     This is the story of why I spent my time building this system.
     If you find it familiar, is probably because all around the world
     things work the same way.

     As I have said, this system is a by-product of what was doing last 
     semester. But it's sad story why I did it. I would like to share this 
     story with you. When I first heard about Linda was one and a half 
     year ago. Half a year later we ordered a Simulator for sun-4's from 
     Sca, Inc.  At that time there was no available Linda implementation 
     for a Unix Network. But I had found out that at least two systems
     were under development, one from Sca and another from Lwr.
     Unfortunately, I haven't heard what has happened to the second system
     but the first one was completed in Fall 1990. So I tried to order 
     the SCA system.  And I came face to face with the most tremendous 
     monster that man has to deal with, bureaucracy. 

     Before I tell you what did happen let me give you an idea of what 
     is csd.uch and csi.forth. The first one is the Computer Science 
     Department of the University of Crete while the latter is the Computer 
     Science Institute of Foundation Of Research and TecHnology, Hellas. 
     The University and the Institute are different organization that their 
     supervisor is the ministry of Education and the ministry of Research and 
     Technology, respectively. But the truth is that besides the difference in 
     the legal status, they are essentially the same thing. That is they
     use the same facilities and buildings and the same people
     work in both organizations (at least, for the csd and csi this 
     is almost a 100% truth). For example, the building next to the 
     University which is used now by the Institute, belongs to the 
     University and is rented to the Institute. But all our department's
     professors and even the department's secretary have their offices
     in this building. I like to work in the institute when it is raining,
     while I prefer to take my bike for a 3 km walk and go to the university
     when the sun shines.  Time to go back to my story.

     I first tried to find the money for the order from the Institute 
     which is much more flexible in many things, including money.
     But when we discussed with some people from SCA we concluded 
     that the csi should be considered a national laboratory and
     not a educational institute (sth. that I can't yet decide if it is
     true, according to Hellenic laws).  So we should pay 5 times the 
     amount we would have to pay if we made the order from the University 
     (5K vs 1k). 
     This was outrageous and so we decided to order it through the 
     University. And here the nightmare begun. Four months have passed 
     from that date and only last week I heard that the shipment is
     on its way, at last. The people in Sca were probably more puzzled 
     than me as I have understood from a letter they had sent.  
     An old saying states that the capable guy knows many paths (a VERY free
     translation). So after the first few weeks, I decided not to wait any 
     more and I builded this system. Well, it seems that I was not much of
     a knight after all. But who is nowadays. Note that I still don't know 
     what went wrong.  Well, that's it.  I am relieved that I have shared 
     my dreadful experience with you.  I hope, your reading of this passage 
     was not an as dreadful experience.
		
					I. Schoinas
