Do you like fortune cookies?

Fortune cookies are oddly shaped little confectionery that have a distinctive and yummy taste.

Amusingly, it is noteworthy that the origin of this cookie was in the United States. But if you ask Pavel Chekov, he might claim they were invented in Leningrad.



Given the fortune cookie is often served in Chinese restaurants, it is interesting to note there is no definitive translation. However, a commonly used one is this: 幸运签饼, 签语饼, 幸运饼, 幸运签语饼, 幸运甜饼, 幸福饼干, 幸运饼干, 幸运饼, 幸运籤语饼, 籤语饼, or 占卜饼.

And the binary translation is this: 0100011001101111011100100111010001110101011011100110010100100000011000110110111101101111011010110
1101001011001010111001100100000011000010111001001100101001000000110001001100101011101000111010001
1001010111001000100000011101000110100001100001011011100010000001110011011001010111100000100001001
0000000100000010000010111010000100000011011000110010101100001011100110111010000100000010010010010
0000011001110110010101110100001000000111010001101111001000000110100001100001011101100110010100100
0000110011001101111011100100111010001110101011011100110010100100000011000110110111101101111011010
11011010010110010101110011001011100010111000101110

Within each oddly shaped cookie, there is a piece of paper. Remarkably unburnt, this piece of paper has words of edification - often on both sides of the paper.

The first side often has Chinese translations of common English words - such as "egg roll" or "sushi". This always comes in handy when it's time to muck through that IRS audit. Just call the auditor "Guo-tie" and joy ensues for all in the office.

The second side contains the actual "fortune". This is usually an aphorism of typically limited value. Examples include the inane "Your lover will never wish to leave you", and the sublime like "The best mirror is often a good friend."

Some fortune cookies also feature a random listing of numbers, claimed to be lucky. The usual printed numbers seem to be 3, 12, 34, 7, 15, and 21. Note the 6th number is not the Powerball value. However, in actual practice, these numbers are neither lucky, nor do they get their owner lucky. Unless, of course, you tally up all 6 digits and then multiply by 6. This is the amount of money needed to hire an escort.

Now as corny as most fortune cookies are, there's always some smarmy jackass out there who likes to improvise. You may have heard of "the suffix". This suffix is often placed, by the reader, on the end of a corny fortune to give it an entirely different - and far more amusing - meaning. "The suffix", used by the majority of people, is "in bed". This means that fortune reading "There are no heads harder than empty ones" takes on a whole new, hilariously sinister meaning.

The ingredients for these cookies are fairly basic:
* 3 egg whites
* 3/4 cup sugar
* 1/8 teaspoon salt
* 1/2 cup butter -- melted
* 1/4 teaspoon vanilla
* 1 cup flour
* 1 tablespoon instant tea powder
* 2 tablespoons water

Obviously, fortune cookies are no replacement for potato chips. Unless you want to induce hyperglycemia...


On edit: Formatting revision. :blush:

friendly. Did not know about the instant tea as an ingredient though.

and it is true, the
"in bed" suffix does add unexpected hilarity to the evening.

* There are lessons to learn by listening to others
* All the troubles you have will pass away very quickly
* You have a keen sense of humor and love a good time
* You will meet an important person who will help you advance professionally
* Your career will soon offer you many opportunities for advancement

Some friends got me a bag when they were in San Francisco. Had lots of fun w/ the boyfriend....

:rofl: