Last day of summer

September 21: If global warming is coming, it wasn't on display this year. July temperatures in the United States were the 27th coolest in the last 115 years-well below the nation's average July temperature. And while the monthly average high temperature in Death Valley, Calif., topped 121 degrees in July, four breadbasket states and four Ohio River valley states experienced their coolest July ever recorded.

Release of Capitalism: A Love Story

September 23: Filmmaker Michael Moore will dump his standard bag of tricks on moviegoers on Sept. 23 when his newest documentary, Capitalism: A Love Story, opens. Trailers indicate the creator of Fahrenheit 9/11 and Sicko is up to his old tricks, including standing in front of corporate offices demanding corporate bosses fill up sacks with money for him.

Cup on the move

September 24: After resting with recent World Cup winner Italy since 2006, the FIFA World Cup soccer trophy will begin its 84-nation, 215-day global tour set to end in South Africa on May 4, leading up to the 2010 World Cup next June.

The People's Republic of China turns 60

October 1: Plans for celebrating communist China's impending 60th birthday set off howls of criticism from conser­vatives after Chinese media reported that the People's Republic's red flag would fly at the White House. Instead, the White House reported that a Chinese business group had been given permission to fly the flag across the street from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue at a park.

Ig Nobels presented

October 1: The winners (losers?) of the 2009 Ig Nobel awards will be announced tonight at Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass. The 19th annual award ceremony spoofs the Nobel Prizes and recognizes published research deemed improbable or pointless. The 2008 Ig Nobel Peace Prize went to Swiss ethicists who argued plants should be granted human rights, while the prize for biology was awarded to French researchers who proved cat fleas don't jump as high as dog fleas.

2016 Summer Games decision

October 3: In a three-day meeting beginning today, the International Olympic Committee will likely announce its choice to host the 2016 Summer Games. Chicago, Madrid, Tokyo, and Rio de Janeiro have all reportedly made the shortlist.