Link roundup

1. When the USA experimented to find out if it could expand the Panama Canal using nuclear bombs.

2. NY's mayor Michael Bloomberg is really feeling his oats - - this week he endorsed Scott Brown in the Massachusetts senate race and also explained why the government can't stop Chick fil-A from opening a restaurant on account of their political views.

3. From Drew Magary's sport-by-sport Olympics analysis:

BOXING. It's borderline criminal that a sport as violent and ruthless as boxing is so often decided by a gang of corrupt ... judges who happily ignore Compubox stats in favor of declaring their preferred political ally the victor. Soccer has shootouts. Why doesn't boxing have punch-outs? At the end of 12 rounds, each boxer gets a free shot at the other's face. First one to drop, loses. (Or dies. They'd probably die). Sport: IMPROVED.

PENTATHLON. Here's an event that takes nostalgia way too far. I think it's very cute that they've grouped shooting, swimming, equestrian, running, and fencing all into one event meant to emulate the skills needed of a 19th century soldier. But that shouldn't be an Olympic sport.

4. Gawker spends a day at The Tiki, the theater Fred Willard was arrested in.