Reflections of Us Vemo

by Mera Kranfel & Leanna Caerndow


Us Vemo and Anna Loom, founders of Magellan InWorldz

1. How did you find IW and when was that?

I have been following the OpenSim development for quite some time because I have been involved in the OpenSource world professionally. I thought that it was more interesting than SL. Some things happened in SL, and I started more actively to look for an alternative and stumbled on IW by coincidence really... and I liked what I saw. That was in July 2010. After a few days I asked Anna if she would like to come and see. We thought that IW may just be a place to come to relax every now and again - little did we think that after two days it would become home and we have never looked back.

2. When did you think of creating Magellan and why?

It was just after a week or so. I saw all these scattered sims, looking like the homesteads in SL, and I never liked that. We had been quite active in the sailing scene in SL and I have been participating in some races there, the last one was the huge America’s Cup that was so much fun with RL sponsors. However I really disliked all the intrigues and drama among the yacht clubs there, so I thought it would be good to start something fresh in here. For sailing, you need connected water, and so I posted the idea in the forum about creating a new kind of colony/community without the drama and that it should be run in a democratic way...

Most of the reactions were quite positive but some forum trolls did almost make me go away, give up the idea and leave IW. If it hadn't been for Anna and her support and encouragement, there would have been no Magellan. By the way... the Magellan name was Anna's idea. I soon realized that the founders did like the idea and that they were willing to support it... so I moved on.

3. How do you see the future of Magellan?

The committee has made changes which have remained along the original ideas. Having a committee proves that Magellan is a democratic group, not just a few people deciding everything. That is why I didn't volunteer to stay on the committee after six months at the helm (In the charter it is stated that one should serve for a six month term as a committee member). I also think it is important that the majority power should not be concentrated with a few big landowners taking over. For the future success of Magellan it is important to keep those original thoughts and ideas in mind and to elect new people in the leading roles for the future.

I hope that when the Physics arrive and the new script engine is in place Magellan will be in the center of IW and a lot of activities will be going on there. Not only sailing and yachting, but also aircraft, spaceships and balloons. To be able to go between the two mainland continents and visit some of the greatest sims in IW will attract a lot of people. My wish was to make Magellan open for all the people in IW not just the sim owners there. No borders, no ban lines and no stupid security orbs! Just open friendliness! We can make a better virtual world together if we keep that in mind.



4. Does it cost extra for a sim to become a member?

If I am correct the committee decided for 3,000 Iz’s for each estate. That means if you have 2 sims it is still 3,000 Iz’s. The conception for this payment which was in the original charter was to be sure that we had funds to move any disruptive sim out from Magellan. Magellan should not have too much commercialism, no violence and no porn. People can do what they like in their skyboxes but in the open and in public their actions should not be too provoking. The founders were clear about how they would assist the committee, in the case of a removal, but their costs needed to be covered... that was the reason for the fee. However up until now this has never been used... so it is just giving us interest rate... that was a joke. Of course there have been some minor disputes between neighbors, but they have always been solved in a friendly and positive way.

5. What are you doing when you're inworld, and how do you relax?

We like to build all the stuff we use here. On our sims we have I think three objects we have not created ourselves. There is this amazing tree from Julia that I would never replace. Hmm, I don't remember the other two things... lol, we might replace those...

I like to try and figure out how things are made, to fix the sculpties, textures and scripts... that’s my relaxation really. I have been a professional developer all my life, everything from assembler, C, and PHP even though the strategic part of it has been growing the last couple of years.

Anna loves building anything and everything that appears to be a challenge has to be tackled. Live Music plays an important part in relaxation and it is a chance to meet others and go to other sims.

Well, I have met some amazing people in here that I really like to talk to and learn from. My life has not been without troubles and I have found here people with so much wisdom and perspective. I have met love and some amazing friends in here and I hope I am able to be supportive to them in the same way they are to me.


Mera and Leanna on the Magellan map
Address: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Alinja/171/40/25

Fasten Your Seatbelts!!!

Everyone who is reading this blog has at least a faint idea of Magellan Sea InWorldz and knows the main goal of the community: To connect various sims by sailable water once the physics engine is introduced to our marvelous grid.

