The Shoppolis Islands Tour

The Stage is Set.......enjoy the tour.

The National Flag of Shoppolis Islands

Note: Lanny Bland of Loveladies was requested to provide caricatures of our tour guides for fun.

Lots of pictures will be provided in and among the paragraphs of information.

This way you can see and read about Shoppolis Islands.

Back Bay Complex, Loveladies Island

Being a "Shoppolis Islander"

Welcome to Shoppolis Islands. My name is Jane, and I am going to be one of your orientation guides. I will be joined and assisted by Goyo, John, Alida, Hasani and Adanya, as well as Leslie and Marge, among others, to provide you with descriptions of our islands and their unique characteristics. We believe that you will find us interesting and, at times, a bit eccentric, but we think our character is normal, but that is based on our own opinion of ourselves. As you get to know us, you will have to decide. We hope you find us more than acceptable and come and join us in our own private place of peace and reason. We also hope you join us in our community of people and mingle a bit. We are an odd lot, here on the Islands, and how we got here, what we did when we got here, and what we are up to now, is quite interesting, particularly to us. Regardless of our peculiarities, we hope you join us in one way or the other.

Enjoying the "Good Life"

Let me begin at the beginning. Unlike many other South Pacific island groups in the period 1784, SI had no indigenous population. There were no humans on SI. Some say we were not really here then; some say we are not here now. Sometimes we wonder ourselves, but that is another story we will tell later. When the Prize Mary, a sturdy square-rigged ship containing many diverse peoples, arrived, the islands were devoid of human inhabitants, or so they thought. Once ashore and gathering their land-legs, the group, now at their new home, set the rules for their new culture based on the innate abilities and propensities of their own numbers . Subsequently, they developed SI's global personality accordingly to their own brand of opportunities and open markets to survive. Because SI was not only place to live, but a commercial enterprise, the resulting collective venture, became an independent nation, one determined its map its own destiny and prove itself to be one of the most prosperous societies in the world.

Typical SI Cottage Business

SI does grant formal citizenship, even though it does not consider itself a country or nation for various reasons, some of which you might already suspect. The main reason for informality is that there would never be a conflict with any nation as to citizenship, dual or otherwise. Rather than pledging allegiance to a flag or nation, all those who become Shoppolis Islanders agree to "do business" together for mutual advantage and profit based on strict rules with defined consequences for infractions or non-compliance. All agreements are finite and are not forever, even though some things in this world are. This ensures freedom of choice for those wishing to exercise a change of mind.

Air Charters at SI Airport

There are Shoppolis Islanders all over the world in every country, but they are not easy to recognize. As you study the eyes of those around you, you may catch a glimpse or a shadow that causes you to "recognize" one of us. Many times we recognize one another through the spoken word, or in some instances, the written word. Regardless of these subtle means, there are obvious means, those made obvious through our gathering together in the name of peaceful commercial venturism through global advertising and marketing. SI is not for everyone, but for the select few, it is perfect, an alignment for mutual benefit by combining our resources in a manner pleasant and unique to those who visit.

"Diet's" on Aroujo Island

The approximately 25,000, who live on the actual islands, comprise only a fraction of the total number that exist. When elements of international business become locked in stalemate, SI is requested to act as the "other factor," one that invariably breaks that stalemate and allows commerce to flow evenly again. In many ways, much of world business processes through SI in one form or another. Since SI practices do not influence the processes of businesses "funneling" through, SI is able to retain its impartiality, neutrality and objective position, unless requested to act otherwise, which happens now and then.

