Recurring To Dos and multiplying events from subscribed calendars

Question

The density and volume of discussion about iCal's recurring ToDos and Events is too overwhelming to survey in its entirety so I will try this new post focussed on my problems.
My iCal has been starting up (beach ball icon turning) for more than a day, a process that began when I opened the ToDos column (push pin icon at bottom of window). Rightly or wrongly I entered a large number of birthdays and other anniversary dates as ToDos instead of Untimed Events. The bulk of my ToDos are such annually recurring events although there are plenty of others with shorter intervals (like those involving taking the trash out or renewing library books).
I suspect that it is these recurring ToDos running many years into the future that is preventing iCal from completing its start up and clogging up the application's data capacity. I can force quit the application, but the whole process only "recurs" when I launch the application again. I would happily sacrifice my entire ToDo file (Calendar) and re-enter the information under recurring untimed events, but I cannot figure out how. Moreover, Michael Lafferty wisely cautioned in regard to an iSync post about removing any files in OS 10 from the location where Apple placed them.
So how can I escape this bewildering and frustrating situation and get back to my more serious problem with using iSync to synch my Zire 71 with iCal on my G4?
Thanks
G4 400Mhz   Mac OS X (10.3.9)   another G4 400 Mhz w/ OS 19.3.9, PPC8100AV Mac OS 9.2, Palm Zire 71, Handheld Visor
G4 400Mhz   Mac OS X (10.3.9)   another G4 400 Mhz w/ OS 19.3.9, PPC8100AV Mac OS 9.2, Palm Zire 71, Handheld Visor

Answer 1

In another post, information was provided for removing duplicates, one an Applescript its creator supplied for finding and deleting iCal duplicates (called Delete iCal Duplicates) and another a shareware application UnDupe available from the Palm Store or Stevens Creek Software that will find and remove duplicates on a Palm device such as my Zire 71. I used both, finding few duplicates in iCal with the Delete iCal Duplicates Applescript, but a staggering number of duplicate ToDos on my Zire with UnDupe which I removed.
However, I still am unable to complete a sync with HotSync Manager and iSync because the Conduit Manger fails in mid-sync repeatedly. I am getting in the HotSync log the following message, but iSync continues the syncing process as though nothing has happened. Here is the message:
Sync type is Fast
iSync Conduit starting 7.28.06 11:31:23 PM
Setting Hello Response, type is PalmSyncTypeFast, language is 0
(BladeLanguageEnglish) 7.28.06 11:33:51 PM
Timeout waiting for Sync Engine, exiting 7.28.06 11:40:39 PM
iSync Conduit: received NULL message, disconnecting... 7.28.06 11:40:39
PM
iSync Conduit synchronization failed
“iSync Conduit” failed (error = #-1)
Do I need to re-install Palm Desktop v4.2.1 to replace a defective Conduit Manager component or what other solution to this repeated failue in mid-sync. Also note as I said that iSync does not stop and report the sync failure but just continues running and cannot be "Cancelled" either. Only a force quite and a complete re-start will stop iSync from continuing the synching process long after HotSync Manager has reported and logged the iSync conduit sync failure. Correction: some 40 minutes after HotSync Manager declared an interruption and failure, iSync has finally stopped with a sync failure alert
Thanks for help although at this point after 2-3 days no one has responded to my orginal question. Should I have cross-posted to the iSync Forum?
G4 400Mhz   Mac OS X (10.3.9)   another G4 400 Mhz w/ OS 19.3.9, PPC8100AV Mac OS 9.2, Palm Zire 71, Handheld Visor
G4 400Mhz   Mac OS X (10.3.9)   another G4 400 Mhz w/ OS 19.3.9, PPC8100AV Mac OS 9.2, Palm Zire 71, Handheld Visor
G4 400Mhz   Mac OS X (10.3.9)   another G4 400 Mhz w/ OS 19.3.9, PPC8100AV Mac OS 9.2, Palm Zire 71, Handheld Visor