Q: I was wondering why the AJC still uses the old abbreviations for states, using a capital letter, a small letter and a period (i.e., Ga.). The post office and other software often use two capital letters for states (i.e., GA). — Suzanne Easley, Cumming
A: The AJC, like many other media outlets such as newspapers, news websites and magazines, adhere to The Associated Press Stylebook — first published in 1953 — which has established a consistent set of rules for publications to follow. The AP changes or updates its style guidelines annually to remain current, but the abbreviations for state names have stayed the same. AP style doesn't abbreviate some state names — Idaho, Maine and Texas, for example — while the U.S. Postal Service abbreviates those states ID, ME and TX.
Q: I once read about a man who has goats that eat ivy and kudzu. How do you contact him? — Jon Bequeath, Atlanta
A: The best way to contact Brian Cash, the owner of Ewe-niversally Green is through the company's website (eweniversallygreen.com). Cash owns sheep and goats that can be hired to clear underbrush and weeds — even kudzu and poison ivy — on sites ranging from "small private backyards to large community or public projects," according to the website. "We are still busily munching weeds all over Atlanta," Cash told Q&A on the News in an email. "We stay very busy and do have a wait list this time of the year."
Andy Johnston wrote this column. Do you have a question about the news? We’ll try to get the answer. Call 404-222-2002 or email q&a@ajc.com (include name, phone and city).
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