More memory... that's all our software demands. What happened to the days when an application could run on 32K? While memory is relatively inexpensive, we dream of the day of almost infinite memory... well at least the big software developers do. For my money Microsoft Office 97 is just fine - quick to load and not a resource hog... but you can't buy it now. You have to get the "upgraded" version which for 90% of us DOES THE SAME THING. Except, the newer version have the added feature of lightening our wallet, hogging memory, and slowing our computers. I'll stop ranting before I go off on the MS Office Paper clip.

OK I can't resist... I must rant on. I had a version of MS Project 95 - yes that's NINTY-FIVE. I upgraded to 2003 because I was so frustrated with the software's limitations. "Shurley they must have fixed such simple things in 8 years", I thought.

Just like a kid at christmas I installed my new "project"... what did I see? The same %*$@!* software! Sure there were UI changes (mostly inherited from the OS), added features for teams, but for the simple project management I wanted it was the SAME software with the SAME limitations just a LOT more expensive. I can hear Bill Gates pulling into the Microsoft parking lot (via a secret tunnel) while cranking "Damn it feels good to be a gangsta" all proud of himself for fleecing me outta my money. OK... maybe I'm pushing it putting a Simpsons and Office Space reference in one sentence... let me get back to why I started this entry.

Oh yea... holographic memory. What spawned this was the post: Holograms Break Storage Record. Holograms indeed seem to be very promising. It's a word we all know. I vividly remember the 3D holograms of people at the MIT museum. It's so creepy how they follow you around. If you want a good intro to holograms, I recommend The Holographic Universe. I read it years ago, I actually gave a Toastmasters speech on it which left the crowd (most over 60 years old) understanding the basics of holograms! I dug up my notes from years ago and here's what I thought of the book when I read it... but keep in mind, I still think the first 2 chapters are required reading:

The Holographic Universe
by: Michael Talbot

Talbot presents a very clear and fascinating introduction to holograms, how they are made, and how they may be used.

In the "cognitive science" realm, Talbot explains how the "holographic model" can be used to explain puzzles such as the brain's large memory capacity, recognition, photographic memory, "phantom limbs". and lucid dreaming. In the X-Files realm he uses the holographic model to explain such phenomena as out of body experience, near death experiences, and time travel.

While interesting this book degrades into examples of the "paranormal". Much like The Roots of Consciousness this book went a bit too far "out there" for my tastes. Talbot tells of people traveling back through time as they walk through a garden and others making food appear at will. A bit too "spooky" for me.

If you're interested in holograms and reading about an interesting theory of the brain as a hologram the first two chapters are for you, if Art Bell is more you're cup of tea you'll enjoy the whole book.