake decided to take it as a sign.

“Thank you,” he whispered up to the sky.

The last bit of sunset caught the renewed glint of purpose in Drake’s eye as he made his way back to the car and his new family. Night was ready to dawn, and with it, a new life for them all.

[lazykoalacollectionblog]

MCQ of Paper 1 NTA UGC NET DEC 2018 Answer Key

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MCQ of Paper 1 NTA UGC NET DEC 2018 Answer Key

MCQ Previous Papers NTA UGC NET Solved Paper 1 Dec 2018

                  50 MCQ based on UGC NET DEC 2018 Answer Key

**As you are aware from Dec 2018 onwards NTA conducts the exam online and no Question papers were given to students, However, we have collected this question from our students and answer given is also based on Keys provided by NTA Agency Answer Key.  

Solved Answer Keys UGC NET Paper 1-Last 14 Years Question Paper

1.) Which among the following is the best field of study to improve the ability of students to experiment and analyse?

Options:-

(A) History

(B) Science

(C) Languages

(D) Economics

ANS.  (B) –  Experiments in science offer more organized scientific methods & tools for analysing the data through various means; Hence it has edge over other fields of study.

2.) A variable that is manipulated is known as:

Options:-

(A) Dependent variable

(B) Control variable

(C) Independent variable

(D) Confounding variable

ANS. (C) A manipulated variable is the independent variable in an experiment. It’s called “manipulated” because it’s the one you can change. In other words, you can decide ahead of time to increase it or decrease it.

  3.) Formulation of a research problem depends upon:

(a) What is the object behind the researcher’s choice?

(b) What are the specific questions?

(c) What is the conceptual model?

(d) What negative factors to research upon?

(e) Reasons for unlimiting the study.

(f) Construction of hypotheses.

Options:-

(A) – (c), (d), (e) and (f)

(B) – (a), (b), (c) and (f)

(C) – (b), (c), (d) and (e)

(D) – (a), (c), (e) and (f)

ANS. (B) Formulation of the research problem should be based upon a specific problem on which a researcher wants to work. The researcher must be clear about the specific questions. A conceptual model should be framed through which a hypothesis can be formed. The main objective of the research is to resolve the problem and focus on solutions to ensure a productive output. The negativity should not be the factor for the formulation of research design. So, option A, B, C and F are true

  4.) Suppose as a teacher you are training your students in public speaking and debate. Which among the following is most difficult to develop among the students?

Options:-

(A) Voice modulation

(B) Concept formulation

(C) Using/Selecting an appropriate language

(D) Control over emotions

ANS.  (D) Students have a different perspective and viewpoint on the given topic and sometimes they lose their control over emotions causing heated arguments hence Control over emotions is a very difficult task for the teacher.

  5.) Among the following which one is not an instructional material?

Options:-

(A) Overhead projector

(B) Printed study guide

(C) Audio podcast

(D) YouTube video

ANS. (A – It’s pretty much clear from options, Overhead projector is an electronic device rest of others are the way to provide useful information in different forms such as print, audio, video materials.

  6.) Artifacts that arise and affect the internal validity in research are:

(a) History

(b) Randomisation

(c) Maturity

(d) Instrumentation

(e) Experimental Mortality

(f) Matching

Options:-

(A) (a), (c), (d) and (e)

(B) (d), (e), (f) and (b)

(C) (b), (c), (d) and (f)

(D) (a), (b), (c) and (d)

ANS. (A) The major threats to internal validity are history, maturation, testing, instrumentation, statistical regression, selection, experimental mortality, and selection-history interactions.

  7.) The components of a research design are:

(a) Comparison

(b) Control

(c) Reactivity

(d) Manipulation

(e) Non-representativeness

(f) Generalisation

Options:-

(A) (a), (b), (d) and (f)

(B) (a), (c), (e) and (f)

(C) (c), (d), (e) and (f)

(D) (b), (c), (d) and (e)

ANS. A

  8.) The four major operations in scientific research are:

(a) Demonstration of co-variance

(b) Elimination of spurious relations

(c) Sequencing in terms of time-order

(d) Self-education

(e) Operationalisation of personal choice

(f) Theorisation

Options:-

(A) (b), (c), (d) and (e)

(B) (a), (b), (c) and (f)

(C) (a), (b), (c) and (d)

(D) (c), (d), (e) and (f)

ANS. B

  9.) Which among the following reflects best the quality of teaching in a classroom?

Options:-

(A) Through the quality of questions asked by students in classroom

(B) Through observation of silence by the students in classroom

(C) Through full attendance in the classroom

(D) Through the use of many teaching aids in the classroom

ANS. A – This is a repeated question asked multiple times in NET exam with different wordings of Question

10.) Which among the following is the best advantage of the Choice Based Credit System?

