Update on the GA Kerfuffle - Updated

Due to my mood swings and the fact that I managed to grind two of my teeth to pieces during my sleep, I have been remiss in my duties of informing you about some events in the Gay Archipelago after my latest post.

So here is an update on what has happened, as far as I am informed.

ricogenu (formerly known as Rico Bluestar), who was appointed as PR Lead by the GA Lead Weylin Vale a while back, has resigned from office after an altercation with Chade Dagger, the simultaneously appointed Treasurer. The two have differing versions of what actually happened, so I will leave it to them to give their versions in the comments should they wish to do so.

The following sim-owners have left Gay Archipelago (there may be more, I seem to have lost my note card on this):
Garth Raleigh,
Mitch Underby,
Othon Weiland,
Draghan Marksman,
Myles Capalini and - following ricogenu's resignation -
Evan Greymyst (5 sims) and
ricogenu (2 sims, co-owned with Evan Greymyst)
--- Update---
Ricky Silentghost,
Harrison Constantine and
Evan Rutledge (2 sims)

Has There Been A Coup In the Gay Archipelago? (Corrected 2015-07-15) (Updated 2015-07-16)

The Gay Archipelago (GA) is an association of landowners of multiple diverse LGBT/LGBT-friendly sims in SecondLife. They conduct Archipelago-wide events, and welcome LGBT newcomers into SecondLife.

"G Dragon Coup d'etat" by Sui-Kunoichi

The GA is governed by The Owners Group, which consists of the sim owners themselves or their appointed representatives.

Hitherto - i.e. until yesterday - the leaders of the governing body (the GA Lead, the Vice Lead and the PR Lead) have historically always been vetted by and voted upon by the The Owners Group.

According to information from several well informed sources Weylin Vale, the current Lead of GA, announced a meeting on Saturday at 11 PM SLT set to take place only eight hours later on Sunday at 7 AM SLT. (Correction 2015-07-15: This information was incorrect, please see the my later post  Bock in SecondLife; Re:Coup Or Not In the GA?. My sincere apologies to all involved and to my readers.) Update 2015-07-16: Myles Capalini On "Suddenness" & More, where you will find that the date of the meeting was announced early, but not the time.

The purpose of the meeting was purportedly about the upcoming GA SummerFest 2015.

At the meeting yesterday Weylin Vale unexpectedly announced to the owners group that he had appointed the following positions
Vice Lead - Dextrum Boucher

PR Lead - Rico Bluestar,

Treasurer - Chade Dagger,

IT Director - Hiro Dagger-Clemenceau,

Membership Director - To Be Announced and

2015 Festival Director - Caeru Dubrovna.

---

As I understand it, this sudden and unexpected deviation from previous procedure by the GA Lead has raised concerns among many sim owners in the GA on the future direction of the organization and whether or not they wish to remain a part of it. 

I will try to keep you updated on further developments as they unfold.

Club Ωmega - Grand Opening Tonight @ GFW

Rico Bluestar and Astanias are happy to welcome you all to the grand opening of their joint venture Club Ωmega! 

The party starts at 5 PM SLT and the DJ is HerrDirektor.

To Club Ωmega (SLurl)

Grand Re-Opening of Gay Fun World Today

Rico Bluestar & Evan Greymyst are proud to announce that the 

Grand Re-Opening Celebration of Gay Fun World 

is today Saturday April 18, 2015, at 12-4 PM SLT

DJ Ralphy with host Joe kicks off the party 12-2 PM SLT with a Non-Naked Nooner Party at The Bunker Club (SLurl)

Contest: Best in Leather/Lace L$2500 (Split Top 3)

After that the party moves on to the new club FlamBOYants (SLurl), 2-4 PM SLT, with DJ's Evan & Rico

Contest: Best in Ripped L$2500 (Split Top 3)

Finally the re-opening party ends with a firework show staged by Ryce Skytower.

Sponsors Include RGDW, JBC, Tori's Stylez, Tomcats Web Comic & PBM Enterprise

Rico and Evan promise us hot sploder action at both parties.

Meaty Monday Reopens

Do you enjoy domination/submission role playing? If so, I have some great news for you.

Rico Bluestar is reopening Meaty Monday at The Manhole on Gay Fun World tomorrow!

Here is your slave transport to The Manhole.

