Looking Ahead

Kim Il-Sung celebrations

Indoctrinated North Koreans will take to the streets on April 15 to celebrate what would have been the 100th birthday of Kim Il-Sung. The communist leader brutally ruled the hermit kingdom for nearly half a century until 1994. Now Kim's grandson, Kim Jong-Un leads the communist nation.

Papal birthday

Pope Benedict XVI's 85th birthday on April 16 will likely cause many to ponder the pontiff's advancing age and questionable health. Last October, Benedict was pulled down the aisle of St. Peter's basilica on a rolling stage before leading Mass.

Tax day

The April 17 deadline for filing federal income tax returns will coincide with another inauspicious tax day for residents of Utah. With the 17th-highest tax burden in the United States, Utah's "Tax Freedom Day"-the day in which a worker's yearly earnings outstrip his total tax obligation for the year-will coincide with tax day.

Discovery to D.C.

The space shuttle Discovery will hitch a ride from Florida to Dulles International Airport on the back of a Boeing 747 en route to her final destination at the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. But before entering the museum, the space shuttle will take part in a parade to the museum on April 19 led by the U.S. Marine and Bugle Corps.

Greek elections

Angry Greek voters head to the polls on April 21 in a round of early parliamentary elections. Voters there could punish the formerly powerful socialist party for the European nation's debt crisis and the unpopular plans to address it.

Be true to your band

Reunited for one big tour, The Beach Boys-including Brian Wilson-will hit the road in April for their 50th anniversary tour. The series of concerts, which marks the first time in 46 years that Wilson will tour with the group, begins with an April 24 show in Tucson, Ariz., and concludes with three August shows in Japan. In between, the Beach Boys will perform about 60 shows in the United States and Europe.

Kim Il-Sung celebrations

Indoctrinated North Koreans will take to the streets on April 15 to celebrate what would have been the 100th birthday of Kim Il-Sung. The communist leader brutally ruled the hermit kingdom for nearly half a century until 1994. Now Kim's grandson, Kim Jong-Un leads the communist nation.