The Railcar Restaurant on Big Nose

The land of Shoppolis Islands is not "owned" by anyone, and is considered Earth's land "borrowed" by those using it. Everything constructed on the land can be owned, leased, rented, chartered, or otherwise, processed, but the land remains the planet's. Items owned, be they buildings or businesses, can be removed from the islands when their times are done, but the land stays. No one can "buy" or "sell" SI. All those wishing to have a presence on Shoppolis Islands, pay a rent or lease of some sort, therefore, SI is able to realize profits and continue to prosper in the maze of businesses, big and small. In addition, all lands are kept as close to their original designs as possible. Paved roads are kept to a minimum and exists in towns and cities, but are not present outside of town. This does create difficulties in travel during rain and storms, but SI citizens prefer the inconvenience to changing the environment. Most roads are parallel packed sand/shell material, and all driveways are kept natural.

Typical road with driveways cut into either side

"Up Here" in Shoppolis City, at the beach

There is no "government" but there is an administrative group called the Executive Staff (ES) that is actually a business within a business and runs like one. Since there are no taxes, the ES has to "earn" its money and spend it on behalf of the citizens. This is an interesting contrast to the other leading bodies in other countries. There are offices to be held, but there are no elections. There are no parties or other representative bodies. When a position is opened or someone leaves or retires, the populace is asked for those who would like the position. Those who sign up are formed into a committee for them to decide, among themselves, which of them would best serve. If there is only one, the choice is easy. The person approved is then subject to a review by the Executive Staff Review Board, composed of people who achieved their positions through the same process. If there are no takers, the position is modified and altered until it suits someone. If there are still no takers, the requirement is placed under the most-likely department and blended in. There are no time limits for service, and advances in pay are calculated in the same way for all positions at all levels. Shoppolis Islanders are one of a kind; just ask us.

Shoppolis Islands Bus Station

In the event, it is felt that someone is not performing up to expectations for one reason or another, that person is asked to select a "jury" to act in concert with the Executive Staff Review Board to establish a trial of sorts. The results of this trial stand as the decision as to whether the person continues to serve or not. If the decision is not affirmative, the person is asked to step down, but not until a separation package is provided commensurate with the person's earning history. The reason for having the individual select his or her own jury is to provide that person with as much "positive" clout and bias as possible since no lawyers are involved.

The Gallatina Charter Fishing Boat out of Fishermen's End

There are many more unique and interesting rules and regulations, policies and procedures, as well as specifications and standards that make SI unique in the world community, not to mention a peculiar aura about the islands that is hard to explain. We hope you advertise with us if in business and mingle with us if just visiting. Regardless of your reason for taking the time to tour and understand the uniqueness of SI, welcome.

The Shoppolis Island Group includes 13 islands

At this time, there are 29,292* citizens who are considered "permanent residents." Each lives on one of 13 islands which include the following, named clockwise from the northwest; individual island 2003 populations are shown in parentheses:

Loveladies - (1,003)
Impostor Island - (1,997)
Araujo - (851)
Crescent Island - (1,375)
Shoppolis Islands, East and West** - (5,012)
Rita - (210)
Wild Horse Island - (1,689)
Big Nose - (1,908)
Gavin 1 Group*** - (2,906)
Gavin 2 Group*** - (2,098)
Lesse Island - (1,876)
Trio Islands - (2,043)
St. John's Isle - (6,324)

* An undisclosed number of citizens act as SI International representatives and serve as resident professionals within all countries around the world in all walks of life, a strategic defensive placement policy that has been in effect since 1790.

** Shoppolis Islands East and West are the only islands open to outside population at this time.

*** Gavin Island was renamed Gavin 1 and 2 when the Buzby Canal was dug in 1995 rendering one island, two.

Taggart Mall on Gavin 1

Each of these islands or island groups was named after March 20, 1784, when the Prize Mary arrived in a harbor now known as Shoppolis Bay, part of Shoppolis Islands, East. The ship, under the command and ownership of Captain Everett Shopp, conveyed over 300 passengers and crew from England. She stopped at New Holland (Australia), then headed to the northeast and dropped anchor in an area known as "the islands that do not really exist." This mysterious grouping of small rocky land masses, flat foliated fields and grottos, sandy beaches and dotted auxiliary islets, became home for these refugees from the American War of Independence. Neighboring islanders attributed all types of unusual occurrences and appearances to the SI Group raising superstitions that still remain today. Only in the last ten years, have young neighbors from other islands come to SI. This mystery has become the legacy of everyone who has experienced the vast satisfaction of being a part of Shoppolis Islands.

