The fortune cookie says: The one who is truely wise won't spend 6 years thinking about his cookie

The New York Times has an interesting article on the origin of the fortune cookie, but I just couldn’t get over this…

Ms. Nakamachi, a folklore and history graduate student at Kanagawa University outside Tokyo, has spent more than six years trying to establish the Japanese origin of the fortune cookie…

6 years!? Researching the fortune cookie!? Is the world a better place? Does anyone really care about the fortune cookie – that much? I’m really not sure if I can think of a less worthwhile topic to research for 6 years. One month – maybe. A year – that’s pushing it. 6 years – no way.

Get your online fortune cookie (more fortune, less cookie) HERE. Share ’em if you like. Mine says…

“It may be that your sole purpose in life is simply to serve as warning to others.”

 
7 comments
Jenn (the real one) says:

This was mine: “Duct tape is like the force-there is a light side and a dark side and it holds the universe together.” Not so much a fortune…more like a Star Wars geek trying to be profound about duct tape.

Kyle Timmerman says:

“The facts, though interesting, are totally irrelevant.” This may be particularly true in my line of work.

Melissa says:

Mine is, “Easy come, Easy go.” Obviously not written by someone working on their dissertation….

Kyle’s was way better. I’m going to do another one…”A conclusion is the place where you got tired of thinking.”

Much better! And also particularly true in Kyle’s (OK, mine too) line of work.

Oh–and apparently grad students get paid more in Japan because completion of my degree (not taking 6 years with my research) is highly related to no longer wanting to be in this income bracket!

Melissa says:

I thought about it some more….and these aren’t really fortunes so much as saying. I’ve noticed that lately about fortune cookies and it is a kinda annoying misnomer. I want a fortune!

Kelsey says:

Melissa your fortune is:

When the waning moon crosses with the noon sun you shall arrive at a peak, and then skip to the mountain beyond that peak, and there you shall vomit because of the altitude.

Melissa says:

Thanks. I feel better now.

First off I would like to say wonderful blog!
I had a quick question that I’d like to ask if you don’t mind.

I was curious to find out how you center yourself and clear your
thoughts before writing. I’ve had difficulty clearing my mind in getting my ideas out. I truly do enjoy writing but it just seems like the first 10 to 15 minutes tend to be lost just trying to figure out how to begin. Any suggestions or hints? Many thanks!

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