Talk like a pirate day is one of those phenomena like flash mobs that probably wouldn't have been possible without the internet. I'm especially connected to this National Holiday because it had its origins right in my back yard in Albany Oregon.

John Baur and Mark Summers had been talking like a pirate to each other for years, just for the hell of it. But some how, their antics managed to catch the attention of syndicated columnist Dave Barry, and the rest, as we say, is history.

I am a geek, of course, and I know the geek end of this holiday. I happen to know the ex owner of peak internet, the webhosting company that hosted the talk like a pirate website in 2002, the first time it went national. He bragged about how their server cluster withstood an onslaught of millions hits that would have brought less prepared ISP's to their knees. Their preparation consisted in having everyone work double shifts and having a few extra servers on hand to replace the ones that would inevitably burn up because they knew that September 19th was coming. (Please note: this is tongue in cheek. Servers rarely catch on actual fire, and if they do it's usually not caused by too many web hits.)

Mark and John are now happily rolling in the wealth this popularity got for them. They have even published a book or two, not to mention the sale of swag. All for something completely silly. As a side effect, millions of school children have absorbed a few bits of historical knowledge about pirates and had a blast doing it. All proof of the educational maxim -- if you want people to learn something make it fun.

If you have never heard of "Talk like a pirate day" it's really quite simple. You just need to study up some basic vocabulary from their website and then see how much you can work into your conversation. For example, to insult someone, try calling them a bilge rat. If you want to impress a woman, call her me beauty.

Here's a fully formed pirate pickup line: Please let me know if you have any success with it:

"Pardon me, but would ya mind if fired me cannon through your porthole?"

Dressing like a pirate always helps too. And learning all the pirate songs is another way to enjoy Talk Like a Pirate Day. The pirate website is full of PDF's such as party invitations, and pirate drink recipes. Basically you take standard drinks and either add rum to it or change the name. Here's an example: The White Russian becomes the White Pirate thus:

1 1/4 oz. Captain Morgan Spiced Rum

1 1/4 oz. Kahlua

Half and Half or milk to fill

Shake over ice & pour into a highball glass

Don't forget to celebrate Talk Like a Pirate Day! It's just good clean larcenous fun.