What the Heck? Did someone just get a patent on "managing appointments"?

While the link is to the Patent Application, if you check the PAIR system, it was indeed GRANTED (notice of allowance was sent) on March 12, 2012.

Why is the patent office granting these sorts of patents when there's clearly prior art here? Or at least it fails the "obviousness" test. What's going on?

When can we just start ignoring these patents?

If patent wars get to the point where no one can create anything legally without paying extortion fees, do we start using an equivalent of bit torrent or TOR for new web services?

Good idea, but how do you do that when you're staring down the barrel of a legal gun? Oh the intellectual property legal system is such a hoot.

Does this mean my project... meetingShed (http://www.meetingshed.com) is in conflict with this patent? I guess you could argue this point either way. I developed this some time ago now, and I've seen many other solutions all taking a slightly different approach in existence. Do small fish like us stand much of a chance developing innovative products if this is what tech patents have come to?