Looking Ahead

Aug. 4

President Barack Obama’s 52nd birthday will come at a less stressful time than did his 51st birthday a year ago. During his 2012 re-election bid, the President squeezed in a round of golf on his birthday and took the evening off from the campaign trail.

Aug. 5

Had Congress not intervened in April, the U.S. Postal Service would be saying goodbye to Saturday delivery of first-class mail today. Officials said ending Saturday service would help the post office cut more than $2 billion in losses every year. But Congress had other plans, directing administrators of the independent agency to find other ways to cut costs.

Aug. 9

Disney is hoping that those who loved its animated Cars blockbuster will snatch up tickets for its spin-off, Planes. Pixar, which produced Cars, didn’t make the film. But Disney hopes that crossover personnel from its sister company give the new animated comedy the same Pixar magic.

Aug. 10

From late night until dawn in areas without much light pollution, sky watchers will be treated to some of the best meteor showers of the year. The phenomenon, called the Perseids meteor shower, will reach its zenith between August 10 and August 14 in the Northern Hemisphere as up to 60 meteors are expected to streak across the night sky every hour.

Aug. 11

Top golfers from around the world will be playing the final round of the PGA Championship this year at Oak Hill Country Club in Rochester, N.Y. After an impressive finish at the British Open Championship in July, the golf world will be watching to see if Tiger Woods truly has returned to form.