Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Miscellaneous/2020 July 12

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July 12

new zealand postal service question

I sent my friend in new zealand a postcard. She tells me that her country is only accepting mail by boat due to the virus. Is she correct?

No.Moriori (talk) 02:15, 12 July 2020 (UTC)

However, due to COVID-19, expect "delays to international parcels arriving into NZ from overseas." -- More info: "COVID-19 Information". www.nzpost.co.nz. New Zealand Post. —107.15.157.44 (talk) 04:20, 12 July 2020 (UTC)

Shipping an alpaca from the United States to Thailand humanely

How can I find services that can ship an alpaca that I adopted from the United States or the animal's native land, Peru to Thailand humanely? The alpaca would be adopted from a farm or animal shelter, not "bought" from a breeder and moved to Thailand to live in a rural area with their guardian or live in an animal sanctuary where the animal will not be used for clothing, entertainment, or food. For example, how can I ship this adopted alpaca from LAX to Suvarnabhumi Airport by air or by ship? Where can I find services on how to ship alpacas from one country to another? Also, where can I find customs information online about importing and exporting live animals/pets too? Thank you. 47.145.106.236 (talk) 10:00, 12 July 2020 (UTC)

Bruh. →Σσς. (Sigma) 10:53, 12 July 2020 (UTC)

Er, why do you want to do this? Can't it be treated humanely in the country where it already lives? --Viennese Waltz 13:31, 12 July 2020 (UTC)

I wonder if this has anything to do with it? {The poster formerly known as 87.81.230.195} 90.200.41.197 (talk) 15:13, 13 July 2020 (UTC)

Large zoos regularly ship animals to and from foreign zoos, e.g. for breeding purposes, so they could probably advise you, though I would think the massive expense of doing such a thing would only be appropriate in the case of rare or endangered animals.--Shantavira|^{feed me} 19:33, 12 July 2020 (UTC)

Have you actually adopted it yet? ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 20:14, 12 July 2020 (UTC)

Google 'livestock international air transport', many companies exist that will provide quotes and information on doing this. Including fees, customs, quarantine etc. Nanonic (talk) 22:59, 12 July 2020 (UTC)

Maybe contacting the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals would be a place to start. Bus stop (talk) 23:47, 12 July 2020 (UTC)

Comma/commas in years after 9999.

Should years after 9999 really be written with a comma/commas? Can you find information about this elsewhere than Wikipedia? Wikipedia writes years after 9999 with a comma/commas.--83.73.199.185 (talk) 18:58, 12 July 2020 (UTC)

Just wait 7980 years and find out. 107.15.157.44 (talk) 19:02, 12 July 2020 (UTC)

In 10th millennium BC, there's a comma for 10,000 BC. For consistency, it seems likely 10,000 AD would also be written with a comma. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 19:20, 12 July 2020 (UTC)

The comma is but a minor issue. See Year 10,000 problem. Simplest just start all over again from 1.--Shantavira|^{feed me} 19:43, 12 July 2020 (UTC)

• If you're going to use something, it should be a space, following the SI, as the comma is already used as the decimal separator for most of the world. Fgf10 (talk) 23:53, 12 July 2020 (UTC)
  • Even for years? ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 01:27, 13 July 2020 (UTC)

    • Julian years? Yes. 93.136.16.89 (talk) 03:54, 16 July 2020 (UTC)

    • No. I still need an answer.--83.73.199.185 (talk) 07:52, 13 July 2020 (UTC)
      • I was talking to Fgf10. In any case, I'm not finding anything about it in WP:MOS, but the de facto usage seems to be with a comma, as indicated in my previous link. This could be a good question to pose at the MOS talk page. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 08:47, 13 July 2020 (UTC)

The Google search comma in five-digit years finds some style guides which say to use a comma. Years after 9999 are rarely written so I like a comma to show it's not an error which should have been a four-digit year. PrimeHunter (talk) 09:18, 13 July 2020 (UTC)

Thanks. Baseball, do you want to write it at the manual of style talk page?--83.73.199.185 (talk) 09:30, 13 July 2020 (UTC)

I think you should start the discussion. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 09:44, 13 July 2020 (UTC)

Is it needed? I got the answer that I needed.--83.73.199.185 (talk) 11:50, 13 July 2020 (UTC)

You got multiple, contradictory answers. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 12:03, 13 July 2020 (UTC)

Is it needed? PrimeHunter's answer was what I needed.--83.73.199.185 (talk) 12:06, 13 July 2020 (UTC)

Well, if it had been in the MOS to begin with, we could have simply pointed it out to you, obviating this protracted discussion; and surely there are other people in the world who could benefit from this important information. So, yes, it is needed. -- Jack of Oz ^{[pleasantries]} 22:46, 16 July 2020 (UTC)