I like the detail of this map better, though it is still overly broad (not accounting for AAVE or other minority groups, and not differentiating on age):
https://aschmann.net/AmEng/
I think the semicolons are correct too (though the colon you mentioned would add a lot of clarity). This grammar rule comes up infrequently enough that it can be jarring to encounter a semicolon before reaching the end of a properly formed independent clause.
Either ambient instrumental music (lots of Brian Eno) or any music that I know all the words to (so that my brain doesn't have to actively process the lyrics).
While there are actually several new world marsupials, I'm fairly certain that they're all opossums.