I found it interesting that it was Torley Linden asking back in 2004:
10-04-2004 15:33
I am wondering about this. If you are seeing the same layout I am, which you probably are, then look to the upper-left-hand corner.
You are seeing a flat hand with an open palm featuring five digits and a swirly -- what appears to be an eye of some sort -- in the palm of this hand. This, of course, is the Second Life (TM) logo.
Also pictured here: http://secondlife.com/images/logo.gif
And prominently on the splash screen itself.
What does it mean? Does it have symbolic purpose? http://forums-archive.secondlife.com/_imgs/smileys/teeth.png