New to Missions need some things clarified Options

[warpi9]

I have been playing Shadowrun a little here and there since the beginning of 3rd edition. I picked up 4th ed and loved it, but was waiting for books to come out etc, before running anything. Time passed I kinda forgot about it and now there seem to be a ton of books. Anyways I want to run the NY missions but had a few questions. These missions will pretty much be run at my home.

Questions?

1. What the heck are the calenders for? I'm guessing something with downtime between missions. I can't find info on the calender, and what can be done between missions.

2. Are the NY missions reported?

3. Can PC's start with corporate affiliations? I like the secrecy behind them and would like to offer them a reward in the first mission for completing their objective. Maybe I can have the players read over the corps and have them secretly pick one they can be affialited with if they want.

4. Are the NY missions being produced fairly regularly? I don't want to start something and then have it stall because of lack of missions?

5. What's this about riggers losing Drones in Manhatten? Is that something discussed in the Rotten Apple book? And would that book help with the missions?

6. What other books would you reccomend I purchase for GM'ing these NY missions?

7. Sorry one more, What is Dawn of the artifacts? Is it a mission or more a framed for creating your own missions?

Please reply ASAP as I really want to get this game running.

Thanks