Options:-

(A) Helping teacher to complete syllabus on time

(B) The shift in focus from teacher-centric to student-centric education

(C) Improving classroom attendance

(D) Reducing examination anxiety among students

ANS. B CBCS is the mother of learner-centric educational reforms. A student is provided with an academically rich, highly flexible learning system with a vital provision for skill practice and activity orientation that the learner could learn in-depth without sacrificing his creativity. A student can exercise the option to decide his own pace of learning, plan and sequence his choice of paper, learn to face challenges through term work/ project work/ and may venture out to acquire extra knowledge/ proficiency through add on facilities.

Comprehension:

Read the following passage carefully and answer question 11 to 15:

Singapore has long advocated for India to take up its role as an integral part of the region. It is gratifying to see how ASEAN-India relations have grown during the past 25 years. In 1991, when the cold war ended and India began its economic liberalization, Singapore saw an opportunity to deepen ties and build on its historical and cultural links with the Asian region. Singapore pushed for India to become a full ASEAN dialogue partner in 1995 and join the EAS in 1995 and since then, ASEAN-India ties have strengthened. All in all, around 30 platforms for co-operation exist, including seven ministerial dialogues and the Annual leader summit. However, there is scope for more and it is a must. For instance, there are tremendous opportunities in enhancing physical and digital connectivity between India and ASEAN. ASEAN is committed to strengthening land, air and sea linkages with India. These linkages will enhance people-to-people flows, as well as boost business, investment and tourism. The India-Myanmar-Thailand trilateral highway will connect India’s Northeast to mainland Southeast Asia. While one can fly directly between India and several ASEAN countries, there is still much room to expand air links to support growing business and tourism. Beyond physical linkages, digital connectivity is the new frontier in the fourth industrial revolution. India has made great progress in innovation, startups and digital inclusion. There are opportunities to apply initiative such as Aadhaar in our region. E-commerce and FinTech are two other areas of potential collaboration. As an economic hub, Singapore can serve as a springboard to launch these ideas to Southeast Asia and beyond. India’s role in ASEAN should be anchored by growing economic ties with Singapore. The economic integration involving 16 countries with one-third of global GDP and trade will create an integrated Asian market.

  11.) Who can be India’s launchpad for an integrated Asian market as per the passage?

Options:-

(A) Southeast Asia

(B) Myanmar

(C) Singapore

(D) Thailand

ANS. C

  12.) What prompted Singapore to opt for stronger ties with India?

Options:-

(A) Economic liberalization in India

(B) End of Cold War

(C) Geo-political equations

(D) Historical past

ANS. A

  13.) The areas of collaboration between India and ASEAN are:

(a) FinTech

(b) Aadhaar

(c) E-commerce

(d) Digital backwardness

(e) Trilateral highways

(f) Fourth Industrial Revolution

Options:-

(A) (a), (b), (c) and (d)

(B) (a), (c), (e) and (f)

(C) (c), (d), (e) and (f)

(D) (b), (c), (d) and (e)

ANS. A

  14.) What is needed to encourage tourism between India and ASEAN?

Options:-

(A) Innovation

(B) Air links

(C) Start-ups

(D) Waterways

ANS. B

  15.) The commitments of ASEAN with India is :

Options:-

(A) More and more dialogues

(B) Offer political platforms

(C) Hold leadership summits

(D) Improving transport links

ANS. D

  16.) Jenifer’s father-in-law is my brother. Helen is a grand-daughter of my mother. How is Helen related to Jenifer?

Options:-

(A) Daughter-in-law

(B) Mother

(C) Sister-in-law

(D) Sister

ANS. C Helen is the sister-in-law of Jenifer.

  17.) Among the following there are two statements which can’t be true together, but can be false together. Select the code that represents them.

Statements:

(a) All poets are dreamers.

(b) No poets are dreamers.

(c) Some poets are dreamers.

(d) Some poets are not dreamers.

Options:-

(A) (b) and (d)

(B) (a) and (d)

(C) (c) and (d)

(D) (a) and (b)

ANS. D

  18.) Truth and falsity are attributes of:

Options:-

(A) Debates

(B) Arguments

(C) Propositions

(D) Opinions

ANS. C

  19.) if ABODE is coded as ADRHJ, then the code for AGRO will be:

Options:-

(A) AVCD

(B) AIUS

(C) AIST

(D) AIVX

ANS. B

  20.) Which one of the following can be validly inferred from the proposition- “All animals are wild”?

Options:-

(A) Some animals are not wild.

(B) No non-animals are wild.

(C) Some animals are wild.

(D) No animals are wild.

