Seems that some people believe that the “Athena Vs. the LP” video was staged. Athena, naturally, responds:

There, I think that should settle the question.

More seriously: Come on, people. Athena: Not stupid, and as anyone who spends any time here knows, used to dad pulling out the camera and recording her, perchance to post here on the site. It’s not like I hid the camera in the greenery. So when I start filming her and telling her I want to show her something, it’s possible that she’s aware I’m looking for a reaction, and she might be in the mood to oblige me. In which case two things are simultaneously possible: One, that she actually is holding an LP for the first time and responding to it; two, that she might be doing a little bit of improv. The fact that people seem to be outraged that she’s not acting exactly like an Amazonian tribesman encountering his first iPod seems a bit silly.

People elsewhere also seem somewhat shocked and surprised that I might disable comments over at YouTube, which suggests that people elsewhere might be a little dim. I understand that there are people who believe they have a god-given right to be abusive cretins to a 13-year-old girl, but I’m not one of them, especially when the 13-year-old girl in question is my kid, and I have the ability to turn off the comments. Surprise! I do believe Rebecca Black still has her comments on; they can go bother her if they like.

Anyway, now the world has Athena’s official rebuttal to the critics. I’m sure they will be thrilled.

Over at FilmCritic.com, I look at this year’s Academy Award nominations and what they mean for science fiction and fantasy (short answer: not much). But when you have a mediocre year in SF/F films, you shouldn’t expect much in the way of Oscar love. Check it out, and leave any thoughts you have on the topic there.

And for a slightly different take, here’s Tor.com explaining why it was a fantastic year for science fiction and fantasy at the Oscars. This is because they claim Hugo and Midnight in Paris as science fiction/fantasy films, and I don’t. I explain why in my column.