Have you heard of Second Life?

Hell I haven’t even figured out the first life yet!? I spent about three hours trying to understand what the fuck is Second Life and I’m still clueless!?! Apparently it is becoming the trend to inhabit an area of cyberspace and then buy and sell goods and services with “Linden” dollars, which can be converted into actual CASH!

Second Life is a 3-D virtual world entirely built and owned by its residents. Since opening to the public in 2003, it has grown explosively and today is inhabited by nearly 100,000 people from around the globe.

From the moment you enter the World you’ll discover a vast digital continent, teeming with people, entertainment, experiences and opportunity. Once you’ve explored a bit, perhaps you’ll find a perfect parcel of land to build your house or business.

The Marketplace currently supports millions of US dollars in monthly transactions. This commerce is handled with the in-world currency, the Linden dollar, which can be converted to US dollars at several thriving online currency exchanges.

Even "Wired" has reported on the topic:

…Second Life can be difficult to explain to friends, who invariably ask, "People pay you money to rent land that doesn't exist?" "I say, you've got to see it," said De Louise. "Watch the videos off the website and after you take your chin off the floor, come on in."

Within a month, Grinnell was making more in Second Life than in her real-world job as a dispatcher. And after three months she realized she could quit her day job altogether.

Now Second Life is her primary source of income, and Grinnell, whose avatar answers to the name Janie Marlowe, claims she earns more than four times her previous salary.

Don’t worry Canada, your old buddy Deon has sacrificed himself and set up an account on SL to make sure it’s not "Saskatchewan” as you might say, eh? I’m a six-foot tall, skinny waisted, big breasted, blonde headed, Asian with webbed feet. My screen name is Chloe and I'm available after 8PM and on weekends (a girl's gotta make a living!).

Thanks to our friends at Cool Hunting.