ANS. C

  21.) The next term in the letter series DEF, HIJ, LMN, PQR, TUV, _____ is:

Options:-

(A) YZA

(B) WXY

(C) WYZ

(D) XYZ

ANS. D , ‘XYZ’ is the correct answer to the series. letters in each term are consecutive with the difference of 4 with the next member.

  22.) In the digital era, there is a fear that classroom communication may result in:

Options:-

(A) Quick adaptation

(B) Stimulation

(C) Over-stimulation

(D) Passive adaptation

ANS. C In the digital era, there is a fear that classroom communication may result in overstimulation.

  23.) The next term in the series 0, 1, 9, 36, 100, __________ is:

Options:-

(A) 225

(B) 196

(C) 216

(D) 164

ANS. A , Here the addition ‘+1’, ‘+2’, ‘+3’ and ‘+4’ has been shown only for the terms 0, 1, 3, 6 and 10. Hence, the next term which should be added as per the pattern will be +5 i.e., 10 + 5 = 15 and 15** 2 = 225.

  24.) Under which of the conditions, an argument may be valid? Select the correct answer from the code given below:

Statements:

(a) When its conclusion and premises are true.

(b) Even when its conclusion and one or more of its premises are false.

(c) Only when its conclusion is true.

Options:-

(A) (a) and (b)

(B) (a) alone

(C) (c) alone

(D) (a) and (c)

ANS. A

  25.) Non-verbal communication is considered:

Options:-

(A) Informal

(B) Precise

(C) Culture-free

(D) Formal

ANS. A

  26.) The rhetorical approach in classroom communication considers teachers as _______agents of students.

Options:-

(A) Official

(B) Academic

(C) Non-official

(D) Influencing

ANS. D, The rhetorical approach in classroom communication considers teachers as influencing agents of students. It is the teacher who regulates his/her class upon the basis of his knowledge and that knowledge can only be delivered through the interaction between the teacher and students.

  27.) Given below are two premises (a)and (b). Four conclusions are drawn from them. Select the code that states validly drawn conclusion(s). [taking the premises individually or jointly]

Premises:

(a) All judges are lawyers.

(b) No doctors are lawyers.

Conclusions:

(i) No lawyers are doctors.

(ii) No doctors are judges.

(iii) All lawyers are judges.

(iv) Some doctors are judges.

Options:-

(A) (i) and (iii)

(B) (i) and (iv)

(C) (i) and (ii)

(D) (ii) and (iii)

ANS. C

  28.) Negative criticism as an element of classroom communication will lead to:

(a) External sympathy

(b) Justification

(c) Defensiveness

(d) De-motivation

(e) Supportive listening

(f) Confrontational empathy

Options:-

(A) (c), (d) and (e)

(B) (b), (c) and (d)

(C) (a), (b) and (c)

(D) (d), (e) and (f)

ANS. B

  29.) Choose the word which is different from the rest:

Options:-

(A) Aravali Hills

(B) Nilgiri Hills

(C) Shivalik Hills

(D) Mount Kilimanjaro

ANS. D

  30.) Assertion(A) : Teacher communication is central to classroom management.

Reason (R) : Teacher communication behaviours should not be used to regulate the classroom behaviour of students.

Options:-

(A) (A) is false, but (R) is true.

(B) Both (A) and (R) are true.

(C) Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).

(D) (A) is true, but (R) is false.

ANS. D

  Analyze the following data carefully and answer question 31 to 33:

Data on % of villages not electrified in 6 states is given below (in the year 2000):

  State % of villages not electrified A 25% B 45% C 20% D 60% E 55% F 30%

  Answer the following three questions:

31.) How many States have atleast 50% or more electrified villages?

Options:-

(A) 2

(B) 4

(C) 1

(D) 3

ANS. B        

  32.) In the year 2000, the total number of villages in State D was 15,000. In the year 2010, the total number of villages had increased to 20,000 out of which 10,000 villages were yet to be electrified. The % of villages not electrified in 2010 in State D has thus __________.

Options:-

(A) Come down

(B) Cannot be computed

(C) Gone up

(D) Not enough data

ANS. A

  33.) Which State has twice the percentage of electrified villages in comparison to State D?

Options:-

(A) State C

(B) State D

(C) State A

(D) State B

ANS. A

  Analyze the following data carefully and answer question 34 to 37:

Data on education index in a few States is given below:

State Name % of villages not electrified A 20% B 25% C 23% D 17% E 16% F 21% G 15%

  Answer the following two questions:

  34.) If the population for state F is 2.6 lakhs, what is the population below education index?

