Links
http://www.shellsnet.org/ - Network for shell users
http://www.ductape.net/~mitja/freeunix.shtml - List of free shell providers
http://www.irssi.org/documentation/startup - Startup HOWTO for the irssi IRC client.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shell_account - Short introduction to shell accounts and some more links.
http://konst.org.ua/centericq/ - Textbased IM client installed on the server (MSN, ICQ, AIM, Yahoo).