Am I Right to Conclude That Advocates of 'smart' Homes Think It Is Desirable That You Should Never M

I agree with your thinking. Seems like all this wonderful technology, if we rely upon it, is making us a lazy generation! I can see how it would be very good and useful for the elderly. I am not quite that old yet, and I enjoy doing what I can for myself. I do not want to return to the days where we have to manually change the TV channel, but I also do not want to move toward a society where so much is done for us without us putting any effort behind it.

1. What are some cute and easy homemade gifts for the elderly?

bags to hang on front of walkers or arms of wheel chairs. armchair caddies for tv remotes, glasses, tv guide or puzzle book and pencil..any size as little or more pockets if needed. I like to do useful. the patterns can be found free online or just wing it. they take very little fabric. there is a wrap that goes across the shldrs, down the front and ends in a pocket for hands, tissues, whatever.

2. Two fainting spells in three weeks: Armchair physicians, tell me why?

I've fainted/collapsed for a number of different reasons, exhaustion, hyperthermia, poisoning, dehydration - they were all brought on by an extreme acting upon my body - I am driven whenever I am actively doing something though, hell-for-leather so to speak. I just had to relate this all again when I returned to continue donating blood and although I do not see it as serious because I am comfortable with the explanation and have made any necessary adjustments so it has not happened in the last ten years - I could honestly say a similar turn of events is no more than five minutes away for just about anyone who has not had survival training for any situation. If it's happening often and you can rule out everything that's a possible cause until there's just you - then an examination will be necessary to determine a cause. I've passed out twice in succession like that too, at the end of a gig the band was all standing round the bar, last to leave and the rhythm guitarist was talking to me, I felt it coming on really intensely - heat would be a good description, again though dehydration, or maybe toxicity (I do not smoke and this is back when a pub lounge would be densely filled over the course of an evening), I was not particularly clamouring for air & the only thing I could think is that I was about to be sick - my visual field started to go, I excused myself and nearly made it to the door - those who saw it said it was like I had been filleted and I dropped like my bones had vanished - I was lifted on to a bench seat and briefly came around and was trying to say I was okay when I lapsed again. Still I managed to pack up my equipment and walk home carrying some of it when I came round.... I think these things happen not just because of those physical factors, the heat/cold, the air, dehydration, etc, but also because in that moment you are probably managing a complex mental feat with just consciousness, plans, memories and motor functions - overheating could be one way of putting it... - also consider "I felt the floor underfoot, I was coordinating my movements, I had at least one other thing on my mind, there was a jolt just prior & then my brain scrambled, like wind blowing dry leaves, or sugar dissolving in hot water - I was gone to something else, namely the floor rising up to meet me". Hope it turns out fine :)

3. How much does it cost to get a custom slipcover made? What is the range of prices? Say, for an armchair?

$100-$300 for fabric, and maybe another $150 for labor

4. Does India have an excess of armchair experts?

Yes and No.Yes becauseIndia is a nation of 1.2 billion plus people. We have an excess of everything, well almost everything. Not too many Olympic medal winners, for instance. In the privacy of our living rooms or in the company of friends in tea-houses we have always opined - on trivial issues and on issues of great import. No wonder Amartya Sen wrote about the Argumentative Indian. Social media has made expressing your opinion that much easier and we are just taking advantage. The culture has always been such that it has encouraged an individual to have an opinion. At least that was the case in the past. You will remember the Mahabharat has many instances where youngsters were asked their opinions, always before the elders so that they did not feel stifled or obliged to repeat what an elder had said. Sadly, the present curriculum and teaching methods and family life does not encourage independent thought but goes the other extreme and prevents it in most cases. Access to the internet is not helping the least - you do not really need to make up your mind, you can read up what others are saying and use it convincingly in most cases. No becauseWe also have a lot of genuine experts and doers - again that population thingie. They have contributed a lot to society and addressing issues. Quite a few have actually succeeded against all odds. IMO this is not unique to India - happens across the world. There are more 'armchair experts' than 'experts' / would oers' any day. Just that our numbers and access to media makes us loud. In any case loudness is a very Indian characteristic.Confession: I too am an armchair expert on a number of issues. What to do? We are like that only!