Options:-

(A) 0.546 lakhs

(B) 0.390 lakhs

(C) 51000

(D) 49000

ANS. A

  35.) If the total population of State A was 5 lakhs while the population in State B was 2 lakhs, the number of people below education index will be:

Options:-

(A) Equal in State A and B

(B) Cannot be calculated

(C) Higher in State B

(D) Higher in State A

ANS. D

  36.) A small text file stored on user’s computer by some websites in order to recognize and keep track of user’s preferences is called:

Options:-

(A) History

(B) Report

(C) Log

(D) Cookie

ANS. D Cookies provide a way for the website to recognize you and keep track of your preferences. Cookies are commonly used to “maintain the state” of a browser session.

37.) In which year Education Commission under the chairmanship of Dr. D.S. Kothari was setup?

Options:-

(A) 1960

(B) 1964

(C) 1955

(D) 1952

ANS. B The Indian Education Commission popularly known as Kothari Education Commission (1964-66) was set up by the government of India on July 14, 1964, under the chairmanship of Dr. D.S.Kothari Kothari.

38.) In a computer, if 8 bits are used to specify address in memory, the total number of addresses will be:

Options:-

(A) 512

(B) 256

(C) 8

(D) 216

ANS. B

  39.) Which of the following was launched in 2013 with the purpose to provide strategic funding to eligible state higher educational institutions?

Options:-

(A) All India Council for Technical Education

(B) Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan

(C) Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan

(D) Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan

ANS. D , RUSA is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (C.S.S.), launched in 2013 aims at providing strategic funding to the eligible state Higher Educational Institutions. The Central Funding (in the ratio of 65:35 for the General Category States and 90:10 for the Special Category States) would be norm based and outcome dependent.

  40.) A source of renewable power which can be developed with minimum cost is:

Options:-

(A) Geothermal energy

(B) Tidal power

(C) Wind mills

(D) Biomass power

ANS. D

  41.) Natural vegetation of an area needs to be preserved for the future, mainly for the purpose of:

Options:-

(A) Providing material for breeding new species

(B) Study by scientists

(C) Preventing soil erosion

(D) Providing habitat for birds

ANS. A

  42.) How much carbon is being added to the atmosphere by burning of fossil fuels?

Options:-

(A) 6 – 9 billion tons

(B) 2 – 6 billion tons

(C) 9 – 12 billion tons

(D) 4 – 6 billion tons

ANS. A

  43.) __________ denotes an error in a computer program.

Options:-

(A) Virus

(B) Bug

(C) Spam

(D) Bit

ANS. B In computer programming, a logic error is a bug in a program that causes it to operate incorrectly, but not to terminate abnormally (or crash)

44.) The National Knowledge Commission (NKC) was established in which year?

Options:-

(A) 2007

(B) 2005

(C) 1998

(D) 2000

ANS. B National Knowledge Commission was an Indian think-tank charged with considering possible policies that might sharpen India’s comparative advantage in the knowledge-intensive service sectors. It was constituted on 13 June 2005, by the Prime Minister of India, Manmohan Singh.

  45.) The output quality of a printer is measured by:

Options:-

(A) Digits per inch

(B) Dots per inch

(C) Dots per cm

(D) Dots per mm

ANS. B , The output quality of a printer is measured by Dots per inch. In printing, DPI refers to the output resolution of a printer and PPI refers to the input resolution of a photograph or image.

  46.) The annual range of temperature in the interior of the continents is high compared to coastal areas. What is/are the reason(s)?

(a) Thermal difference between land and water.

(b) Variations in altitude between continents and oceans.

(c) Presence of strong winds in the interior.

(d) Heavy rains in the interior as compared to coastal region.

Options:-

(A) (a) only

(B) (a), (b), (c) and (d)

(C) (b) and (c) only

(D) (a) and (b) only

ANS. A

  47.) The University Grants Commission (UGC) was formally inaugurated on 28 December 1953 by whom among the following?

Options:-

(A) Sh. Maulana Abul Kalam Azad

(B) Dr. S. Radhakrishnan

(C) Mrs. Indira Gandhi

(D) Dr. Rajendra Prasad

ANS. A University Grants Commission was formally inaugurated by Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, the then Minister of Education, Natural Resources and Scientific Research, on 28 December 1953. However, the UGC got the status of statutory body of the Indian Government through an act of Parliament in November 1956.

  48.) Which of the following are audio file formats?

(a) .wav

(b) .aac

(c) .wmv

(d) .flv

Options:-

(A) (b) and (c)

(B) (a) and (d)

(C) (c) and (d)

(D) (a) and (b)

ANS. D The most common uncompressed audio formats are WAV, AIFF, AU, PCM or BWF.  While Audio Formats With Lossy Compression are MP3,  AAC, OGG  etc.

  49.) In which part of India, the tropical western Ghats are situated?

Options:-

(A) Punjab

(B) Kerala

(C) Rajasthan

(D) Assam

ANS. B, The Western Ghats extend from the Satpura Range in the north, stretching from Gujarat to Tamil Nadu. It traverses south through the states of Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka and Kerala.