A Brief Description of Shoppolis Islands

Shoppolis Islands, East and West seen from the South

The economies of the thirteen individual islands

Right from the beginning, the original passengers, crew and officers of the Prize Mary contributed to the overall economic stability of the Shoppolis Islands Group as a whole, and their rudimentary governing group helped the infant society to remain stable for years. What wasn't originally present on the islands was developed from what was brought with them on the ship or from that acquired locally in the islands themselves, from nearby island groups or even from great distances like Indonesia, Cape Town or Rio de Janeiro. Instead of just consuming existing stores/supplies until they were gone, the original governing members convinced everyone to invest resources and develop more stores and supplies in manner that perpetuated their survival and ensured hope. The objective was to establish the highest degree of self-sufficiency as was practicable under the circumstances and offer what was learned and developed to others, who in turn, moved the process to another level of success. Payment to SI could be in commodities as well as funds in order to ensure that a profit was realized regardless of its form.

Good Morning Shoppolis Islands with Silver and Gold

Original designers of our society determined that the island complex would provide services and specialties to all nearby islands plus those ports along the way to and from major trade destinations instead of bartering with conventional trade items, namely, those expected from island people. The commonality of trade items, among the neighboring islands locally, maintained real trade but it was sorely limited to those few who passed by (ostensibly on their way to somewhere else) and among the islanders themselves. There was no inherent growth in local trade.

CB Campers and Motorhomes on St. John's Isle

Once unique items were developed and non-common services offered, the SI market locally showed an distinct increase in activity. Because of the natures and assortment of individual specialties present in the people of the original settlement and those that could be developed from them, it was felt that once set up, the islands could supply others with what they needed or wanted in a consistent and predictable manner. It was believed that once neighbors near and far realized what they could receive from SI in goods and services, a demand would develop that would help SI not only survive, but prosper. In order to do this, the Prize Mary was sent out as a trader as well as representative of SI. Through business agreements, SI would provide, through its various means, what was determined to be desirable in the area by those who need a given good or service. In addition, local islands were actually recruited as remote sales locations to the benefit of SI and the particular island.

Selma Goodies in Shoppolis City

Right from the beginning, SI began to accumulate its own gold in order to ensure a backing for their own currency. This was surprisingly easy since many countries continued to trade in gold. SI distributed its gold around the world as a precaution that still serves it well today even though international commerce has been modeled after the American system for some time. These factors remain the strongest reasons for other groups to deal with SI in everyday commerce. There is no credit system of major proportions, and SI continues to pay all its bills within 30 days of receipt. Since SI is not accountable to anyone, only a select few know how much SI is worth, and they aren't talking, but the numbers are safely kept redundantly by a number of competent institutions.

Talent Hunt Trailer in Shoppolis City

In accordance with a strategic plan, trade ships were acquired and built to deliver goods and services to the customer instead of having them come to SI. This reduced the need for expanding ports and accommodating foreigners, but it did result in an SI maritime commitment and an impressive fleet. Not inviting others into local waters meant that the potential threat of direct attack, or that presented through subterfuge, would be decreased. The population of SI was expanded by sending citizens out on the ships to find the mates they wanted and to have them brought back to SI. To this day, one cannot become a citizen of SI without a rigorous process, physical evaluation and the approval of an Executive Staff Board of Entry. Since SI is not part of the world community as an integrated unit, exchange values are determined in the process of negotiation rather than comparative monetary rates. SI applies combinations of agreed-upon values for payment to others, and there are no loans from any institutions anywhere in the world. SI is a true barter state, but one built on gold not fiat.

