End of an Era

In the past, I've written about the the Oxford or 'serial' comma.

Well, it seems it has gone the way of the dodo.

I emailed an editor pal with the news who replied:

Yeah, I heard just earlier. I think they must have lost the naming rights. I expect it to be rebranded the HSBC comma or TD Waterhouse comma.

Jeez, but we editors are a cynical bunch, ain't we?

UPPERDATE: Reprieve! Rule change is just for PR dept. But still one wonders, WTF?