I've been following the trend of languages beginning to compile down to Java bytecode. Java was the original language to do so, and now Visual Basic, future portions of COM+, and even Perl are in the works on such a strategy.
In my mind, Pascal is the *perfect* language to see a Java bytecode implementation. I've used Borland Delphi over the years, and I regret that the native ties to the O/S (Win32 messaging calls, and assembly-language RTL pieces) which made it successful and a fast performer in the short term, are the very thing that keep it from realizing its potential as a totally outstanding cross-platform tool.
That possibility is still open for GNU Pascal. Just a thought, in case there are any college professors on this list who might see this as both a fresh and relevant spin on a traditional compiler course, and a worthy contribution to GNU.
We all want to write our Pascal, and not see it stop running 10 years from now just because we've changed our operating environments.
David