CLiki : Armed Bear Lisp
A Common Lisp implementation that compiles to the Java VM. I'm not a fan of the JVM, but for program portability it's still practical of course.
Archive 10. August 2004
MzTake - a Scriptable Debugger
An interesting concept: a programmable debugger for MzScheme (the platform of DrScheme). Essentially more of a monitor - it observes the running program and, based on specifications in scripts, can trigger various actions. For this, a variant of Scheme specially optimized for event control is used. This appeals to me because I typically don't use normal interactive debuggers - somehow they're just not my thing. I prefer to let programs run and collect information during the run. In Lisp, something like this is already quite elegant to implement - just wrap functions accordingly (or in Common Lisp use advise to bind debugging code to functions). MzTake simply extends this concept further.
Python on Smalltalk VM?
Someone is working on a Python implementation that runs on the Smalltalk Virtual Machine of Visual Works. Also quite interesting - the Visual Works VM is one of the best when it comes to efficient garbage collection and good just-in-time compilation. The Java VM could learn a thing or two from it before it even comes close to being in that league...
At Python owns us you can find the original article.
Already vaccinated against hay fever?
That sounds very interesting. And it's proof that genetic engineering can also be used sensibly. Let's see when something like this comes to the regular market and when vaccines against allergies are actually available. It would be nice to be able to eat an apple again, or to be able to take a walk under blooming birch trees in spring...
At Telepolis News (10.08.2004) you can find the original article.