Open Source Data Logger Project Using the Arduino?

I'm a co-op student working for a company right now and am highly interested in working on this project. I do have some questions about the actual operation of the data logger though.

  1. How good is the resolution? I know it's 10 bit, but what is the max value for the analog input? Our main need here is thermocouples and 1 mV can be 20 degrees difference or more.
  2. How could we get more inputs? I know you can get more boards or more A/D converters and then put them on the digital ins, I was just wondering if there was an easier way to do this?

My main goal is to get as many thermocouple inputs as possible. Any code I write, no matter how "dirty" would be posted back.

Sorry if most of the questions have been answered elsewhere, I'm just now getting into the arduino board community. Most of my experience is with Linux based microcontrollers.

Thanks.
Ryan
Tenn. Tech U.