small python IRC client

http://archive.oreilly.com/pub/h/1968
import errno
import socket
import sys

nick = sys.argv[1]

def send(*args):
    line = ' '.join(args) + '\r\n'
    conn.sendall(line.encode('utf-8'))

conn = socket.create_connection(('localhost', 6667))
send('NICK', nick)
send('USER', nick, nick, nick, nick)
send('JOIN', '#c1')
while True:
    #import readline; print readline.redisplay
    msg = input('> ')
    try:
        buf = conn.recv(1024, socket.MSG_DONTWAIT)
    except socket.error as e:
        if e.errno != errno.EAGAIN:
            raise
    else:
        print(buf.decode('utf-8'))
    if msg:
        send('PRIVMSG', '#c1', ':' + msg)