First, thank you Stephen Martin of the Washington Association of Educators of the Talented and Gifted (WAETG), Pauline Bowie of the Northwest Gifted Child Association (NWGCA), and all of the Seattle parents and others who attended my presentation last night on gifted intensities. What a warm, welcoming, and attentive group! The question and answer period alone provided enough topics for an entire conference. 
As I was preparing for the presentation, my son asked what I planned to discuss. After I explained how I would begin with ways to define and understand giftedness—beginning with the new NAGC definition, and moving on to the Columbus Group definition, Dabrowski’s theory of overexcitabilities, and Mary-Elaine Jacobsen’s “Big Three” umbrella traits common to gifted adults—he said, with that twinkle in his eye that I have so enjoyed during this winter break and will miss when he returns to college next week, “There’s a much simpler test for giftedness.”
His test? If someone is a fan of the new Battlestar Galactica series, that’s a sufficient (though not a necessary) criterion.
It’s hard to argue with him. In the following clip, Edward James Olmos explains why he took the role of Admiral William Adama:
Another sufficient but not necessary test of giftedness could be an instinctive appreciation for The Big Bang Theory:
More ideas?
Star Wars and Legos are also great indicators.
Oh, yes! A student in my college speech class will be giving an informative speech next week on this Lego set: http://www.geekologie.com/2010/06/2500_piece_lego_imperial_shutt.php I love it!
I have never watched Battlestar Gallactica – I’m a Stargate or SG fan. But, I do enjoy watching Big Bang Theory once and a while. One of my favorite movies is Real Genius with Val Kilmer. “Ice is Nice!”
I haven’t watched Stargate, but my son has marathoned it (can I use that as a verb?) with friends. Real Genius is a classic!
Oh my gosh–I talk about the new BSG all the time. It’s my all-time favorite show! My husband and I neglected sleeping many nights just to squeeze in “one more episode,” until we’d finished the whole series. I miss that show…and Firefly.
Kristi, I have only seen episodes here and there of BSG, so I have a lot of catching up to do.
I sooo agree about Firefly. 
Absolutely wonderful! I miss Battlestar and Firefly and am not caught up on Stargate, but oh, how ever can we neglect the audacious and spectacular Dr. Who?
Victoria, I think I’ll need your advice on where/how to start watching Dr. Who… There are so many!! ?
Yeah, that sounds like the most accurate way to “test” giftedness. I adore BSG and even though the ending of the series ticked me off, I think about it nearly every day. It was a fantastic show…a THINKING show…and I miss it.