Migrating Macs - Outlook Calendar Issue

This is another one of my posts highlighting some of my issues with computers. I am quite certain, at this point, that most of my issues are at least partly self-created. Whatever the case with that, however, they do always need to be solved.

My most recent issue was with migrating from one mac to another. They actually make this process incredibly easy to do so I'm not going to talk about that at all, but I had a few problems after it was completed - mainly with Outlook 2011.

The biggest issue was that after I migrated everything, Outlook imported the new data very nicely, but it put all my mail, contacts, calendar events, etc. into the "on my computer" folder instead of the regular default folders. What I mean is that instead of putting everything into the normal location they would go to when you create a new contact or calendar event or whatever, it was all in a different location. Mostly this was not too big an issue.

To fix this problem for the contacts and mail, I simply selected all using command+A and draged them all to the folder I wanted them in - no big deal really. The big problem was the calendar. I would have loved to do the same thing with the calendar, but could not figure out how to select all the events so I could drag them. I spent a few days messing around with trying to import the calendar in different ways, syncing them both with a separate calendar, etc. and couldn't get anything - then I found the solution I had been looking for. Here's what I had to do:

• Go into the calendar tab on the left and click the "organize" tool bar tab
• In the "organize" menu, choose "list" - this will allow you to drag and drop
• Click in the search bar, then choose the "advanced button in the tool bar below
• Click the drop-down menu that appears below the tool bar and choose "Folder"
• Then make the other two say "Is" and "On My Computer"

This allowed me to see all calendar events for all time in a list, use command+A to select all and drag them to the other calendar folder.

Hopefully this solution will be helpful to other people - I know it alleviated many of my frustrations.

Motorcycle Helmet Law and Seatbelt Law

Dear readers,
It's time for another rant. Today's topic: Michigan's change to the motorcycle helmet law and the comparison to our seat belt law.

For those of you who don't know me personally, I enjoy having fun and I enjoy somewhat dangerous activities now and then. However, I always partake in these ventures in the safest way possible. For instance, I ride my motorcycle quite often in the summer, but in addition to always wearing my helmet, I also always wear full riding gear (armored pants and jacket, gloves, boots...). I also always buckle my seat belt, never drive if I can feel any effects of alcohol, and think if you do anything other than that, you're an idiot. However, that doesn't mean I think you shouldn't be allowed to do (some of) those things (I do think it should be illegal to drive after drinking).

This is maybe a little different from how most people look at these sorts of things, but then, I'm not most people. In my (humble) opinion, one of the best things about this country is our liberty. The Oxford dictionary defines  liberty as "the state of being free within society from oppressive restrictions imposed by authority on one's behavior or political views." It is, in short, our freedom from having other people's opinions forced upon us. Now, the obvious and necessary restriction on that liberty is if we are endangering other people with our behaviors - hence the law against drinking and driving.

Michigan voters seem to think (and I agree) that the requirement for motorcyclists to wear helmets was infringing upon their liberty - it was an oppressive restriction on motorcyclists' behavior. The issue, for me, comes in when we start to also consider Michigan's seat belt law.

If someone can help me understand why we are spending gobs of money on the "Click it or Ticket" advertising campaign for our seatbelt law and, at the same time, getting rid of the helmet law, I'd appreciate it. Personally, I'd rather have them just get rid of both laws, but it's honestly the apparent inconsistency that bothers me more than anything else.

I was planning on writing more, but I've now thought better of it. As always, please feel free to comment and let me know where we disagree.