AP Style dates

/**
 * converts Date to AP Style date
 * @param string $strDate
 * @return string
 */
function ap_date($strDate) {
    $strAPDatePattern = '%s %d, %d';
    $intDate = strtotime($strDate);

    $strMonth = date('F',$intDate);
    $intDay = date('j',$intDate);
    $intYear = date('Y',$intDate);

    if(strlen($strMonth) > 5){ //stoopid september... grumble, grumble
        if($strMonth == 'September'){
            $intTruncLen = 4;
        } else {
            $intTruncLen = 3;
        }

        $strMonth = substr($strMonth,0,$intTruncLen) . '.';
    }

    return sprintf($strAPDatePattern,$strMonth,$intDay,$intYear);
}