Just seen this on Yahoo News :
A 26-year-old Canadian who started with a paper clip has managed to barter his way up to a new house. Kyle MacDonald made 16 trades in almost a year using the internet to achieve his target. He is now due to become the owner of a three-bedroom home provided by the town of Kipling, Saskatchewan.
The aspiring writer first advertised on an internet barter site wanting something bigger or better for his one red paper clip.
He managed to trade it for a fish-shaped pen and then exchanged
the pen for a ceramic knob.
In turn, he traded up to a camping stove, a generator, a beer keg and Budweiser sign, a snowmobile, a trip to the Canadian Rockies, a supply truck and a recording contract.
In April, he bartered up to a year's rent in Phoenix.
The rent-free deal was swapped for an afternoon with rock star Alice Cooper and this was bizarrely traded for a snow globe.
There was method to the madness though, with TV star Corbin Bernsen, an avid collector of snow globes, deciding he wanted it.
He offered a paid role in his new movie and the people of Kipling decided they would like one of their community to get the role.
They offered a house in return.
"This is such a cool community project. It feels right," MacDonald said.
"And now that I think about it, I can't believe that another small town didn't think of it. It will literally put them on the map."
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/11072006/140/trader-turns-paper-clip-house.html
