The OED shows both meanings of "presently" arising around 1400, along with the "now rare" sense of "without delay; at once." For some unexplained reason the meaning "now" was "avoided in literary use between the 17th and 20th centuries" and is considered "by some [sic] usage writers" today as "erroneous."

Go figure.

> we in Amereicnsa are losing nice distinctions in pronunciations: The POOR man POURED a cup of coffee as he PORED over the want ads; will MERRY MARY MARRY?

Not everybody ever had all those distinctions. Do you distinguish "horse" and "hoarse"? (Some Americans do.) Then there's "which" and "witch."

Go figure.

For northerners, the Appalachians have an "a" as in "date." For southerners, an "a" as in "hat."

Go figure.

You may be right about "Norfolk," but "Norfik/ Nawfik" were the only versions I ever heard up until the '90s. (Never lived there either.)

Long ago I knew a disgruntled ex-sailor who said that when conditions warranted the city was often called "Nor-fuck," with emphasis. (There was a less subtle name as well.) Maybe "Nor-foke" is being promoted to
undermine that feature. (Not that it will make any difference.)