Arrr, mateys, mark Sunday, Sept. 19, on your calendar. Tis International Talk Like a Pirate Day (ITLAPD). Though not exactly government sanctioned, it was launched in 1996 by John Baur (Ol' Chumbucket) and Mark Summers (Cap'n Slappy) -- pictured -- who proclaimed Sept. 19 each year as the day when everyone in the world should talk like a pirate.

They came up with the idea during a racquetball game. You can read the history of the origin of ITLAPD at http://www.talklikeapirate.com/faq.html . What started as an inside joke between Ol' Chumbucket and Cap'n Slappy has gained momentum. The holiday gained exposure when John Baur and Mark Summers sent a letter about their invented holiday to the American syndicated humor columnist Dave Barry in 2002. Barry liked the idea and promoted the day.
So what's the Apple connection. Steve Jobs is once reported to have said, "I'd rather be a pirate than join the navy," and Apple flew a pirate's flag outside its Cupertino headquarters.

Okay, that's not much of a connection. But I sure do want lots of folks talking like pirates this Sunday.

-- Dennis Sellers