Unfortunately, there is a possibility of that, Tonguez.
Scientific models show the Pacific Ocean rising in the future.
Since the issue of Global Warming and Sea Level Rise are VERY SERIOUS topics, ESPECIALLY to those peoples on Island Nations and in low lying areas, I will not discuss them further on this thread.
Except to solemnly acknowledge their seriousness.
Please understand that the issue is intensely political now, and there are strong feelings running worldwide on the subject.
I have strictly kept to only the scientific aspects of climate and climate change, because politics are not allowed on the ENBoards.
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How are things here, in the United States of America?
It is turning quite cold, with the first snows falling, here in Michigan. (although the skiiers will have to wait another month, and in this El-Nino year skiing is going to be a chancy affair.)
All the leaves have finally dropped. Leaffall was 2 weeks late this year.
We just completed our elections ... except they are not completed. That is to say, yet another election is to occur in Louisiana, so our election brawl isn't quite over yet. (the POST-election brawl is just starting.)
They have just come out with a consumer 250 gigabyte hard drive. A 320 gigabyte version is due in January.
Sales of Personal Video Recorders are way up.
DVD sales and rentals have skyrocketed - VHS tapes are starting to take a backseat to DVD rentals, and few people buy VHS tapes anymore.
DVD Recordable Machines are finally making their entrance here.
A new, Tsunami version of He-Man is showing on our television (DEAR GODS!!!)
Buffy the Vampire Slayer has finally become a rather interesting show (to me), even as it's ratings are falling.
The new Robot Wars shows (in which robots fight each other or compete in athletic events) are a smash hit, and you can see these shows every day now.
Reality TV and shows like The Fear Factor continue to be popular here.
Harry Potter just debuted here, to massive audiences. HP is quite popular in America in general ... there are exceptions to this rule, obviously ...
The extended version of FOTR just debuted, to massive sales and high acclaim. Everyone is looking forward to TTT (except the Tolkien Purists, who find these films infuriating.)
Which shows that Great Britain is still producing great writers, as she has done since the time of Shakesphere, and that Americans appreciate great writing.
Let's see ...
The city of Louisville just annexed it's entire county, Jefferson County.
As a result, we have a city of 350 square miles (the size of Los Angeles) with only 700,000 people.
Los Angeles, conversely, almost broke up into three cities.
They would have been Los Angeles, Hollywood, and the San Fernando Valley region (no name was selected.)
The measure went down to defeat in the election.
We have one party in power for the first time in 50 years. They hold the House, Senate, and Presidency (I won't say more, due to the ban on politics in ENWorld.)
Did I mention the shadow of war is hanging over us?
Actually, we have been at war since 9/11, an infamous day burned into American memory. I suppose we may remain at war for some time to come.
The war is a painful and oftentimes bitter subject among Americans - I cannot discuss it further on the ENBoards, for this reason.
High Definition Television is slowly becoming a reality.
The cable companies just agreed to upgrade to HDTV within 2 years (promises, promises ...)
The Federal Communications Commission is demanding television makers make only HDTVs starting within about 2 years.
1080i appears to be the HDTV signal we will be receiving. As of yet, the only recording format that can record 1080i is DVHS (Digital VHS, which is, of course, an analog system.)
The Blu-View DVD, capable of recording HDTV, is still several years off, they say.
I predict all DVDs will be HD DVDs within 5 years, but that is just my prediction.
Homes in Michigan start at $100,000. You can't get one for less than that, period.
Most homes, and almost all new homes, go for over $200,000.
But that's Michigan. In San Francisco, in California, you probably cannot get a home for under $700,000.
In Louisville, Kentucky, the average home is $105,000.
Some of our states are much more expensive to live in than others!
We have a speed limit of 70 miles per hour in Michigan.
I do not think there is another state east of the Mississippi River that has a speed limit over 65.
Even Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas have speed limits of only 70, and New Mexico and Arizona are at 75.
Montana is the only state without a freeway speed limit (during the day.)
Now, on I-275, half of the drivers actually obey the 70 mph speed limit, primarily because the heavy traffic prevents higher speeds.
On M-14, many drive 80, and some drive 85.
On I-696, many drive 80 and 85, in heavy traffic.
Gaming books are very expensive.
Gaming books run $30 to $40 dollars, and with Michigan's 6% sales tax they are higher yet.
For the price of all paper products has been rising faster than the rate of inflation, for the past 10 years, along with all wood products.
Softcover books go for $7 to $8 dollars, and hardcovers go for $25 to $30.
It can be hard to keep up with the new releases, at those prices, much less all the d20 products.
Just some thoughts, in regards to your question.
