21st Challenge No. 38

The secret life of three-letter acronyms.

By Charlie Varon and Jim Rosenau

  • Pages 1

Nov 3, 2000 | In a previous Challenge, we asked readers to explain the true meaning of the ubiquitous "http://www." Memorable entries included "Hands to the Pants, Wanton Willing Women."

In this Challenge, we turn to the Three Letter Acronyms (TLAs) that litter our increasingly technologized world. What does VCR really stand for? SUV? .jpg?

Readers are invited to submit up to three well-known TLAs -- and illuminate their true meaning.

EXAMPLE

CPU: Computer Packaging, Undisposable

RULES

Send your submissions via e-mail only to salon21st@salon.com. Please include your full name and an accurate e-mail address so we can contact you if you're a winner. By submitting your entry, you give Salon Technology permission to publish, edit and reuse it. Deadline for entries is Nov. 10, 2000.

PRIZES

The winning response will receive a copy of Salon Technology editor Andrew Leonard's book, "Bots: The Origin of New Species."

In two weeks we'll publish a winner and some selected entries -- then start over a couple weeks after that with a whole new challenge.

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