John Nese is the Willy Wonka of carbonation. His L.A. specialty store offers more than 500 types of fizzy beverages -- but no Pepsi. (Chow.com) View

Jazz musicians and chefs are creatively spontaneous, but so are surgeons and firefighters. A look at the unscripted moments in all our lives. View

A few hardy souls in Oostduinkerke carry on this 500-year-old tradition of trawling for shrimp on horseback in the North Sea. (The Guardian) View

Residents near downtown L.A. are afraid to drink their brown tap water, which contains harmful levels of dangerous chemicals. By antiquated Federal standards, it's considered safe. (NYT) View

The regulatory system that's supposed to protect us from potentially lethal E.Coli in burgers failed Stephanie Smith ... and is not as safe as we think. (NYT) View

Will volunteer organizations be able to keep up with the record numbers of needy people seeking handouts? (NYT) View

Fish farming seems like a natural enterprise for this island nation, but it took a hard-working consultant from Ivory Coast to make it happen. (Time) View

The Best Videojournalism Stories of 2009 ... Celebrating excellence in video, journalism and storytelling. View

Take this quick course in the art of ordering and slurping the wildly popular noodle soup to appreciate what all the fuss is about. (NYT) View

In Taiwan, a famous chef prepares an exotic and taboo dinner treat. Is it really an aphrodisiac? (National Geographic) View

Alan Arnopole entertains customers with his wine-vat yodel and wine-themed comedy routine at a vineyard tasting room. (SF Chronicle) View

Just gave birth? Meet a professional chef who will prepare your discarded organ for consumption. Bon appetit! (Time) View