upcase/downcase first character of a word

< ^ > P N |<>|^_>< --- | ~ ...Help

any simpler way than
--
class String

   def upcase_first
     self[0] = self[0].chr.upcase[0]
     self
   end

   def downcase_first
     self[0] = self[0].chr.downcase[0]
     self
   end


end
--
?

Tobi
-- 
http://www.pinkjuice.com/