What is Google Calendar

Are you past the point of keeping track of all your important meetings, dates, and events via a paper planner or calendar? Jump on the Google Calendar bandwagon!

Google Calendar is a free web application that is, you guessed it, a calendar! It is Google's version of a digital planner that gives you the ability to organize yourself by creating several different calendars in one window and let's you share any and all with friends, families, co-workers, and anyone else. When sharing your calendars, you have the option of letting the new viewer see some details, see every detail and event, or add his or her own events to the calendar. By sharing your calendars, you will have created a great collaboration tool for you and your family, or you and your entire company, to allow every to see when and where things are happening.

How to Access Your Google Calendar

To start using your Google Calendar, you need to log into your Google account (if you don't have a Google account or Gmail, you can make one up using your current email). After logging in, choose "Calendar" from the top toolbar.

Syncing Your Other Programs With Your Google Calendar

Another great thing about Google Calendar is that it is compatible with many web, desktop, and smart phone applications you may already be using. This means that you can synchronize the events and details on your current applications with your new Google Calendar, and vice versa. Some software applications that are compatible include: Outlook, iCal, and a plethora of Android, iPhone, and Blackberry apps.

Other reasons why Google Calendar is a useful alternative to your planner

1. You can't forget your Google Calendar sitting on your kitchen counter. Simply access your calendars from your smart phone or computer.
2. You don't have to write in pencil because everything you type can be deleted, retyped and color coordinated.
3. You can be reminded about upcoming events via email or other memos
4. You can send invitations to events and keep track of the RSVPs

When in Doubt, Google It

Oh, the number of times I have asked this simple little question.

"Have you Googled it?"

While I enjoy being considered rather smart by people I've helped through a quandary in the past, I must admit that I'm not able to divine the solution to all known things. I know, this may come as a shock to you, but often, I've been just as stumped or clueless as the person coming to me for advice.

That is, until I Googled it. (By the way, Google is indeed a recognized verb.)

There seems to be an inordinate amount of blog posts, articles, forum posts, and videos on pretty much every topic under the sun. Windows is giving you an error message? You can't remember how to get bubble gum out of carpet? You're not sure which Android app is best for taking notes? You need help proposing marriage? Trust me, it's out there.

Google is the most popular website on earth and the most used search engine for a reason. (Facebook is second.) Do you know which site comes in third? You Tube. That's right. People search for things on YouTube before they hit Yahoo! or Bing. But regardless of which search engine or website you use, they'll still find the information you're looking for!

But is it trustworthy?

There has always been a bias that information on the internet is skewed, faulty, unresearched, etc. And there can be some truth in that. But there are a lot of quacks out in the real world, too. I always encourage you look at a few websites to find solutions that seem the most accurate, up-to-date, or whatever is necessary to you, but I assure you, there is good content out there!

Side bar: Did you know that Wikipedia is more accurate that Encyclopedia Britannica?

How you can use this to your advantage!

Well, besides saving a lot of your own time and the sanity of the people you constantly beg for help, there is a way to make this work for you:

Become the person answering the questions!

Yes, the student becomes the master! One of the best advantages of social media, in my opinion, is the ability to easily broadcast what you know to establish yourself as an expert in your field. Why can't it be your blog post that is solving someone's problem? Why aren't you answering peoples' questions on LinkedIn Answers and Quora? Have you considered recording a simple YouTube video explaining how to do something? Why not!?

Maybe now is the time.

Quick Fix for Adobe Reader Problem

Do you have a form you're trying to submit or e-mail from Adobe Reader but the program keeps giving you this error message:

"One of the specified recipients is not resolvable."

The fix is quick and simple. Within Reader, go to Edit > Preferences > General and uncheck Enable Protected Mode at startup. That's it!

Not comfortable making the change? You can also just save a copy of the PDF of the document on your computer and manually attach it to an email.

What is Google Calendar?

Are you past the point of keeping track of all your important meetings, dates, and events via a paper planner or calendar? Jump on the Google Calendar bandwagon!

Google Calendar is a free web application that is, you guessed it, a calendar! It is Google's version of a digital planner that gives you the ability to organize yourself by creating several different calendars in one window and let's you share any and all with friends, families, co-workers, and anyone else. When sharing your calendars, you have the option of letting the new viewer see some details, see every detail and event, or add his or her own events to the calendar. By sharing your calendars, you will have created a great collaboration tool for you and your family, or you and your entire company, to allow every to see when and where things are happening.

How to Access Your Google Calendar

To start using your Google Calendar, you need to log into your Google account (if you don't have a Google account or Gmail, you can make one up using your current email). After logging in, choose "Calendar" from the top toolbar.

Syncing Your Other Programs With Your Google Calendar

Another great thing about Google Calendar is that it is compatible with many web, desktop, and smart phone applications you may already be using. This means that you can synchronize the events and details on your current applications with your new Google Calendar, and vice versa. Some software applications that are compatible include: Outlook, iCal, and a plethora of Android, iPhone, and Blackberry apps.

Other reasons why Google Calendar is a useful alternative to your planner

1. You can't forget your Google Calendar sitting on your kitchen counter. Simply access your calendars from your smart phone or computer.
2. You don't have to write in pencil because everything you type can be deleted, retyped and color coordinated.
3. You can be reminded about upcoming events via email or other memos
4. You can send invitations to events and keep track of the RSVPs

What is Open Source?

According to Webopedia.com, "open source refers to a program in which the source code is available to the general public for use and/or modification." Individuals and companies who choose to follow the principles of open source are agreeing to share the computer language (source code) they have used to create a computer program or software.

Why make source codes available to the public?

The practice and utilization of open source is helpful for the programmer to receive quick feedback on his source code, creating a fast problem-solving system where others can help detect any problems, or "bugs", in the program. Sharing source code is also helpful to others because viewers are free to borrow the code to expand on the idea or to create a new program inspired by the original code.

Sharing is caring

Here is analogy to help you grasp the idea of open source: imagine you were developing a medicine and decided to share the ingredients and your research with the world. Now billions of people all over the world have access to the information. These people can now give you feedback to help hasten the success of the medicine, which will help cure sick people, or they can take your ideas and develop their own medicine, which will still help sick people. Open source is similar to this scenario, they are both giant brainstorming sessions.

Open source uses in your everyday life

Two open source softwares you may be using everyday include the web browser Mozilla Firefox and Google's Android platform. By following the principles of open source, these two softwares are encouraging people to create add-ons and applications for their products. This helps create a bug-free, fuller experience for everyone.