My method for keeping track of appointments is appallingly primitive — I have a desk calendar in my office at home, and I just write everything on that. In terms of getting all the appropriate information onto the calendar, this actually works better than one would think, given that most appointments are made via e-mail. (In the last resort, I’ll e-mail myself to remind me to write down said appointment when I get home.) Yet the system has one glaring hole: I can only refer to it when I’m at home. It also seems likely that I’m only going to get more busy over time, and so it makes sense to form new habits now when things are relatively calm.
How do you, my readers, keep track of such things? I’ve considered using Google Calendar, which would be convenient given that Shimer uses Google for their e-mail, etc. I’m also due for a phone upgrade this summer, at which point I could get an Android phone so that it would all integrate, preferably without seams. (I’ve also hypothesized that I could put my files in which I take notes on students on Google Docs and have instant access to that, because I’ve noticed that I have a hard time remembering paper topics, etc., to write down once I get back to my office.)
An und für sich 
I do know people who still use a desk calendar and it works for them quite effectively. I use a Google Calendar based system for my calendar. Besides the web front, I also have the Thunderbird plugin for Google Calendar and the calendar app on my Android phone. I set reminders for nearly everything and I normally get notifications from both my computer and my phone about what I should be doing (as well as where, when, etc). I have two calendars (one for me personally and a shared one with my partner, who has it on her phone as well). I also use TripIt for my travel details and that provides a calendar which syncs with Google Calendar as well.
Google calendar is amazing; I use it for everything. It also, since I have an android phone, automatically notifies me through that so that in principle I could never miss anything. You can also send various types of reminders. And it works on all computers.
I’ve been fiddling with the Shimer Google Calendar account, and it seems pretty useful so far. (Also added the Interccect calendar for academic events in the city, which is helpful.)
…and now I’ve added Google Sync to my Blackberry, so that should get me by until I upgrade my phone, with all my many early summer appointments, etc.
Because I never “sync” my phone, I don’t use the calendar on it or the one on my computer. I use one of those “planner” things, which also serves as an impromptu notepad–say you’re in a friend’s office and they mention a rad book they just read; getting out the phone and typing that up seems a bit rude, but notebooks don’t. I’ve never missed an appointment due to the lack of the “reminder” function of a pen-and-paper planner.
I also considered just getting a pen-and-paper planner, but then I thought, “That’s probably what Craig does. I’m not nearly as authentic and no-bullshit as him, so I’m not worthy to use his method. I’ll just settle for an online calendar.”
Actually, I’m a little surprised Craig didn’t say, “You pretentious assholes think you’re so important — the only calendar I need is the class schedule and a marked-up TV Guide.”
I have the TV schedule memorized! Who needs a TV guide? Only amateurs.
Oh, I cut my hair (first time since December 2010) and shaved (first time since August) this week! I even bought a shirt with buttons, but it was Old Navy.
I’m happy with an Android phone and google calendar except for the whole faceless-evil-corporation-knows-all-i-do feeling.
Google Calendar synced to iCal and an Android phone. Mac Mail exports nicely to iCal — you just hover over a date and it asks you if you want to create an event or open to that date in iCal. But if you use the Gmail interface for your email, then go straight to Google Calendar.
I use an old-fashioned iPaq PDA device. I’ve been using it since 2005, I think. It connects to wifi if I need it to, and it has microsoft office. It can make voice recordings very quickly and has some other cool features. I know having a smartphone would eliminate this, but I pay the bare minimum for cell phone and don’t use internet on the phone.
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