1. This is a group of female geeks.
2. This a group of Linux users who actively support the Open Source movement.
3. This is a group of highly intelligent women who don't mind an occasional male posting a comment or question in their discussion.

I'm glad I did. I can remember when there was a time that the testosterone level on the Web was so intense that I had to restrict my dosage of Internet time to keep from chewing nails in half. As more and more women began to come to the Internet, design and develop sites, and join newsgroups, I was happy. Who needs a testfest every day? And who needs a "frontier" that isn't available to all people, all the time? So I was *tres* pleased with the welcoming page of Linuxchix Grrltalk, which includes this background information:

"What do you talk about?

"We talk about anything related to the GNU/Linux operating system, the OSS movement, and the efforts of the Free Software Foundation. This includes, but is not limited to: "

• * philosophies and issues "
• * news "
• * announcements "
• * events "
• * questions "
• * answers "
• * tips & tricks "
• * howtos "
• * distributions "
• * window managers "
• * desktop environments "
• * applications "
• * programming "
• * installation "
• * configuration "
• * hacking "
• * network and system security "
• * hardware issues "
• * etc.

"Basically: anything and everything that relates to GNU/Linux, OSS, or the FSF.

"grrltalk can also be about anything that relates to women and technology, including (but not limited to):

"
• * gender & technology "
• * the history of women in science and technology "
• * being a geekgrrl in the geekboys' clubhouse"

I found the ascerbic sense of humor here, the openness and the recognition that (too often) many of us act like it is "the geekboys' clubhouse" a very good sign. If you are among the many cognoscenti excited by the fun and new potential offered by the Open Source movement, and if you're a geekgrrl, this is the place to be. Highly Recommended.