Reminder: Celebrate the Life of Avacar Bluestar

Today there is a celebration of the life of Avacar Bluestar. The event begins at 1 PM SLT and features a concert by Phemie Alcott and a dance party with DJ Thorn Andel and host Esme Capello.

The event will be broadcast live on SL Live Radio. To listen in, please paste this link into your land or add to your radio. http://black.neostreams.info:8167/

Your taxi to the event The Rose Garden at Greymyst Estates II (SLurl).

Avacar and Rico Bluestar's family and friends welcome you all to celebrate the life of Avacar!

Celebration of Avacar Bluestar's Life

A celebration of Avacar Bluestar's life event to be held Saturday at the Rose Garden at Greymyst Estates II beginning at 1:00 PM SLT.

Avacar's and his widower Rico's Second Life family are looking forward to seeing you at the event.

My friend Eddi Haskell has promised to post a landmark to the event on his blog Eddi & Ryce's Second Life later today (Thursday February 5).

Close to Home

Ever since I was reached by the news about Avacar Bluestar's passing I have, privately, been hoping that he and his partner Rico had been more prudent than my Ars and I were.

It is after all so extremely easy to take precautions to help your partner in SecondLife in case something unforeseen should happen, even if one is young and in good health. Unfortunately we seem all to be living in a dream that nothing bad will ever happen or that there is no tomorrow and thereby leave our loved ones future in the - less than certain - good will of our inheritors in first life.

As the passing of Avacar hit very close to home for me and have brought all the uneasy memories from almost five years ago to life again, I have not been able to bring myself to contact Rico directly. Even if I am now very happy again and very much in love with my new partner Tomais, the memories of those awful hours, days, weeks, months and years after Ars death are with me still. In particular the period when I was afraid of losing the home we had over  period of more than two years built together on the Southern Charm sim.

Ars had just died and I was grieving deeply for him and less than two weeks afterwards I was struck with the realization that the sim was solely in Ars' name (to avoid EU VAT) and I did not know what to do to get the sim transferred to me. I was afraid to lose it all and with it all the memories of Ars.

I blogged about it - of course - as that was my way of venting and letting off steam. These are the links to my posts as the events unfolded. (If and when you read them, please try to remember I was not completely sane at the time and more self-involved than ever before or after.)

1. Trying to deal with reality - March 26th
2. Trying to deal with reality II (updated) - March 20th
3. Trying to deal with reality III (glimpse of hope) - April 2nd
4. Trying to deal with reality IV - April 13th
5. Trying to deal with reality V (The conclusion) - April 19th

I will never forget the kindness of Belinda Linden and a few others at Linden Lab when they guided me through the process, however I do believe think it would have gotten the happy ending it did had it not been for the kindness and compassion of the Wilson family.
---

I can wholeheartedly sympathize with the agony that Rico is going through at this time. The sims mean nothing to Avacar's first life family - except possibly a hateful reminder of the true nature of their son - while it to Rico is a living memory of the work the two of them did for many years to build a meeting place for the LGBT community in SecondLife.

Please @ebbealtberg, @LindenLab try to find a way to #DotheRightThingforAvacar and transfer the GFW-sims to Rico. pic.twitter.com/WFy7zoi4Qj
— Bock McMillan (@BockMcMillan) January 16, 2015

#DoTheRightThingforAvacar

Yesterday I was contacted by Rico Bluestar, who wanted to know how the situation concerning the transfer of Southern Charm sim had been solved when my husband Ars Northmead passed away on March 12, 2010. Ars was in first life also known as Joseph Douglas "Doug" Wilson Jr.

Although Linden Lab were compassionate and as helpful as they reasonably could be throughout the process, I could only tell him that I was fortunate that Doug' first life family were understanding and loving enough to help me in that situation.

Doug's father, who was the executor of Doug's estate, presented the proper documentation to Linden Lab showing his status as father and executor, and also wrote a letter to Linden Lab in which he asked them to transfer Southern Charm to me. That saved the situation for me.

I am forever grateful to the Wilson family, and especially Mr. Wilson himself, for the love, support and assistance they showed me - a complete stranger (although Doug had mentioned me to them several times it seems) - in this difficult situation.