SI does not have a government, as such

SI provides for actual business and commerce to be the atmosphere for government rather than the traditional models of today and the conventional past. There is an Executive Staff comprising commerce positions that operate for the whole of SI and for individual islands and island groups. SI founders were well aware that economics were the prevailing means of power in the world, not governments. Governments are the result of business not the source; wars are simply radical business transactions masked as cataclysmic events (an observation simply too dismal to accept for most of us in the civilized world, or what passes as the civilized world). Each island of SI has its own dedicated Directing Staff and Director, and their emphasis is a microcosm of the SI model. Decisions are not made politically, but rather economically and practically. One of SI's popular adages is, "why hide the truth when it is so obvious." SI is a pragmatic state that allows burden of proof, based on research, to effect change. SI is a business state based on the good of the humanity comprising it.

Shortstop's in South Beach, Shoppolis Islands East

When the decision to expand SI and offer more on-site advantages to off-islanders was made in 2002, the entire plan had been developed for each island and for all the islands together as well. The numbers are set and cannot be changed without burden of proof. Growth will be for indigenous personnel only; it will have very little impact on outsiders since there are no outside investors or off-island "owners."

In-town Mansion on Shoppolis Islands East

There are representatives from the various industries of SI, and there are population groups to make sure the people participate in their own governing, but there is little effort to involve those who would rather remain uninvolved. There is a legal branch which is more of a series of review levels based on the evidence, and the balance of powers is maintained more in keeping with the idea that not to have a balance of power would be bad. Since the United States model evolved from the pioneers who populated their lands, the almost simultaneous establishment of SI would not be inconsistent. It would not be the first time that global "coincidentalism" occurred.

"Tubular" Night Club on Shoppolis Islands East

The underlying approach to government by the basic SI citizen is one of a watchdog attitude more than a continuing sequence of decision blocks in a row. If the government provides what the populace needs, there are no complaints. If there are complaints, then it is obvious that some remedial action is necessary. The SI staff of completely responsive and either implements a cure or puts the issue into committee; it is never ignored. If the government falls short somewhere, those affected simply have to convey this situation to the ES, and immediate remedies are applied. The goal of the government is make sure there are no complaints, not evolve by its own momentum, despite the people, into something with a life of its own.

Three 18th Century Square Rigged Ships

There are great advantages and huge responsibilities

There is a weight on those who live in the world of SI, and it is one of complete responsibility. If there is something wrong with an SI institution, the whole population takes responsibility for it instead of trying to apply blame somewhere else or factioning a portion of the society and blaming it. Immediately, remedial pressures are applied to rectify the situation. Acting this way allows for free medical care; free education from K on up to grade 16 (includes a high-school diploma and 4-year college equivalency degree); everyone over 16 is in the SI Defense Corp; all citizens are armed supported by extra defense devices stored in armories. There are only defense systems on SI, and no offensive capabilities have been developed nor considered necessary as far as the paramilitary SI is concerned. The SI systems implemented as response-to-aggression programs are publicized openly to notify all potential aggressors of what will happen if SI is threatened or attacked.

Farm on St. John's Isle

SI, politically neutral, has served the world and many countries as an Executive Meeting Place for discussions and negotiations and, to date, has never been overly threatened by any country or group. Many years ago, a new nation decided to act on its own against the people of SI, it felt the unsettling restraints and calls to reason, offered by some unlikely countries. The nation in question calmed down and decided wisely, that one should not assume that a group of small islands out in the middle of nowhere could not be a major power with an impressive "clout" factor. The president of that nation soon became aware that the interceding countries were not trying to save the new nation's security and place in the world, but their own. SI makes friends not enemies. This "friendly" attitude has been abundantly clear throughout SI's history, and there seems to be no change in sight for the future.

Sandlin Seaplane Commuter for Island Hopping

Years ago, when many neighboring island groups were stripped of their populations by marauding groups seeking slave labor, SI escaped these atrocities. Why? It was made very clear to all marauders, through a number of means, that it would not be in their best interest to include SI in their plans. Unfortunately, SI was unable to prevent the stripping of these fellow islands at that time in space, a sore spot with SI citizens. To realize, then, that they could not save the world, was distressing to those who idealistically thought they could. Power and influence sometimes need time to mature.

