Shoppolis Islands

Why this way? Why not that way?

by Ellen Blakeslee

"The present is juxtaposed with the past;

all media are combined and intertwined;

what joy there is in this acceptance."

"This page is as close to fact

as can be permitted

and still maintain fantasy"

My name is Ellen Blakeslee, Editor of this webpage and resident of West Island, SI. Consider Shoppolis Islands (SI) a place of philosophical artistry and literary accomplishment, both of which your host, Greg Taylor, has set with his own hands. Break with convention, for a time, and view these places in a different light.... in an involved, not objective, way while you are here. Shoppolis Islands is remarkably matter-of-fact, logically idealistic, Utopian, a bit philosophical, one might say. It is, hopefully, enchanting and a bit mysterious. There is a secret aspect to SI, but you will have to find the clues and piece together the parts that will continue to be provided as the fabric of SI unfolds, year after year, work by work. Like other people, SI genes stretch back to the world's interesting beginnings, but unlike others, your host is aware of the messages within his collective corporeal structure and mental mist and, as a consequence, is able to construct an aura containing these elements in the combined forms of writings, sayings and arts.

This is a magical place, one that introduces SI to the world, offers its art and writing to you, and above all, manifests its destiny, which is built into the veritable ground and sea of the historically themed storyline rolled out before you. And the source for this inspiration? It is said that Greg is descended from the level of people known as Druids through the Cullinan (O'Cullinaine) name, and there is no reason to argue or doubt this claim. This was provided with this information by Greg's maternal grandmother, Honora Monahan St. John of Scartaglen, County Kerry, Ireland. His own propensities and actions, since a child, indicate that it might be true. Remember Druids were people of a certain intellectual and professional level and not a race; where they were from, and what their mission was, is another matter entirely and is part of the enigma of SI. These mysterious aspects are addressed within the hallowed halls of this site, but over time only. There are no immediate revelations; this is a slow, methodical process. SI will continue to evolve its work until there is no more to say, digitally, block-by-block, or masonically. Set the restraints of your reality aside and replace it with that of Shoppolis Islands and its citizens, the players who perform for you in regular cadence.

It is not enough to simply serve one's self in a lifetime; there must be more. When given the gift of the public's eyes and ears, there must be a combining of one's own efforts with those of others. A true artist brings others along on the path to recognition and success. Therefore, this site contains tributes to others and their accomplishments, those fellow Shoppolis Islands artists and writers who represent so many sides of SI. This site educates those who peruse its contents; it assumes a certain responsibility to those who could be influenced in one way or another. As a result, this site provides much additional data and information where otherwise it would not. Real-life dancers, artists, places to visit, monetary types and more comprise the aspects of SI. Noted female pilots who really lived; tributes to other flyers and aviators of excitement and daring are proposed. Ships, boats and ideas abound. Dancers are represented; artists of all ages and more. Therefore, this site is a notable masterpiece in the making, and when those today are long gone, it will simply be a masterpiece, but to history? One will always be judged, in part, by what legacy is left behind, which means, while one is alive and kicking, the legacy must be built; not after, preferably by one's own hands, in his own time.

Just like the great ones who stretched canvases, painted ceilings and walls, lugged their work from patron to patron, the artist, known as Gregory St. John Taylor, has labored over screens and keyboards, killed more than one mouse and has consistently worn out canvases, boards, brushes and expended gallons of paint. In SI art opinion, the new Masters are creating their products digitally, all over the world, and we all must pay great attention to this phenomenon, otherwise, we are liable to miss a great modern era in art and literature development, mainly because we live within it. Perspective is rarely gained when too close to the subject, it is claimed. There is very little difference between dots on a canvas and dots on a screen..... think about it.

Like any artist or writer trying to become a legend, Greg Taylor and writers, photographers, movie makers, script writers and other creative men and women want their work to be "seen" by everyone, but the disadvantages to the Internet are as boundless as its advantages. Like in life, "it is hard to be found." SI, in its entirety, would like to help "the collective mind" of man. Layton Shore, a contemporary SI philosopher states, "human beings on this planet are not done yet, but there is hope that the oven of time and common sense may hasten the process." There is really only one kind of artist, and the tools of his/her trade are not the determiners; the product and its effect on the appreciators comprise the determiner. Therefore, SI will persist, as any proud and confident parent should, until this particular branch of work (this egosite) is of a magnitude of development and level of impact that its dollar worth will be commensurate with his estimate of its value, namely, "priceless."

Now, while this site is inching toward its own manifest destiny, SI would like to thank those of you out there, personally, who provided the tools and the media for the staff to create this website, to precise specifications, for specific professional and personal purposes, and to continue evolving it indefinitely. It is hoped that some of you who have been led here by suggestion or assistance, yes, those of you searching for new ideas for movies, TV, novels and such, will find what you are looking for amid the convoluted and meanderings of Shoppolis Islands.

"Sometimes disparate elements form such perfect units."

Since this is a perpetual site, Greg, SI's exclusive developer, was evolving into new methodologies and applying new tools in Phase Two that began January 1, 2005 and ended in June of 2006. Phase Three began and ran until January, 2007. Phase Four begins on Greg's 64th birthday, September 13, 2008 and is currently running. Phase One ran from September, 2001 to December 31, 2003 and contained all the steps of development. The period from January 1, 2004 to April 20, 2004 were spent deciding how to offer talents in a manner that supported the drama and still offered real art and writing to real people outside this cyber-world. The history and all the storylines will continue indefinitely, because that's part of the game plan and it is also the "literature" part of this site, along with the "aspects," of course. Greg is a prolific writer/artist and has become totally engaged and absorbed when weaving history through the SI story. They are both one. We, the citizens of Shoppolis Islands, are eternally thankful to Greg's main character, Captain Everett Shopp of the good ship, Prize Mary, part of the ongoing history of Shoppolis Islands. We thank Greg Taylor for his personal efforts for without them, there would be no Shoppolis Islands for any of us. There is rumor that he is Riplikin, the Druid. What do you think?

Phase Four has included many other websites, rendering this website part of Greg's personally built EGOSITE, a large complex of websites all created and maintained by Greg himself. The mainpage for this egosite is www.wsexyz.com.

This site is owned and operated by

Gregory St. John Taylor

Enjoy the Shoppolis Islands Express

Thank you for your indulgence; I can feel your presence, and its is warm and friendly.

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