AVR-Chat

I don't know how many of you are familiar with IRC (Internet Relay
Chat).  I am a heavy IRC user (indeed, 11 years ago I met the woman who
is now my wife on an IRC channel).   Anyhooo:


   I am seriously considering starting an IRC channel devoted to AVR use
and users.  This channel would be on the IRC network known as efNet
(probably...Thereis one alternative I am considering).  I need to
download an eggdrop bot source and modify it to support the channel, and
ind a host for it.  once that is done, channel #avrFreaks will be a
reality.

  I am looking for feedback on whether you folks would participate in
such a project.   Realtime chats offer a much richer environment for
seeking and offering technical assistance than mail lists (not that
maillists don't serve a useful and essential service, they do).  Also,
there is, or can be, a deeper social interaction, which creates a
stronger sense of community, which I think is worthwhile.

   Indeed, I am seriously considering (subject tot he opinions of you,
the participants, of course) seeking support for the IRC avrFreaks
project from Atmel.  Perhaps asking them if they would provide the
hosting for the bot (a bot is a small program that logs into a channel,
and poses as a user.  It is usually "opped" (designated as a channel
operator) so that it has control over what is happenigm on channel.  It
can be programmed to enforce channel ruls, to preotect the channel from
unpleasant take-over attempts, etc., etc., as well as offering online
"Information and Referral" services, such as access to lists of hardware
and software resources, vendors of Atmeal and related components, etc.,
etc.).  As I envision it, this support would consist solely of providing
the miniaml storage resources (I cannot believe that the bot and its
related files would take more than, say, 50 MBytes of storage space) and
the minimal CPU power for the bot program to be excuting, and, of
course, a very small quantity of their Internet bandwidth.  All i nall,
a very small cost to Atmel, for a fairly large return in public
relations.

  In any case, I am seekign comments, suggestions, and yes, even flames,
over this proposal.  Please let me know what you think.  Thanks in
advance.

Tom