---

Rico Bluestar was the partner of Avacar Bluestar for close to three year up until Avacar passed away on November 14, 2014. Together the two owned, operated and worked hard to build Gay Fun World (GFW) as a place for gay residents to go to for fun and shopping.

Rico is not as fortunate as I was. It seems that Avacar's first life family are Southern Baptist and all of them - with the exception of a one of Avacar's sisters - absolutely abhor and detest Avacar's "lifestyle choice" (i.e. that he was gay and admitted it). They want all evidence of Avacar's homosexuality obliterated and disolved and will therefor not cooperate to have the sims transferred to Rico Bluestar.

I think that is wrong, it is in fact an outrage!

I would like all of my family and friends - straight or gay - to join me in telling Ebbe Altberg, the CEO of Linden Lab, and Linden Lab itself that it is time for them to take a stand against homophobia, to make an exception and to transfer the GFW sims to Rico.

If you have a Twitter account please retweet my tweet and ask your friends to do so too. If you don't have a Twitter account, get one and do the same thing. Gawd this is the 21st century people, get with the program!

@ebbealtberg & @LindenLab, #DoTheRightThingforAvacar and put an end to #homophobia. Transfer the GFW sims to Rico! pic.twitter.com/WYipgApNVq
— Bock McMillan (@BockMcMillan) January 15, 2015

GA Announces New Lead and Vice Lead

Today I received some long awaited news from the Gay Archipelago group.

Several months ago Rico Bluestar stepped down as Lead of the GA, since then there has been a selection process in the owners group to find a new Lead to replace him. The selection has now come to a successful conclusion with today's announcement.

The new lead-team of the Gay Archipelago will consist of Chris Magic as Lead, Weylin Vale as Vice Lead and with Parvin (Xcept Atlas) continuing as Public Relations Lead.

The new GA Lead-team courtesy of the GA WeBlog
Chris (center), Parvin (left) & Weylin (right)

Today's full press release:

Three years ago we mourned the passing of our founder, Fabrice Snook. Days ago we grieved with our friends when we learned that Avacar Bluestar had also left our Earth. 

Today, we welcome long overdue good news, the appointment of a new Gay Archipelago Lead and the creation of a new role, the GA Vice Lead.  They will join the current GA Public Relations Lead to serve our growing community.

We are proud to announce that after months of searching and vetting candidates for the positions the leadership committee completed their arduous task and have selected our new GA Lead and GA Vice Lead. 

Our GA Lead, Christope Magic, of Britain, has a long history of service to the Gay Archipelago and our LGBT community.   His roles include events manager for GA Summerfest 2014 and Winterfest 2014, our master of ceremonies for Miss Wigstock, a performer with Corinthia Isle Concerts, owner of the Remix Room, DJ, and host. 

Our GA Vice Lead, Weylin Vale, of Australia, brings real life LGBT event management experience to our team.  His resume includes participating, event managing and a Director of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, as well as event management for multiple governmental agencies. In Second Life he is owner of the sim Lycan Moon, a club owner, DJ, and established member of our community.

Together with our current GA PR Lead, Xcept Altas, of the USA, these appointments will give our community access to leadership without the boundaries of timezones, and clear, consistent responses to hurdles we will overcome together.

They are tasked with promoting unity and inclusion across our diverse international LGBTIA Second Life community. Each are committed to utilizing their skills to foster acceptance, offering support, and guiding teams and volunteers so that we may plan for and together embrace our future.   

Gay Archipelago brand represents our shared values, the knowledge that we are stronger together, and our belief that we can assist our member estates and our community, as well as our supporters, to live and grow in an environment that is tolerant and accepting of our common goals.

We thank the leadership committee; Garth Raleigh, Savannah Christensen, Leroy Voorhees, Evan Greymyst, Sangi Phaeton, and Draghan Marksman, for their service. Their diligence and care has given us leaders who will set us on a defined path towards tomorrow. 

In a two short weeks we will celebrate together as a community at our annual Winterfest. Please join us in welcoming our leads as they embrace their new roles.  

“Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or the present are certain to miss the future.” [Address in the Assembly Hall at the Paulskirche in Frankfurt, June 26 1963] ― John F. Kennedy

----

Greetings GA. 