  50.) The University Grants Commission has a Scheme for “ Human Rights and Values in Education”. Under this Scheme, which statement is incorrect among the following for ‘Human Rights and Duties Education�� component?

Options:-

(A) To establish value and wellness centres in schools.

(B) To encourage research activities.

(C) To sensitize the citizens so that the norms and values of human rights are realized.

(D) To develop interaction between society and educational institutions.

ANS. A

[arkenarttechlab]

THE LAST ARTIST - and the cultural desert of Silicon Valley

I’ll remember 2018 as the year the Big Tech industry ultimately turned the area around San Francisco into a cultural desert; a five-star dream for the privileged few. This is a tribute to the lost spirit of art and counterculture - a portrait of one of the last artists.

"What the arts allow us to do is develop the muscle required for discernment, and also strengthen our sense of agency to determine for ourselves how we’re going to tackle a given problem" - MIT TECHNOLOGY REVIEW

Once upon a time, the area around San Francisco was the stronghold of American counterculture. Artists, activists, entrepreneurs, feminists, race and equality activists dreamed of and fought to disrupt capitalism and create new sustainable humanistic strategies. 40 years later, the Big Tech industry has turned it into a five-star dream for the privileged few. The cost of living there is now so high that one in four in the Silicon Valley area is on the poverty line. It has been called The Silicon Valley Paradox – 26.8%, nearly 720,000 people are “food insecure.” Two years ago, The New Yorker wrote “Silicon Valley has an empathy Vacuum.”  And at the end of 2018 one of the most influential artist of the robotic revolution, Kal Spelletich was ousted.

Portrait of one of the last artists 

- Originally published in SCENARIO no. 1, 2014.

Behind a row of rundown warehouses in San Francisco’s Butchertown grows a wonderland of robot constructs, flame throwers and military metal gadgets between eerie iron trees and magical disco balls. This is where Kal Spelletich lives with his six-toed dog.

“Do you want a cup of herbal tea,” he asks in a friendly manner as he invites me inside into an almost post-apocalyptic universe that besides being deadly is his home. It is at once scary and welcoming. There are no boundaries here: art, fire and a spiritual robot that he is currently building. All the projects that Spelletich have been part of seem to point towards a larger cultural shift. One example is Burning Man, which originated in San Francisco in the mid-1980s, and right now it is developments in robot technology. This is a trend born from the co-creation and open source philosophies of digitisation and advanced methods like 3D tools, with popular examples like Google’s autonomous car, iRobot’s development of a 3D robot that can be used in factory production, and not least the entire startup infrastructure with actors like Lemnos Labs, Robot Garden and Robot Launchpad.

Experiments in the borderlands

Where the robot industry in general is situated somewhere in the robot evolution’s refinement of arms and hands with an eye to production and finish, a few frontrunners are experimenting with the robot’s brain. One such is Industrial Perceptions in Palo Alto, which deals with intelligent software and in this connection with subjects like perception, manipulation and control. However, where these point towards commercial breakthroughs, Kal Spelletich goes his own ways with his experiments in the borderlands of robotics. ” I often feel a bit like I am working in a vacuum, even when I’m in the eye of the storm,” he says. It is in the tension field between future product opportunities like intelligent robots and the world of arts that he is most at home. His art grapples with the ambivalent state that human beings were planted in when the machine was invented: we are at one and the same time fascinated and frightened by our own power of creation. “I guess art is a bit like staring directly at your own mortality. The more we people choose to stay at home and just sit in front of a computer, playing games or watching movies – instead of going out and getting real experiences – the more we will be attracted by events or art that remind us that we are mortal; that we are human beings and that things don’t always go the way we expect.” As a part of the exhibition Weird Science, Spelletich has recently built a ‘Space Measurer’ from small mirrors and blue laser lights that can measure the speed of light. New York Times has written about his art: “If the essence of science is the development and testing of theories about reality, then you can’t say that the artists in this unfocused but intriguing show are doing science, weird or otherwise. Where the two domains [art and science] can overlap, though, is in playing with technology.” It is in such playing that Kal Spelletich develops robots that tickle our idea about the unlikely and our perception of ourselves as human beings. “People desire real-life adventures. The more this is taken away from you or denied you, the sicker you become. Personally, I have never been particularly good at passive entertainment. Most people have never loaded a gun, hunted an animal, cleaned it and boiled and eaten it. Yet these are the most basic, simple and early experiences. I don’t say that killing animals is the right thing to do, but it is something that most people no longer experience. I try to give people a cathartic experience while also challenging their prejudices about what art and content can be. The key is to add a story or concept to the aesthetic. Parties, celebrations, substance abuse, alcoholism, violence, sex, the human condition breaks down and pulls itself up again. They reflect all the real things that can shape and change our lives: like a carnival.”

