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Note that the ticker has to be declared volatile.  Also

"""
 Py_MakePendingCalls should also be changed then to
reset ticker to 0 in its "early exit because the coincidences 
I'm relying on haven't happened yet" cases.
"""

You can't predict whether ceval will slow down or speed up, 
so don't bother with being confused <wink>.  Get the code 
right first.  Good Things will follow.