March 2010
Recipe for Alphabet Soup
By Diane Essington, Office Manager

Daily dealings with acronyms sometimes make me feel like I am swimming in alphabet soup. When those acronyms roll off the tongue, do you really know what you are talking about?

Start Easy: Let’s start with the easy ones: IT, IP, FAQ, and www. You probably shouted out: Internet Technology, Internet Protocol, Frequently Asked Questions, and World Wide Web!

Add a few computer hardware and Internet terms: Now let’s add a few more familiar yet challenging ones from the computer networking world:

• http: The Hypertext Transfer Protocol provides a standard for Web browsers and servers to communicate.
• HTML: Hypertext Markup Language is the code inserted in a file that tells the Web browser how to display a Web page's words and images.
• MOLP: Microsoft Open License Program is a volume discount agreement.
• OEM: Original Equipment Manufacturer (The term is really a misnomer because OEMs are not the original manufacturers; they are the customizers who build custom computers.)

Put two together: Mix a few together and what do you get?

• VoIP: Voice over IP is an Internet-based telephone system.
• TCP/IP: Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol is the basic communication language or protocol of the Internet.
• OPK: OEM Preinstallation Kit allows developers to load software onto a new computer.

From the Business World: These are some of the acronyms I deal with on a daily basis in the business finance world (and you may run into here on the ICS website):

• CRM: Customer Relationship Management is a software program that tracks your day-to-day actions with your customers.
• ERP: Enterprise Resource Planning is a business management system that integrates all facets of the business, including planning, manufacturing, sales, and marketing.
• PA-DSS: Payment Application Data Security Standard is the global security standard created by the Payment Card Industry Security Standards Council (PCI SSC).
• VAR: Value-Added Reseller, like ICS Support who provides great services along with software and/or hardware they sell.

Recipe: OK, here’s the recipe for Alphabet Soup, from which I had leftovers for lunch today:

Chop up two stalks of celery and a half a medium onion and sauté them over low heat in a large sauce pan until the onions soften.
Cut up two chicken thighs into ½ inch pieces. Push the celery and onions aside and brown the chicken in the pot.
Add two large carrots thinly sliced and 4 to 6 cups of chicken stock. (I like a thicker soup so I used the lesser amount.) Cover and simmer until the carrots are cooked - about 20 minutes.
Add a cup of alphabet noodles and cook according to directions (mine took about 5 minutes) and add more water if the soup gets too thick.
Taste the soup and add salt and any other herbs to taste.
This made 6 lunch servings. Serve with crackers or toast.

Alphabet Soup is simple. Enjoy.