Trucks & Buses of Shoppolis City

There is no defined religious character among those on SI, yet all are accepted and tolerated as long as there is no sales, marketing or advertising of any kind. Everyone is a member of the Police Department, and everyone provides at least two hours of public service each week. Online entry and call-ins have improved SI's overall public condition. There is an odd common bond among those of SI, something each of us feel is special, because true equality exists on SI. There are no provisions for exception.

Capital offenses

As well organized and peaceful as SI is, capital crimes do occur occasionally. Capital crimes are tried in other countries with all costs accepted by SI. There are no prisons on SI but there are Detention Centers. Fines are used as the means of paying for offenses, and can be in services, goods or monies (all types are accepted). Offenders must stand trial by peer-group, and must determine their own punishment (just like aboard the Prize Mary). If the punishment is considered fair, it is accepted; if not, the offender must try again until the group approves of the punishment. Statistically, most punishments are completely commensurate with the type of crime committed; an eye for an eye, so to speak. In some cases, capital crimes are simply addressed as a suggestion that the criminal solve his or her own fate by providing the means to do so. These solutions are not witnessed; suicide is considered a private affair in the SI criminal justice system.

The language spoken is English

The English language, and no other, is applied in order to ensure a complete understanding among our peoples and to ensure that all peoples, regardless of their cultural backgrounds, are standardized and not given preferential treatment. On the other hand, we have people who can speak and teach every language on the planet including many local dialects in those languages. There are also those among us who speak and understand languages far and beyond those considered contemporary. When not translating or working in the SI State Department, each linguist or multi-linguist teaches in the schools, so many of the students of SI can accept viable positions in international trade, diplomacy and politics.

One of few Tractor Trailers on Shoppolis Islands

There is a fixed SI monetary system, based on local factors, but it takes second priority to barter or trade. The American dollar is used as the comparative standard with consideration to the Euro. The population comprises people from all over the world, but statistics are not kept on this subject, since SI citizenship is considered to be SI and no other. All citizens can keep dual citizenships, but no citizenship predominates over that of SI. As a matter of fact, most SI people have dual citizenships. Import and export numbers are kept by individuals and individual businesses, and yearly evaluation is based on a form that requests a choice of varying degrees of each category rather than actual numbers. There is a central bank, but it is owned by the citizens and administered by a Board of Directors and the Executive Staff. It is totally self-sufficient and does not depend on any other economy. For all intents, SI is primarily independent and self-sufficient. An example that is often given to those who do not understand our way of business involves a shipload of clothing that was sent to SI in lieu of money for a debt incurred by a country who sews better than it earns money.

Typical On-the-Beach Eatery in North Beach

When it comes to commodities, like oil, that are often used as levers in international negotiations, SI is very rarely placed behind the barrel. Once SI has been placed in an awkward position, it is never placed there again, by the same commodity or any other of the same type. What happens once is not repeated; SI learns fast, and has throughout its history. The SI approach to these "negotiations," is to do without. Inconvenience is an acceptable price to pay for not being blackmailed into something SI is not willing to accept. The normal response to any maneuvering of this type is for SI to offer an "alternative" to this methodology, which more often than not, causes the "negotiator" to reconsider. SI makes friends not enemies. The best weapon against aggressors is their own imagination as to precisely how big the gun is that may be aimed at them.

Addressing worldwide disturbances

Some people ask us how SI has managed to survive since 1784 without being attacked, assaulted, pulverized, nuked or otherwise "lost to world circumstances" since we are so small and appear so vulnerable. We have survived by being intelligent in a world that is not. SI "thinks" itself through potential catastrophes. By thinking, we "expect" things to happen, therefore, we prepare for them whether they happen or not. To us, it will happen; and we are delighted when it doesn't, rather than burying our heads in the sand and assuming that whatever happens to the "other guy" simply can't happen to us. Yes, it can.