Punk

Besides his artistic vision and his playing with the expressions of technology he is known to be one who defines technological directions and who spits out trends long before they land in the time the rest of us live in. Hence, it is not rare that people come knocking on his door. This might be NASA in need of his take on a new invention, Hollywood film producers – like the idea men behind the movie The Matrix – needing to visualise the future, or ordinary Silicon Valley engineers on the run from corporate desks and constricting suits that miss playing with the electronic universe. Spelletich was born in an elevator and grew up as number seven of a sibling flock of nine in Davenport, Iowa.  “The city has recently been elected the worst place to live in the US,” he says with clear ambivalence about his upbringing: “I got a chemistry set when I was nine and experimented with electricity, fire and fireworks. At the same time, I started working in my dad’s construction firm.” When fifteen, he ran away from home and lived in abandoned buildings and on the street. When punk rock hit the 70s, he saw the light. He felt at home in this noisy and anarchic universe of music. “It was the DIY energy and the anti-authoritarian rebellion that fascinated me – that you could create art while destroying the framework,” he says. Kal Spelledich was in the middle of the crucible, and he still is as part of the collaborative SEEMEN, which throughout its history has developed technological DIY platforms and explored future scenarios with interactive robots and kinetic art. However, you will never get him to mention the icons with whom he in his time has experimented and created art. He evaluates his collaborations by their creative, artistic and anarchic value, not by the names that have become part of the history of art, music and movies. It is almost an insult if you ask him for names. In general it is almost impossible to make him answer questions that have to do with specific projects or products he has taken part in creating. He is the eternal punk soul who disappears when a process becomes too concrete. However, even though the many things hanging from ceilings and on walls and shelves with whimsical inventions in his San Francisco cave hisses ‘fuck the system’, they are also nostalgicn memorabilia from his collaborations with everything from Hollywood blockbusters like Titanic to NASA.

Slacker

One thing he can’t run away from is when he was immortalized in the cult movie Slacker (1991) by Richard Linklater (the man behind e.g. the movie trilogy Before Sunrise, Before Sunset and Before Midnight; ed.). They met each other in Austin in 1988. “I met Kal Spelletich at an art event with all sorts of insane experiments. Even then I knew that he was something special. His head was full of ideas, and his art had this particular physical dimension. I remember him saying something like: ‘The art of painting is a dead genre – I don’t even want to talk about it.’ He had made a backpack from a TV set as a commentary on the industry. When I had to devise the scene in Slacker with this guy in a room full of television sets flickering in an endless river of clips, I thought of Kal and his TV backpack. That he himself was a part of the TV was an incredible sight. And then I had always been mad about Kal’s performance and was sure he would be good on the screen. He is a true pioneer and totally badass! He is guaranteed to always be ahead of the pack, never at the back,” Richard Linklater says. Spelletich’s role in the movie – the TV guy – is a description of a particular type of media user that has stopped looking for the truth in the physical world and instead finds it on TV or in a smartphone. “I wrote about this ten years ago, and it is truer now than ever,” he says. “Most of our reality is shaped by the media. We need live experiences; a digital recording will never replace a real-time event, and I’m not talking about a practiced set or playing timed to a heartbeat. Perhaps there would be an aesthetic or beauty in that, but it always contains a loss of spontaneity, of reality.” And Spelletich keeps working with this attitude. Where the robot industry at the moment sets the boundaries for future commercial possibilities regarding the individual experience through recognition and hence also faith, Kal Spelletich is in the process of proving that robots can be built to have a sixth sense. This may seem a smidgen insane, but this has always been the case with Spelletich’s art. He experiments with possibilities we cannot yet imagine.

Kal Spelletich Kalman Spelletich (b. 1960) grew up in Davenport, Iowa. He ran away from home at the age of 15 and lived as a squatter for many years. In 1980, Spelletich was accepted at the University of Iowa where he took a bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Arts and in his own words “discovered art through the camera”. He later got a master’s degree from the University of Texas. Spelletich is very active on the underground art scene and has since 1994 exhibited in many galleries, almost always with a focus on deconstructing the machine or experimenting with human-machine relations. In 1988, Spelletich was co-founder of the art collective SEEMEN, which is an “interactive machine art performance collective”. The collective specialises in performances and is particularly well known for its great influence on developing the concept of Burning Man. Spelletich has also worked with other art collectives like Survival Research Laboratories, which also works with machine performance art and especially operates with large technical installations. Spelletich has made special effects for several movies, including Titanic and The Matrix, and he has acted in the cult movie Slacker.

Originally published in SCENARIO no. 1, 2014.    

[dvlaunchpad-mcquack]

Launchpad, what are your deepest fears?

