--- /usr/include/boost/any.hpp	2009-02-26 05:16:09.000000000 -0700
+++ /home/michael/Scripts/c++/sharing_any/any.hpp	2009-04-05 20:32:05.947904690 -0700
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
 #include <boost/type_traits/is_reference.hpp>
 #include <boost/throw_exception.hpp>
 #include <boost/static_assert.hpp>
+#include <boost/detail/atomic_count.hpp>
 
 namespace boost
 {
@@ -34,16 +35,18 @@
         any(const ValueType & value)
           : content(new holder<ValueType>(value))
         {
+            content->add_ref();
         }
 
         any(const any & other)
-          : content(other.content ? other.content->clone() : 0)
+          : content(other.content)
         {
+            if (content) content->add_ref();
         }
 
         ~any()
         {
-            delete content;
+            if (content) content->rem_ref();
         }
 
     public: // modifiers
@@ -89,6 +92,11 @@
         {
         public: // structors
 
+            placeholder()
+              : references(0)
+            {
+            }
+
             virtual ~placeholder()
             {
             }
@@ -99,6 +107,20 @@
 
             virtual placeholder * clone() const = 0;
 
+        public: // reference counting
+
+            detail::atomic_count references;
+
+            void add_ref()
+            {
+                ++references;
+            }
+
+            void rem_ref()
+            {
+                if (--references == 0) delete this;
+            }
+
         };
 
         template<typename ValueType>
@@ -137,8 +159,26 @@
         friend ValueType * any_cast(any *);
 
         template<typename ValueType>
+        friend ValueType any_cast(any &);
+
+        template<typename ValueType>
+        friend ValueType any_cast(const any &);
+
+        template<typename ValueType>
         friend ValueType * unsafe_any_cast(any *);
 
+    private: // reference counting
+
+        void make_unique() const
+        {
+            if (content && content->references != 1) {
+                any* unconst = const_cast<any*>(this);
+                unconst->content->rem_ref();
+                unconst->content = unconst->content->clone();
+                unconst->content->add_ref();
+            }
+        }
+
 #else
 
     public: // representation (public so any_cast can be non-friend)
@@ -162,6 +202,7 @@
     template<typename ValueType>
     ValueType * any_cast(any * operand)
     {
+        operand->make_unique();
         return operand && operand->type() == typeid(ValueType)
                     ? &static_cast<any::holder<ValueType> *>(operand->content)->held
                     : 0;
@@ -176,39 +217,17 @@
     template<typename ValueType>
     ValueType any_cast(const any & operand)
     {
-        typedef BOOST_DEDUCED_TYPENAME remove_reference<ValueType>::type nonref;
-
-#ifdef BOOST_NO_TEMPLATE_PARTIAL_SPECIALIZATION
-        // If 'nonref' is still reference type, it means the user has not
-        // specialized 'remove_reference'.
-
-        // Please use BOOST_BROKEN_COMPILER_TYPE_TRAITS_SPECIALIZATION macro
-        // to generate specialization of remove_reference for your class
-        // See type traits library documentation for details
-        BOOST_STATIC_ASSERT(!is_reference<nonref>::value);
-#endif
-
-        const nonref * result = any_cast<nonref>(&operand);
-        if(!result)
-            boost::throw_exception(bad_any_cast());
-        return *result;
+        if (operand.type() == typeid(ValueType))
+            return static_cast<any::holder<ValueType> *>(operand.content)->held;
+        boost::throw_exception(bad_any_cast());
     }
 
     template<typename ValueType>
     ValueType any_cast(any & operand)
     {
-        typedef BOOST_DEDUCED_TYPENAME remove_reference<ValueType>::type nonref;
-
-#ifdef BOOST_NO_TEMPLATE_PARTIAL_SPECIALIZATION
-        // The comment in the above version of 'any_cast' explains when this
-        // assert is fired and what to do.
-        BOOST_STATIC_ASSERT(!is_reference<nonref>::value);
-#endif
-
-        nonref * result = any_cast<nonref>(&operand);
-        if(!result)
-            boost::throw_exception(bad_any_cast());
-        return *result;
+        if (operand.type() == typeid(ValueType))
+            return static_cast<any::holder<ValueType> *>(operand.content)->held;
+        boost::throw_exception(bad_any_cast());
     }
 
     // Note: The "unsafe" versions of any_cast are not part of the
@@ -219,6 +238,7 @@
     template<typename ValueType>
     inline ValueType * unsafe_any_cast(any * operand)
     {
+        operand->make_unique();
         return &static_cast<any::holder<ValueType> *>(operand->content)->held;
     }