Dark Energy Question

[boloboffin]

From what I've read, I understand that the space between objects in the universe is expanding in a way unrelated to actual velocity of said objects, and the energy to do so is how a portion of "dark matter" is to be reconciled with other things in cosmology.

So my question is, that being so, how does it affect the calculation of time for distant events now being observed here on Earth? I'm quite sure there's plenty I'm not understanding, and if someone could explain it all, or get me some good reference books to go find (I just finished Seven Deadly Colours and thought it quite good to read), I'd appreciate it.