>> [about UVM]
>I have a silly question: what's the U stand for? Unix? Unified?

uvm used to be part of another project i was working on that started 
with the letter "u" (for "universal")... however, that project mutated 
into just uvm...  so the "u" doesn't really stand for anything 
anymore: "uvm" is just a name that is different from (but close to) "vm".


although i do find myself chanting the mantra "uvm: new vm"
from time to time.   take that as you will.


BTW, Washington University in St. Louis (wustl.edu) deserves credit
for making uvm possible (by funding me).   WU's Computer and Communcations
Research Center (CCRC) and Applied Research Lab (ARL) have a great
enviroment for a graduate student who likes to hack.   friendly people,
lots of freedom, and plenty of machines to play with.  check it out if 
you are considering grad school.

chuck