One of the main differences between Chinese and Indian fried rice is that some Indian rice dishes fry the rice before boiling it, rather than the other way around. Pour the oil into a wok or large frying pan and heat it over medium heat. Add the mustard seeds and cook them for a few minutes, until they sputter and crackle. When the mustard seeds heat up and release their flavor into the oil, add the onions, peppers, scallions, and carrots to the wok. Sauté the vegetables for about seven minutes, until the onions become translucent. Pour the garam masala, turmeric, cayenne pepper, and rice in with the vegetables. Toss to coat the vegetables and the rice in the oil and spices. Heat the rice for a couple minutes, until it becomes glossy with the oil. Coating the rice in oil before adding the water will help prevent the rice from sticking together, and ensure that the grains are infused with all the spice flavors. Pour the water over the rice and vegetable mixture. Place a lid over the wok and allow it to cook for 15 to 20 minutes, until the rice becomes soft and absorbs all the water. To add a bit of extra flavor, you can also cook the rice in vegetable broth, or a vegetable broth and coconut milk mixture. When the rice is cooked, stir in the lemon juice and coriander or chopped mint leaves. Add extra salt and pepper, to taste, before serving.

Summary: Heat the mustard seeds in the oil. Cook the veggies. Add the spices and the rice. Add the water. Garnish and season before serving.


Bring medical items to assist you in the event that your medical condition worsens. For example, if you are diabetic, it is a good idea to pack extra insulin. Or, if you’ve suffered from ankle injuries in the past you may want to pack extra gauze in case of a sprain. An EpiPen is useful to bring even if you do not have any known allergies. You may be able to save someone else. You also may discover that you are allergic to a bite or plant. If you are hiking with a dog, you may want to pack a few animal-specific treatment items. Check with your vet for specific instructions as to dosage, etc. For example, dogs can use certain types of aspirin. It is also a good idea to pack activated charcoal. It will be helpful in the event that your dog ingests toxic plants or materials. Due to their anatomy, dogs are particularly prone to eye injuries. Pack a small bottle of saline to flush out your dog’s eyes if needed. If an emergency occurs, you may be stuck outdoors far longer than intended. An emergency blanket, often made of a mylar material, can help you maintain a healthy body temperature and avoid hypothermia. This is especially important if you are hiking in an area that experiences cold temperatures. If you are hiking in a foreign country or a location that you are unfamiliar with, browse online to see if there are any medical or wildlife warnings available. The World Health Organization (WHO) website posts many of these warnings. In some situations an antibiotic, such as Ciprofloxacin, is a good addition to your first aid kit. Some people feel better knowing that they have a booklet to reference in case of an emergency. However, the best option is to familiarize yourself with field medicine beforehand via an in-person or online class offered by many nature agencies and outdoors stores.

Summary: Consider any prior medical conditions. Be prepared for allergic reactions. Bring medical items for your dog. Include a weather blanket. Heed location-specific medical warnings. Add a primary care instruction booklet.


Take an old toothbrush and use the bristles to thoroughly scrub at the mold on your item of clothing. Remove as much of the mold buildup as you can this way. Discard the toothbrush immediately after scrubbing the fabric.  Work in a well-ventilated area, or even outdoors. Mold spores can travel through the air in your house and could settle onto other clothing, or worse, in your lungs. Once you’ve scrubbed off as much of the mold as possible, liberally apply a stain remover to the moldy portion of the clothing. Stain removers need time to soak into the fabric, so wait at least 30 minutes before washing the garment.  Commercial stain removers are readily available. Check the cleaning products aisle at your local grocery store or any supermarket. Run your washing machine on a “large” or “extra-large” load size, and set the water temperature to “hot.” Do not add any other items of clothing to the washing machine, as you’ll risk transferring mold spores to currently non-moldy clothes. If your washing machine estimates what load size is necessary based on the amount of fabric in the machine, throw in a few old rags or towels for weight. Once the laundry machine has filled with water, you can add vinegar to ensure that the mold is removed. Pour in ¾ cup (177 mL) of white vinegar to your load of laundry. Vinegar will also remove any unpleasant mildew smell that the moldy clothes have accumulated. You won’t be able to tell if the mold has been completely removed from the clothing until after it’s dried and the fabric has returned to its natural color. Let the fabric air dry on a flat surface or over a drying rack or drying line.  If it’s a nice day, you could also dry the item of clothing outdoors, in full sunlight. The sun’s added heat will help kill off and remove whatever mold remains on your clothing. Avoid using the dryer. Wait until the item is air-dried to check for any mold, discoloration, and odd smells. Putting any fabric with mold issues into the dryer risks contaminating the dryer with mold spores.

Summary: Scrub off the mold using a toothbrush. Apply a stain remover to the mold. Wash the item by itself with hot water. Add vinegar to the laundry.  Air-dry the clothing.


The Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) is required for entry into medical school. The latest you can take this exam is in September of the year you plan to submit your applications. Plan accordingly and start studying at least 6 months before the test. You may submit MCAT scores that are up to 3 years old, so you may consider taking the test a couple of years early. This way you can retake it if you don’t do as well as you hoped. Medical schools are not all alike in terms of their program and their admission requirements. Most medical school applicants apply to around 16 schools to maximize their chances of being accepted by at least 1 school. Make a list of the schools that interest you and compare their programs and requirements to help you decide where to apply. Use the American Association of Medical Colleges’ website to help you compile your list: https://apps.aamc.org/msar-ui/#/landing. It provides a complete list of medical schools along with details about their program offerings, admission requirements, and tuition costs. Medical schools require applicants to write an essay that describes why they want to pursue a career in medicine. Give yourself plenty of time to craft this essay. The personal statement essay is your chance to show the admissions committee how you will add to their program in ways that are not evident elsewhere on your application, such as any obstacles you have overcome that may enhance your ability to be a good physician.  Make sure that your essay responds to the essay prompt or question and that it is well-organized and polished. Try asking your college advisor or a trusted professor to read over your essay for you before you submit it. Use their feedback to revise and improve your essay. Complete all required fields for the applications you submit. Make sure to double check your responses to ensure that everything is correct before you submit them. Applications for medical school are usually accepted in the fall about 1 year before you plan to start your program. Be aware that each school may have a different deadline for their application, so you may want to keep a log of the dates.
Summary: Take the MCAT by the September before you submit your application. Research medical schools to choose the best one for you. Write your medical school application essay 1 to 2 months before applying. Submit your application to the medical schools of your choice.