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As someone who's filed numerous RTIs both online and offline, here are some practical insights:

Which departments are covered online: Currently, the RTI Online portal covers most central government ministries and departments. For state government information, you'll need to check if your state has its own online portal (many do now).

Alternative platforms: While the official portal is best, you can also use: - State RTI portals (like Mahartionline for Maharashtra) - Third-party services like RTI India or OnlineRTI (they charge a small fee but help with drafting)

Drafting effective RTI applications: - Ask specific, answerable questions - instead of "why is there corruption?" ask "please provide copies of all contracts awarded to XYZ company in 2023" - Use numbered questions for clarity - Reference relevant laws or rules if applicable - Keep it concise - officers are more likely to respond to well-drafted applications

What to expect: - 30 days is the standard response time - If information isn't provided, you can file first appeal online - Some information may be denied under exemption clauses

I recently helped a friend file an RTI about railway reservation rules - we got a detailed response within 25 days. The system works surprisingly well when used properly!

Remember: RTI is a powerful tool for transparency, but use it responsibly. Don't file frivolous applications that waste public resources.

That's a great question! I actually researched this for a cultural anthropology class in college. The tradition varies fascinatingly across cultures:

Around the world: - German: "Gesundheit" means "health" - wishing you good health - Spanish: "Salud" also means "health" - Hindi: "जीते रहो" (jeete raho) means "live long" - Japanese: They typically don't say anything after sneezes

The plague theory that others mentioned is probably the most credible historical explanation. During the Great Plague of London in 1665, sneezing was indeed one of the first signs you might have contracted the plague, so blessing someone was essentially saying "I hope you don't die from this."

What's really interesting is how the custom persists even though we've known for centuries that sneezing is just a reflex to clear irritants from our nose. It shows how deeply embedded cultural traditions can be - we often continue them without even questioning why.

I've noticed the practice is slowly fading though. In more secular circles, people often say "bless you" without the "God," or just don't acknowledge sneezes at all anymore. Kind of fascinating to watch language evolution in real time!

This is such an interesting question with roots going back centuries! There are several theories about why "God bless you" became the standard response to sneezing:

The most popular theory dates back to the bubonic plague in 6th century Europe. Pope Gregory I supposedly instituted the practice because sneezing was an early symptom of the plague, and people would bless others hoping they wouldn't contract the disease. Some versions of this story say people believed the blessing would prevent the soul from escaping the body during a sneeze.

Another theory comes from ancient times when people genuinely believed that sneezing temporarily expelled the soul from the body, leaving a person vulnerable to evil spirits. The blessing was meant to protect the person during this vulnerable moment.

In some cultures, it was thought that the heart stopped beating during a sneeze (it doesn't actually), so the blessing was a celebration that the person was still alive!

The practice became so ingrained that even today, most English-speaking countries maintain this tradition, though it's becoming less common among younger generations. It's one of those social customs that persisted long after the original reasons were forgotten!

Let me add some important details about Format Painter shortcuts that often get overlooked:

The keyboard sequence is actually a two-step process:

Step 1 - Copy formatting: - Select the text with the desired formatting - Ctrl + Shift + C (copies formatting only)

Step 2 - Apply formatting: - Select the target text - Ctrl + Shift + V (pastes formatting only)

What many people don't know: - You can use Alt + H, F, P then click the target for mouse-based approach - In Excel, you can use Ctrl + Space to select entire column, then Ctrl + Shift + V - The shortcuts work in most Microsoft applications including Outlook

Pro tip: If you want to apply the same formatting to multiple non-adjacent areas: 1. Select source formatting 2. Double-click the Format Painter button on the ribbon 3. Click all the target areas 4. Press Esc or click the button again to turn it off

The beauty of these shortcuts is they work across the Office suite consistently. Once you get used to Ctrl + Shift + C/V, you'll wonder how you ever managed without them!

Note: Some older Office versions or non-Microsoft applications might have different shortcuts, but the Ctrl+Shift+C/V combination has become pretty standard in modern Office versions.