TLDR: On Freenode #micropython use http://webchat.freenode.net/?randomnick ... hon&uio=d4 if you don't have a preferred way to do it yet.
Since some might have missed @dhylands in thread http://forum.micropython.org/viewtopic.php?p=617#p617 I decided to make a separate announcement in hopes of attracting people (I also suggest moving the discussion about the merits of of various ways to connect and stay connected to this thread).
Currently it's a bit quiet but I hope to see more people there (especially the gurus so I can ask stupid questions from them). I go by nick of "mashiara" there since someone else registered this one already when I first had reason to join freenode (which is many, many years ago).