Hoo boy. That’s a rough one. Uhh… I used to be afraid that I’d always be a screwball, and no one would ever really like me. Of course, there’s the usual fear of death, fear of the dark, fear of flesh-eating monsters and bugs, mole people, and the fear of not doing everything on my bucket list, but I think I’ve kicked that bucket enough times to clear everything out! Heheh.

I used to be afraid that my folks back home were ashamed of me, but turns out that was just a big misunderstanding! So if that fear was nothing to worry about, then maybe some of the others are, too. Although… I do worry that I might not always be there in time to save my little buddies when they need me. I keep the Thunderquack running like a breeze so it’ll always be the quickest way to pull off a rescue, but there’s always a chance… Brr. I’d rather not think about that too much.

Uh… I’m, um…still scared of Jack in the boxes. Especially one in particular. Eep! Just thinking about him is enough to give me the heebie jeebies!

The worst horror of all, though? Hamburger Hippo running out of burgers when I’m hungry! I’m going to take a break from all this thinking and grab a snack!

[dvlaunchpad-mcquack]

Do you sometimes wish Drake could be a sweeter guy?

What do you mean? He is sweet! I mean, sure, he makes fun of me a lot, but friends do that, right? And what’s a gut punch or being used as a step stool when your friend is going through a tough time? AmIright? Uh… Gee…

Well… He is a lot better than he used to be. He trusts me with Gosalyn now. And he lets me cook for myself! He even trusts me enough to try my cooking! That’s a big step! I did, uh, learn to cut back on the seasoning for his more delicate stomach. I make some pretty great muffins if I do say so myself! Hehe.

Anyway. Drake and Gosalyn and I are still figuring things out. And that’s okay! We’re learning about each other and how to really help each other, and when the best way to help is to put our foot down and say “enough is enough. Wake up and smell the roses! You’ve got it good, so don’t waste it!” Er, something like that.

I think as long as we listen to each other and try to be our best selves for each other, we’re gonna be alright. Everything’s gonna be alright.

[dvlaunchpad-mcquack]

Is there a special significance to your white scarf?

It’s cashmere, which is about as nice as you can get for a warm scarf! When you’re riding in an open air biwing, you need something to keep your neck toasty, and sometimes you need a beak warmer, or a handy dandy mask, too.

My grandma knitted me my first scarf when I was just a little tyke. I always liked playing with Mom’s and Dad’s as a baby, so after seeing how much I liked my own scarf, Mom and Dad and later Loopy gifted me one every year for my birthday! I don’t mind a different color once in a while, but this goes with just about everything I wear, so it’s a bit of a comfort item you could say. And, its light color comes in handy if I need to put an emergency flag on a stalled car, or if I need a tourniquet or sling… Ehhe… Let’s just say I’ve been glad for a scarf for more than just style. Plus, I, uh, kinda burnt a few, or got grease stains from forgetting to take it off while working, or other stuff. It’s good to have a couple extras, just in case.

[dvlaunchpad-mcquack]

If you could switch bodies with anyone you know, who would it be?

Oof. I’ve already done that, no thanks… I don’t think I’d like being any one who’s taller than me. I’m already just barely avoiding knocking my head on doorframes everywhere. I still have to turn sideways to fit in some restrooms. Eesh! I’ve been Gizmoduck before. Gizmoduck’s unicycle is realllly hard to balance on. I don’t know how he does it! And don’t get me started on all those buttons! Yeesh!

If I had to switch places with someone again, I’d rather be a little guy, but that was tough, too. I couldn’t reach the pedals to drive! How was I supposed to go anywhere! I think the only thing I liked about being little was when I could crawl under my bed without getting stuck! Now I have to ask Gosalyn to get stuff for me that falls off my nightstand.

This is why I preferred hammocks! No beds to make and no crawl spaces to vacuum under! Hehe. But then I got laid up for a while and needed more back support, so Drake convinced me to get a real bed after he had to remodel the house again.

I do kind of miss being able to sit on Mom’ and Dad’s laps though. Mom always gives the best hugs!

Hehe, guess I got sidetracked again. What was the question? Oh yeah! Oh, right…

I think I’m happy just being me. I’ve been a bat and a bird once. I liked being able to fly without an engine but oof, that took some getting used to! And I got hungry even faster! Having a fast metabolism is one thing. But burning it off by flapping my arms was pretty tiring.

[dvlaunchpad-mcquack]

You must have an extremely high metabolism to have such a huge appetite but still look like a Greek God!! It’s impressive…but you might want to cut down on the junk food a little. It could make you very gassy.

I look like a Greek God? That’s the nicest compliment anyone’s ever given me. I think…

Oof. DW says we are what we eat, and keeps telling me to cut back on the junk food.

