What does ISP mean to a dial-up web-surfer?

Well, honey, to a dial-up web-surfer, ISP stands for "internet Service Provider." It's the company that gives you the agonizingly slow connection to the World Wide Web that you're probably using to ask me this question. So, next time you're waiting for a webpage to load at a snail's pace, you can thank your ISP for that delightful experience.