SI is neutral as far as national allegiances go, yet we are available to the world as a participant in any type of negotiation or mediation that calls for a neutral party. Many a world problem has been addressed and solved on our islands by those who have the power to make problems go away, and need a place of peace in which to "think" and negotiate and compromise. Even those representing the most aggressive powers find SI relaxing and soothing.

SI does not belong to any world organizations, does not participate in world agreements of any type and does not consider itself political. We have no allies and no enemies, but we are starkly aware of those who would consider the world a better place without us. SI is strictly economically and commercially involved with other countries and groups. We feel like a participating member of the Earth community, but we do not elevate nor lower ourselves. We are what we are, no more; no less. SI has no military, as defined by most in the world, but every citizen, eighteen years or older, is a member of the Defense Force of the Islands (DFI) and serves in one capacity or another on a regular, rotating basis, on and off the islands. Some are career officers, and others "enlist" for extended, dedicated service. These individuals are compensated for their participation. SFI, Special Forces of the Islands, comprise professional individuals who operate specifically to extend SI protection and security globally.

SI has high-profile, low-profile and invisible "offices" all over the world, in major and minor cities and towns, that act as individual "virtual Executive Staffs" for SI. This distributed officing, ensures that regardless of what fate is befalling SI itself, the business of SI can continue uninterrupted therefore "getting even" is absolutely assured and guaranteed. We advertise that fact, and so far the world has accepted this reality as a sufficient reason to keep "hands off" SI.

SI is well-invested throughout the world, in every economy and in every country, big or small. SI is virtually everywhere, which provides a broad blanket of security and well-being to SI citizens. SI even has mobile "offices" in the form of aircraft, surface vessels, undersea vessels, land vehicles and even assorted, strategically placed individuals, of all cultures, walking the streets of the world; they do not stay in any given place more than one day; it is their job, and they are well paid to do so. To date, none of these "walkers" have turned on SI. One person came close, but remembered, at the last moment, that retribution is in the mind of the the perpetrator. His/her imagination was sufficient to cause a change of mind, and resulted in many more years of reliable service to SI and its citizens. The fact that this person was a leader of a given country is interesting, but was not the reason for the exemplary service. Many incidents that could have set off a chain reaction across the world was quietly "put to bed" by an SI operative.

An interesting and amusing incident took place during WWII when an SI representative was asked where SI fit into the war picture. The representative smiled and stated calmly, "We are everywhere. We are even in the the coffee you are drinking." At this, the other person ceased to ask any more questions and excused himself from drinking any more of the coffee. The diplomatic message had been successfully delivered even though the representative was referring to SI's investment in Columbian coffee beans (of course). We are certain that the unsettling stomach problems suffered by this person some hours later was only coincidental. SI defense planners assume the other person's imagination as to consequences that could result, is sufficient in almost all cases.

In order to provide local force for the islands, SI fields a number of systems, some of which are shown below. SI fields:

2 Blakely C1-122 Carrior, turboprop, four-engine aircraft configured for 4,500 mile range (flight crew 5 each)
2 CC6 Hinmann Deckmates, twin-engine, radial-type, folding-wing configured for 1,200 mile range (flight crew 4 each)
4 Dales H-6-2A Rescue Helicopters (flight crew 4)
2 210-foot custom trimaran cutters configured for 8,000 mile range (full crew of 12 officers; 63 enlisted each)
2 246-foot D-Class diesel-electric submarines configured for 15,000 mile range (crew 4 officers; 26 enlisted each)
5 contemporary Yacht Coastal Cruisers provisioned for 30-day missions (crew 2 officers; 3 enlisted each)
5 85-foot TRV-3 Trawler Reconnaissance Vessels provisioned for 45-day missions (crew 2 officers; 3 enlisted each)
4 88-foot Air-cushioned Landing Craft (crew 1 officer, 4 enlisted each)
1 255-foot custom Salvage Ship (crew 6 officers; 94 enlisted)
10 36-foot Telebron TD-36 Rigid-hull Inflatable Boats (crew 2)
2 106-foot custom SDC-3 Shallow Draft Utility Vessels (crew 2 officers; 8 enlisted)
13 hardened custom Mobile Command Ground Units configured for unlimited application (one per island) (crew 2 officers; 10 enlisted each)
Various hardened ATV units configured for unlimited application (more than one per island) (crew 2 each)
A number of classified systems distributed strategically
SI-custom hand weapons designed for clandestine operations