I would like to introduce myself as your new GA Lead. Thank you so much to the GA Lead search committee, for all their hard work and time over the last few months. Thank you to Parvin for his hard work and amazing dedication to the GA, as interim Lead. You are truly awesome, never change. Today, i accepted the chance to guide the GA into the future. I feel very honored, and humble to be given this amazing opportunity. I have a huge task ahead of me, but one i will gladly take. I will not being doing this alone. Weylin who will be my vice lead, along with Parvin who will stay as PR Lead. Together, we will strive to constantly improve, strengthen your experience as member estates, sims and owners. 

Every estate, sim, owner will play an important role in the future of the GA. You are all vital to the GA. Without you, there is no GA. You will be heard, your voices are what we need to bring forward the organization. Let us work as a team, in harmony.  Together, we are one. United we stand. As the Lead team, settle into our new roles, please do bear with us over the coming weeks. I look forward to meeting you all to start this journey together.  Never change, be you.  Stay fabulous. 

This is your GA. Thank you, for your amazing support. 

"The greatest gift that you can give to others is the gift of unconditional love and acceptance" ― Brian Tracy

 Sincerely,
 Chris Magic

A Special Message from Rico Bluestar

"Dear Friends and Family of Avacar,

I wish to extend my heartfelt thanks to all of you for your support and kind words over the past two weeks since Avacar passed away. It has been a hard time for myself, as I am sure it must have been for many of you.

I want you all to know how much your sympathy and support, and hearing your fond thoughts about Avacar, have meant to me as Avacar’s partner. Knowing that Avacar touched and was loved by so many of you has been of enormous comfort to myself and Avacar’s immediate Second Life family. They have helped all of us get through a very difficult time.

I especially want to thank Evan and Izzy Greymist, Parvin, MissBigRed, Phoebe, Ryce, Ralphy, Joe and Asharr for helping to plan and speaking at Avacar’s truly incomparable memorial service last Saturday. I was so pleased that well over 100 of you attended the event, and that those who could not come followed coverage on blogs and on websites.

About the memorial service itself, it has come to my attention that a few rumors are floating around about who was or was not invited to the event, and the conduct of certain people at the event. Nothing can be further from the truth. Everyone who knew Avacar was invited, and your comments at the event were wonderful.

I know Avacar is smiling knowing that so many cared about him and that he will be missed dearly.

Thank you once again for being such good friends, and please have a great holiday season,

My best Regards,
Rico"

This post is a reblogg of Eddi & Ryce's Second Life: A Special Message From Rico to All Of Avacar Bluestar's Friends and Family

---

I must add that I am greatly saddened by the fact that someone, who claims to be a friend of Avacar's, would use this sorrowful occasion to spread lies, rumors and hateful drama. 

Avacar Remembered

Friends and SL-family of Avacar Bluestar gathered at his memorial service this evening, to remember and to be reminded of the man, his life and his deeds and also to support his beloved partner Rico Bluestar and the rest of Avacar's SL-family.

The sim was at full capacity - or even over at times - throughout the ceremony. When some people crashed new ones joined. I saw 101 avatars on the map, which supposedly should not be possible...

I recognized people from Europe, Australia, North and South America, all of us gathered in one place at the same time to remember a partner, a brother, a friend or just a man who had crossed our path and been kind to us.

Screen capture courtesy of Eddi Haskell

Evan Greymyst, Parvin, Ryce Skytower (Eddi Haskell), Sasch Petrov, MissBigRed and Avacar's SL-sister Phoebe Sahara - among others - shared their thoughts and feelings at this sad time with all of us who were there.

You can read Ryce Skytower's eulogy on his blog Eddi & Ryce's Second Life: My Comments At Avacar Bluestars Memorial This Evening

Rest in peace, Avacar, with the knowledge that you were loved.

R.I.P. Avacar Bluestar

This morning when I opened my email, I received the extremely sad news, in an offline group notice from SecondLife, that my friend Avacar Bluestar has passed away,

Avacar Bluestar

★ September 21, 2010 (SecondLife) - † November 14, 2014

Group Notice From: gay fun world, ricogenu

It brings me great sadness to tell you all this. But as of Friday the 14th  Avacar passed away in rl  dued to complications from heart surgery.  He will be missed by all and even more so by me.  I have shared 2 and half years with this man in sl. I came to know him in RL over the years. I thank you all very much
                                   Ricogenu"

My thoughts and deepest sympathy go to Ricogenu, Avacar's longtime partner in SecondLife, and to Avacar's families and friends in both lives.

