Synchronization questions (Ed)
-------------------------

1. Why aren't monitors used as an operating system structuring
   concept?  What is the fundamental problem with doing so, and what
   synchronization mechanisms are better suited?

2. What is priority inversion, and what are two ways of avoiding it?

3. In 1980, the most common way to speed up an operating system
   mechanism was to implement it in hardware (via microcode).  Today
   you'd have to be smoking some heavy dope to suggest implementing a
   memory allocator or a scheduler in hardware.  Describe what factors
   contributed to this change, in terms of architecture, OS design,
   and America's war on drugs.