There were three of us in the office a couple of days ago when one of us mentioned a new Google discovery—the way to search a word or phrase throughout a particular site. It sucked us into a discussion of new technology.

“Did either of you see the article in the Oregonian about Second Life?”

“No, but I read about it in a business magazine a couple of weeks ago.”

Then I tried to describe what little I know about it and admitted I had registered on the site after reading the article.

Most people (including me) have enough challenges with the first life. So why would 5 million people sign up for a second life?