Let's get one thing out of the way first. Apart from displaying all sorts of system/process information to the user, another goal of Conky was to allow users to present that information in a so diverse possible way or format.

If you get to linx forums, you will find massive threads everywhere with tutorials on Conky, how to achieve certain effects.

The one I'd advise you to start with, only a couple of pages long, is
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=205865

To give you an example of what can be done, here the integration of the Google calendar.

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=837385

There are only the limits of the framework of Conky itself, but basically any systeminfo should be able to be forwarded to Conky to be displayed. Think mediaplayer info, incoming mail, weather or calendar, you name it.

The only advise I should give you before clicking on any of those links is that once you start tinkering, Conky tends to be a bit addictive. If you have a wife and kids, and the weather outside is good, send them away first .

Enjoy!