Some of Shoppolis Island Preparedness Arrays

Our current population is 29,292 on-island

This many people plus approximately 4,500 off-island temporary residents serving as consultants, representatives or other, occupy SI on any normal day. There is no ethnic strife, because differences are not emphasized, they are celebrated. There is no political tension, because there are no elections, parties or other representatives other than those accepted by the people as leaders. The reason for the reigning SI peace is the fact that no one, so far, has found it in his or her best interest to change the system (complain beyond a reasonable level). Even if this became the case, all the person would have to do would be submit the complaint (or new idea) to the people. If they liked the suggestion, it might be adopted; if not, no. If the complaint was valid, and an equitable solution could be found, it most likely would be implemented. Anyone disturbing the peace of SI is simply removed from the island with a plane ticket to wherever they would like to go, and given an average SI week's pay to begin anew somewhere else. To this date, all those removed have either returned as productive individuals or have not returned at all. One actually became a leading sports figure. Not everyone loves SI, particularly those who want to disrupt anything that is working regardless where it is or who it involves.

Famous "Popcorn & Candy" on Crescent Island

There is a tourist trade on SI

There is a tourist trade, but it is not the type expected on a South Seas Island Group. People do not come to SI to enjoy the natural beauty and ethnic foods and heritages displayed proudly by our neighbors, even though there is much of that in our lands and society. They come to SI to enjoy the world's food, the world's entertainment, and particularly, the world's people, particular those of mind and spirit. The cruise ships that come to SI are of the smaller type and carry some 350 to 700 people plus crews. Provisioning of ships is easy for these cruise lines, since SI maintains an inventory for them. The gambling casinos in Cruise Landing and some in South Beach provide excellent opportunities for gamblers and income for SI. There are indigenous beauties in our lands, and our waters are clear and magnificent. We do have exports in black pearls, food stuffs and manufactured goods. SI is the only place in the world where you can get a Shoppolis Island T-shirt, unless you can find one in a garage sale in Kansas or Paris. We have a reasonable number of the curious who come to actually study the uniqueness of SI. For the most part, these curious people either leave scratching their heads or become believers. Some leave to implement SI-like programs in their own lands, and some don't leave at all.

x x

Cartoon by Lanny Bland of Loveladies

SI hosts a number of events and celebrations

Events and celebrations are particular to a given island or island group or to the whole basin. March 20 remains our Founding Day Celebration, which actually lasts a whole week, involves the entire island group with individual celebrations on each island and islet. There are parades, markets, regattas, meets, dances, feasts, concerts and more, but we are one of the few that does not use fireworks as part of our celebration because it suggests a battle involving ordnance. Instead, we use high-intensity lights that provide an incredible mixture of light streams in the skies. Our engineers have created a most unusual system of speakers and transmissions that provide an ambient music no matter where you are on the islands. It has been studied but never matched, and serves as one of our own "magical" aspects. It also serves as one of our civil defenses, since one can monitor as well as transmit.

Shoppolis Islands Group Map

(does not show coral reefs but does show areas of responsibility outlined in red)

In order to understand the physical identity and relativity of the Shoppolis Islands Group, consider the following maps of the entire complex of 13 islands, islets and patches. The first example provides you with island and feature names, and the second provides you the map of the water depths. Following these, you will find explanations of each island, or island group, supported by an individual-island map.

Water Depths within Shoppolis Islands Group

[continue with tour]