Neon Memes • "Learn Chinese: Pronunciation, Fa-Yin," read the slip in the cookie. Directly following that, in addition to a fortune and six lucky numbers, were two ideograms. Educational outreach bundled into a humble dessert―what a lovely, innovative notion. If only earning my minor in French all those years ago had promised such pleasure. Sad to say, the slip included no translation of the phrase and (presumably) the ideograms. Hmmm. I studied the cookie's wrapper there in China Yu (7311 Watson Road, 314.351.9064), having just enjoyed a half order of shrimp fried rice, $3.85 plus tax. Decorating the cellophane were a logo for W&F Fortune Cookies and a disquietingly lipsticked female tyke in front of a giant stylized heart. The fine print brought enlightenment. It identified the cookie's maker, Winfar Foods Inc., as a Chicago company (3949 S. Keeler Avenue, 773.247.8002). Huh. "Learn Chinese pronunciation from a Chi-Town operation?" I muttered to myself. "As if!" With blinding clarity it occurred to me that fa-yin likely meant "Go, Cubs!" or (given the fabled compression of some ideograms) "St. Louis–style pizza sucks, and Provel is an abomination!" ―Bryan A. Hollerbach, Managing Editor
Continuing-Ed Credit, Anyone?
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