Rest in peace, Avacar, with the certain knowledge that you were loved by many in both our worlds.

Absolutely Fabulous!

The delicious Tomais and his spouse Bock, the laird of Southern Charm

The delicious Avacar and his spouse Rico, the Lead of Gay Archipelago

On Sunday evening I dragged the second most patient man in SecondLife with me to the finals of the Miss Wigstock 2014 contest. I mean, isn't it wonderful how things work themselves out - sometimes with a little help from close friends - here I am madly in love with a man almost as patient as myself and he is in love with me too?

Anyhow, the Gay Archipelago, through the combined forces of nature Othon Weiland and Oliver Elton, had yet again put together a great show for us to enjoy.

There were five finalists, the fabulous Fanny Flamingo (Richardson Nootan), the Divine Dame Black (Waveyjustin), the delectable Cieline Dionysis (Ciel Silentghost), the delicious Donatella (Didier Rascon) and the peerless Paige Turner (Hobbit Zenfold).

The Fabulous Fanny Flamingo with escorts

The Delectable Cieline Dionysis with escorts 

The bygone drag queens, from left to right
Hottie B Lockjaw (winner 2010), Juve Wheelwright (winner 2013) and Oliver Elton

The Delicious Donatella with muscular escorts

The Peerless Paige Turner
who had the most stunning entrance

Judge Mimi Juneau

Judge Rene Bonaparte

Judge Owl Braveheart

Rico and Parvin on the podium for the prize ceremony

Parvin dashing as always

Some poor sods who could not get a table in the V.I.P. section

The results of the contest turned out like this.
Winner (score 93 points) Didier Rascon
1st runner up (score 91 points) Hobbit Zenfold
2nd runner-up (score 81 points) Waveyjustin

I agree with the judges that it was indeed a toss-up between Didier and Hobbit, congratulations to both of them and thank you to Gay Archipelago and all the other organizers and contestants for giving us a wonderful show!

Out With the Old Leads, In With the New

Together with Tomais and Guyke I payed a visit yesterday to the Gay Archipelago bash to say thanks and good bye to their outgoing Lead Garth Raleigh and PR Lead Othon Weiland and welcoming in the new Lead ricogenu Resident and Parvin (Xcept Atlas).

I, my hubby and Avacar Bluestar

Petr Hastings Vanbeeck, Chairman of Second Pride

Rico, the new lead of GA

Othon, Garth, Parvin and Mitch (Garth's husband)

Guyke at the side of solid and hot DJ Rocky Constantine

When we started feeling cramped and sweaty in our suits Tomais and I decided to go let our balls hang loose  for a while in the constantly balmy breezes at Boystown's Sunday Beach Party with Ryder Yowman and host Lee McKay. The view was exquisite!

EXCLUSIVE: Interviews with Outgoing and Incoming Leads of Gay Archipelago

Yesterday, while I was taking it easy and dancing bareassed with my husband - and several other hotties - at the Boystown Beach Party with DJ Ryder Bowman, all hell broke loose as the Gay SecondLife metaverse reverberated with the news that Gay Archipelago, or "the other organisation" as it was once upon a time referred to at Second Pride meetings, had gotten a new lead.

Ricogenu Resident (right) with his partner Avacar Bluestar at the
GA Estate Owners Meeting yesterday prior to the announcement

ricogenu Resident had just been named by the GA Discovery Committee to succeed in the position as lead of Gay Archipelago being vacated by Garth Raleigh-Underby next week.

What is an avatar blogger supposed to do when he is thus caught by surprise without any pants? As your intrepid reporter I called my two friends in Instant Message to get exclusive interviews with them both. (I did most certainly not inform either of them that I was conducting the interviews in the buff.)

