gcalcli makes it possible to connect with google apps api though the google data python module. gcalcli http://code.google.com/p/gcalcli/ is program which lets one view and edit google cals in the command line. The true power of this is to set up a reminder system with cron or Conky. I've written some short installation instructions here
http://www.dpo.uab.edu/~rcloud/gcalcli.html