We thought it might be a good idea to introduce you to the various sims belonging to Magellan Sea InWorldz and provide you with ideas on how to spend your spare time inworld.

However, there is something we would like to address before we entertain you with our adventures.

First of all, the order in which we visit sims is in no way intended to be a rating and should not be understood as such. Our writing for this blog does not mean we look down upon other sims not in the Magellan area. Both of us enjoy exploring the entire grid and spending time on different sims, and we will continue to write about it in our private blogs and praise whatever tickles our fancy at a time.

We are Mera Kranfel and Leanna Caerndow; both of us have our private homes on a sim belonging to Magellan Sea.

Mera Kranfel came to InWorldz in [...] 2010. At the end of July, she bought her first sim, Lost River. A bit more than three months later, Mera moved her sim to Magellan and renamed it to Midsomer County. Here's what Mera said on why she decided to become a part of Magellan:

"The Magellan area did appeal to me the minute I heard about it first time. But then I already had a sim on mainland so I didn’t do anything about it. But time changes, and we felt it was time to eventually take this step. I like the covenant in Magellan and it suits me a lot better than mainland with no covenants."

Mera by Leanna

Leanna Caerndow came to InWorldz in August 2010. In early December, she heard of Midsomer County and went there to explore and meet Mera. They quickly became friends, talking a mile a minute about nothing and everything. Leanna is a huge fan of Scandinavia and likes to confuse the Scandinavian community with her odd mix of Norwegian and Swedish, with the occasional Finnish curse word tossed in for good measure.

In the next blog, we'll talk a bit more about Magellan and its founder Us Vemo. We hope you'll stay tuned and enjoy our exploring the Magellan Sea. Just you wait until you see us trying to hop on a boat O.O

Two Magellan Sea Sims Now Available!!!

Two adjoining Magellan Sea sims, Hawkside and Worcester, are now
available. If anyone in the Magellan Sea group wishes to purchase them, please
send a support ticket to Elenia Llewellyn. These sims are bound by the Magellan
Sea Charter, and first time sim buyers will be subject to a one-time fee of
$3,000 Iz's for the Magellan Sea Escrow Account.

For additional information or answers to any questions, please contact Anna
Loom or any member of the Magellan Sea committee.

New Magellan Sea Events Calendar

Visit our new Magellan Sea Event Calendar at:
http://www.my.calendars.net/magellansea

Please send an IM or NC to Chrystophur Silversmith

with any upcoming Magellan Sea Events

Magellan Sea Meeting Minutes - January 23, 2011

Magellan Sea Meeting Minutes

Submitted by Sunny Day, Committee Secretary

At the meeting held yesterday, January 23, 2011, of the Magellan residents, the following items were addressed:

Chair: Us Vemo
21 Sim Owners and Residents present

1. Ownership of water sims

The founders have agreed to maintain the open waters of the Magellan Sea. However, many questions remain as to the ownership of the water sims. Remaining unresolved are prices and prim counts. There was some discussion about the purchase and ownership of the sims by the Magellan group. This issue was tabled until more information is available.

2. One time fee for landowners

A vote was taken to determine the one time charge to estate owners to cover costs for moving sims. It was decided to charge 3,000 Izs. An additional fee can be assessed later if it becomes necessary. These fees will be paid into a separate account to be created by the treasurer.

3. Election of committee members for the first six month period

The committee is comprised of 5 members who will lead subgroups as needed. Elected were Talia Fournier, Sunny Day, Chrystophur Silversmith, Anna Loom, and Anyraya Braveheart who will serve as treasurer. A motion was made and seconded to have the treasurer serve for a one year period.

4. Additional Items.

A suggestion was made to bestow an honorary title on Us for all his time and hard work on what was initially his dream. This will be discussed at later meetings.

Also, Chrystophur Silversmith has volunteered to do a blog of Magellan events.

A New Chapter

A new chapter has begun in the growth and development of the Magellan Sea.

On Sunday, January 23rd, the residents of Magellan gathered to elect the first community committee. Those selected include:

Anna Loom - Chairperson

Anyraya Braveheart - Treasurer

Chrystophur Silversmith - Marketing/PR

Sunny Day - Secretary

Talia Fournier - Community Development

The committee would like to thank all of those who voted and attended this historic meeting for their support and proposals.