First off I called Garth Raleigh-Underby, the outgoing lead
Bock: Hello my dear friend! What is this news I just got?
Garth: Hi, Bock dear! :)
Bock: Have you stepped down as lead for GA?
Garth Raleigh: Actually, I did that about a month ago when I informed the Owners group that I was retiring. A Discovery Team was created to vett and interview prospective candidates prior to my official last day (February 13th). Today was the announcement at the GA Owners Gathering. Now I work with the incoming Lead, Rico (ricogenu) on transitional issues and continue to advise him.
Bock: He is a nice guy too, although I do not know him as well as I know you.
Garth You will have many chances to know him better as he wades into the deep end of the pool, so to speak. lol
Bock: LOL
Garth: As for me... I have already started taking classes on Firestorm viewer issues and am slated to begin classes on building/creating with sculpties and mesh. Things I have not had time to do for myself. And I can spend more time with friends and with Mitch. It is our 1 year anniversary today, btw. :)
Bock: OMG congratulations!
Garth: Also, Othon retired as PR/Publicity lead for the GA. The new PR/Publicity Lead is Parvin (xcept.atlas).
Bock: Big changes on important positions
Garth: Change... is essential. Without change groups like the GA become stagnant and unable to move ahead. I wanted to make sure the organization remains vital and full of fresh new ideas and ways of doing things. Now I move out of the spotlight, it was getting a bit toasty under there. LOL

Bock: I am happy for you though
Garth: This means I can come pester YOU more. LOLOL
Bock: YAY! I hope you and Mitch have saved March 8th for me and Tomais
Garth: 8th... Right, saw that on your blog, dear.
Bock: Excellent! Now you can relax and say and do whatever and tell everyone to go screw themselves - although I know you would never express it quite like that...

Next I called on Rico Resident, who according to what his partner Avacar jokingly told me was attempting to "bury a hole". 

Bock: Congratulations buddy! Best of luck with your important mission

ricogenu: Thanks Bock

Bock: I assume you are busy so I will not pester you, just wanted to tell you I you I think you will be an excellent lead for GA

ricogenu: No I am good and Bock you are never a pest

Bock: Hugs mate and *fingers crossed* KICK ASS!

ricogenu: OK I will do my utmost best at it!

This is Rico’s acceptance speech at the GA Owner's meeting transcribed (quoted from the GA WeBlog:

“Hello and I thank you very much for turning up today for this announcement. I stand before you as a very humble man, ready for the challenge that awaits me, a gracious representative to the Second Life lgbt community as a whole.

Each of you play a very important part of the Gay Archipelago mission and I look forward to serving all of you both individually and collectively.

Many of you have worked with my partner in the GA over the last 3 years, and his experience along with mine are to be explored in the very near future on the GA blog.

I appreciate the diligence that the Discovery committee carried out in evaluating my qualifications to take the reins of the GA leadership and I hope to both meet & exceed your many expectations as we move forward this year.

Please bear with me as I become familiar with each estate owner and its superlatives as I hope to learn the many great talents of our overall team.

Your participation is vital to our success and along with many excellent and acclaimed accomplishments for the GA under Garth and his team, we aim to carry that same momentum into all future endeavors that benefit our membership.

Thanks again for your commitment and dedication to the Gay Archipelago.
Sincerely yours, Ricogenu.”

The White Party

At the end of the Second Pride Festival this year I was so fed up and tired with music and dancing that I promised myself and my avatars feet that I would stay away from both for at least a week. Well, the resolution lasted four days.

Tonight I did not want to work on the building or fix the alterations that had been made temporarily to get the house in place (such as moving plants and trees out of the way), Butch wasn't inworld, Guyke and Ziggy were cuddling on a float at their home in Second Norway, Dej was having first life issues and I was bored.

So when I got the notice from Julius Antonius (a.k.a. Joe Lycomedes) about a White Party at Sexology, I jumped at the opportunity of being with others even if I was not in a mood to talk. Do you people get that way sometimes also, where you crave the company but want them to talk amongst themselves and ignore you while you just relax and listen/read?

I had a new outfit in my Inventory, which I thought of t once when I saw the theme of the party. I added a pair of glasses that I changed the color of and one chucker with cream a colored sock and I was ready to go.

The party was exactly what I was looking for, besides greeting me and informing me that I had won a gift card to Red Devil I was left alone to enjoy DJ Ralphy's mellow music and the fun chat in the room. When I was tired and ready to prepare for bed I said my good nights like the good bye I am and logged off for the night from SecondLife.

Avacar & his man Rico

 

The host at the party Julius Antonius shows us a few of his seductive moves.

DJ Ralphy and his husband Scotty

HerrDirektor with Julius Antonius in the background

Rico and Avacar, now animated

Avatars in white linedance

HerrDirektor

Edward Snowden made an acclaimed surprise appearance