It's probably satellite connection.
We had an 'official' AG irc chat room before, but it didn't turn out popular enough. I do like the idea, but I don't like irc, it's not.......sophisticated enough. Something is lacking about it that makes ongoing chats unsatisfying.
Actually what I would LOVE is a semi-persistent AG Counter-Strike Source 'chat' room. You know, where some of us can play against each other as a team, while others (those who suck at FPSs
) can simply spectate and gossip amongst themselves.