[IRC] The basic unit of discussion on {IRC}. Once one joins a
channel, everything one types is read by others on that channel.
Channels are named with strings that begin with a `#' sign and can
have topic descriptions (which are generally irrelevant to the actual
subject of discussion). Some notable channels are #initgame, #hottub,
callahans, and #report. At times of international crisis, #report has
hundreds of members, some of whom take turns listening to various
news services and typing in summaries of the news, or in some cases,
giving first-hand accounts of the action (e.g., Scud missile attacks
in Tel Aviv during the Gulf War in 1991).
[glossary]