I do eat a lot of veggie kebabs and veggie burritos when I get produce from some of my gardening pals. But there’s nothing like something greasy and a cola after working under a greasy engine all afternoon. Hehe. I think the smell of hamburgers grilling helps cut through the smell of engine oil. I can’t really stand the taste of anything healthy like a salad after I’ve been choking on fumes for a while. I love flying but whew! It’d sure be nice if planes could run on something a little less hard on the environment, and the wallet! Hehe.

[dvlaunchpad-mcquack]

Do Scrooge and Drake get along with each other? Do they fight over you?

I dunno. I don’t think they’ve ever really met. Drake’s not one for socializing much. Mr. McDee’s a pretty busy man and so is my buddy, Drake, what with being a dad and work and all…

Gosalyn reminds me of Mr. McDee’s family sometimes. I think Mr. McDee would say she reminds him of himself too at her age, hehe. They’d argue over money for sure. And, well… Me, I guess. Gos and Drake wouldn’t like hearing how Mr. McDee talks about me sometimes… Then again, Drake’s not always the nicest guy to be around either. But it’s no feathers off of my back. I can take a kick at my ego now and then. What really matters is that they still care about me. I know they do.

As for piloting, I still take Mr. McDee on trips around the world at times, when crime’s going slow, or he needs a bit more muscle. But I closed Air McQuack for good and moved my baby, the Joyrider, back to my parents’ hanger. Not much point keeping my own hanger anymore when I’m never there! Hehe.

[dvlaunchpad-mcquack]

What are your favorite and least favorite foods?

Oh boy, my favorite subject!

Let’s see… I love burritos. You can wrap just about anything in them! Breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert… Hehe. Maybe those haven’t caught on around here yet.

I love pizza, Hippoburgers, milkshakes, ice cream, cookies, brownies, milk tea, souvlaki, Bungeoppang, goulash, Durian, just about anything with peanut butter or chocolate or frosting! You name it, I’ve probably tried it at some point. Hehe. That’s one of the perks of being Mr. McDee’s pilot! I got to try food all around the world and it was great! I couldn’t pick a favorite. I mean, can anyone really pick a favorite? There’s all kinds of flavors to choose from! Sometimes I want salty, or sweet, or tangy, or crunchy; or something to slurp on! Hehe. Hey did you know it’s bad luck to bite noodles in some places so slurping is the way you’re supposed to eat them?

As for my least favorite… Well… those tend to be the strong smelling, pickled or fermented things like Swedish herring… I don’t mind vegetables but I am zucchini’d out for life! Don’t ask… Ugh… If I never see a zucchini again it will be too soon…

[Also answered here! :

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[dvlaunchpad-mcquack]

[Hello! DVLP’s Mun here. I did get the other asks but I wanted to do some research before I replied. So far my research is turning up nil so I can’t respond in character.

I have headcanons about Launchpad’s favorite and least favorite foods but it has been several years since I wrote about them and the site I rped on has been shut down so I’m not sure where to find the exact answer I am looking for. I know I referred to a Donald Duck comic for Launchpad’s least favorite food. I think it was Duckburg zucchini but I will not swear on my memory. 😆

I remember Scrooge replaced all of the food on the ship with nothing but the squash/zucchini, and forced Donald and the triplets to eat that for days on end. Then the Beagle Boys hijacked their ship. In the end, the zucchini turned out to be the key to getting what Scrooge wanted but everyone else was sick of it. I headcanoned that, because the zucchini was so prolific in Scrooge’s garden, he made Duckworth and Mrs. Beakley cook it, too, and gave some away to Gyro, Launchpad, Grandma Duck, Mrs. Featherby, and everyone else he knew, just to keep food from going to waste. And since everyone else would want to get rid of their unwanted zucchini, bottomless pit Launchpad would have been offered A Lot of it.

At first he would have been happy to take it. Zucchini bread is pretty tasty, and not much different from pumpkin bread and other sweet breads, after all, and there’s lots of ways to cook it. But by itself, it gets pretty flavorless after a while. And since Drake made zucchini meatloaf in an episode of Darkwing Duck, I decided to make that one of the few home cooked meals Launchpad will turn down at the Mallard house. 😆

As for Drake’s mental health, he casually said he gets manic depressive on weekends in one episode. I don’t remember which episode it was. I do remember he blew up the house over a house fly. I personally do headcanon that he has some kind of mental health disorder but I’m not qualified to diagnose him, nor do I feel comfortable in my limited knowledge to make my own headcanon off of that. I don’t think I can reply in character to it, either, other than having Launchpad come up with an excuse to avoid answering.

I just wanted to let you know I am not ignoring you or avoiding answering you. I just got a bit stuck. 🙃😄]