The mystery of the ringing public phone in Beijing

Can a booster make you test positive for COVID? [View this email online]( [NPR]( Goats and Soda editor's note Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images If you try and fail, then at least you can make a course correction -- and that's better than sitting back and trying to decide what to do. That was a message from chef José Andrés at a talk he gave on Yom Kippur, the Jewish holiday of atonement, at the synagogue Adas Israel in Washington, D.C. Andrés is known not only for his amazing restaurants but for the charity he started, World Central Kitchen, which brings food who are suffering from a natural disaster, a climate crisis or a human conflict. Perhaps there was a bit of irony in hearing Andrés talk about feeding the world on a holiday whose hallmark is a 25-hour fast -- part of the day's spiritual work of atoning for past sins and looking ahead to a better new year. But what he said was fully in keeping with the spirit of Yom Kippur. Andrés shared a story from a mission to Haiti in the wake of the 2010 earthquake. He'd cooked up what he thought would be the most delicious black bean dish ever -- only to hear grumbling in the local Creole language. When he asked for a translation, the review was harsh: Haitians did not care for his black bean preparation and prefer a silky paste. Andrés didn't take it personally and reinvented his dish. Because really, he says, you have to listen to the locals you've come to help -- something that isn't always part of aid efforts in today's global world. Here's a story about how [he's fed Ukrainians]( as the Russian war has unfolded. And here's one of our past stories about [how to reinvent global collaborations]( in a way that gives a voice to the locals. Marc Silver Editor, Goats and Soda in the news Aowen Cao/NPR [A public payphone in China began ringing and ringing. Who was calling?]( It started in July. The callers live in Gourd Island, and they were hoping to share an important message that they say was being ignored by their local authorities. [One of Kenya's luckier farmers tells why so many farmers there are out of luck]( Erratic weather is just one problem. Many farmers can no longer keep pace with the rising cost of fuel and fertilizer (which previously has been largely imported from Ukraine). What's the solution? afghanistan Mohammadi Family [The diary of an Afghan girl killed in bombing reveals a list of unfulfilled dreams]( Ride a bike. Learn the guitar. Continue studying. All of this came to a violent end for 16-year-old Marzia Mohammadi. Her diary lays bare the struggles of Afghan girls since the Taliban takeover. --------------------------------------------------------------- Newsletter continues after sponsor message --------------------------------------------------------------- coronavirus faq [Can a booster cause a positive test? When should you get boosted?]( There is a lot of information about coronavirus vaccines out there, and some of it seems vague or contradictory. We talked to experts to help answer some of the most common and confusing questions. links we like - From The New York Times: "Paul Siguqa grew up hating wineries because his mother toiled in their fields. But last year he opened[the only fully Black-owned vineyard in Franschhoek]( one of South Africa’s most prestigious wine towns." - African countries are among the nations whose cultural artifacts have been appropriated by Westerners. John Oliver has a [brutal takedown of museum practices]( with more than a few of his trademark curse words and a lot of outrage at the British Museum's tactics: "Yup, we took it." - The war in Ukraine has interfered with the country's shipments of fertilizer around the world. [In Peru, they're making do with ... bird poo?!]( The Guardian has the story. - NPR's Tiny Desk showcases [the music of Susana Baca,]( who performs with her band from a bookstore in Lima, Peru: "The percussive fugue of 'Molino Molero' ends sharply before, by contrast, the unwound and languorous 'Dämmerung' stretches beneath her clarion voice." --------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------- Stream your local NPR station. Visit NPR.org to find your local station stream. [Find a Station]( What do you think of today's email? We'd love to hear your thoughts, questions and feedback: [goatsandsoda@npr.org](mailto:goatsandsoda@npr.org?subject=Newsletter%20Feedback) Enjoying this newsletter? Forward to a friend! They can [sign up here](. Looking for more great content? [Check out all of our newsletter offerings]( — including Health, Daily News, Code Switch and more! You received this message because you're subscribed to Goats and Soda emails. This email was sent by National Public Radio, Inc., 1111 North Capitol Street NE, Washington, DC 20002 [Unsubscribe]( | [Privacy Policy]( [NPR logo]