TO ALL SHIPS AT SEA: NAVY DITCHES CAPS LOCK

UP UNTIL APRIL, THIS IS WHAT ALL OFFICIAL NAVY COMMUNIQUES HAD TO LOOK LIKE. YES, LIKE YOUR MOST ANNOYING UNCLE, THE NAVY HAS LONG BEEN ADDICTED TO CAPS LOCK, HAVING GOTTEN HOOKED BACK IN THE DAYS OF TELETYPE. BUT IN APRIL, US FLEET COMMAND SENT WORD THAT SAILORS WERE "AUTHORIZED TO USE STANDARD, MIXED-CASE CHARACTERS," THE WALL STREET JOURNAL REPORTS.

BUT THE NAVY HASN'T TOTALLY KICKED ITS HABIT. "RECOMMEND CONTINUE TO USE UPPER CASE IN LINES BEFORE REMARKS," THE MESSAGE CONTINUED. THE CHANGE WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY A SWITCH TO A MODERN SYSTEM THAT CAN HANDLE THE HIGH-TECH WONDERS OF LOWER CASE LETTERS—AND WILL SAVE THE NAVY $15 MILLION A YEAR. AND GOOD THING, BECAUSE THIS WAS PRETTY EXHAUSTING TO READ, NO? (More Navy stories.)