When did fortunes become statements?

So I get some free food today from the guys at Calence from Pei Wei. Along with my lunch/dinner comes some Fortune Cookies. Now I ask you, when did fortunes become statements?
for·tune ( P ) Pronunciation Key (fôrchn)
n.

1. 1. The chance happening of fortunate or adverse events; luck: He decided to go home for the holidays, and his fortune turned for the worse.
   2. fortunes The turns of luck in the course of one's life.
   3. Success, especially when at least partially resulting from luck: No matter what they tried, it ended in fortune.
2. 1. A person's condition or standing in life determined by material possessions or financial wealth: She pursued her fortune in another country.
   2. Extensive amounts of material possessions or money; wealth.
   3. A large sum of money: spent a fortune on the new car.
3. often Fortune A hypothetical, often personified force or power that favorably or unfavorably governs the events of one's life: We believe that Fortune is on our side.
4. 1. Fate; destiny: told my fortune with tarot cards.
   2. A foretelling of one's destiny

Now, I thought the definintion of Fortune was that to tell me something that's about to happen to me or my friends. If I look at the above definitions from Dictionary.com I would assume I am corrent. I also know that to get a blank one is really bad luck. Here's an example of what I mean. One of my Fortune cookies states:
"You have natural grace and consideration for others."
So I ask you. Is that a fortune? Or is it really just a pleasant statement. I mean what if I don't have a natural grace. What if I normally walk like a duck, would you call that gracefull? As it is I don't walk like a duck... so I guess I do have Natural grace and consideration for others. Remember that consideration and action are two different things.
So if you ever do get a blank fortune please follow these steps from Weird Fortune Cookies
If you should receive a blank fortune, do not panic. Instead, have courage. Follow these steps and you will almost certainly rectify the situation with no harm to you or any others:

1. Gently grasp the fortune, if you dropped it in shock.
2. With a rotating motion in your forearm, turn the fortune over 180 degrees along the Z axis, so that you are looking at its other side (commonly referred to the "reverse side"). This should reveal writing on the paper.
3. If the writing is upside down, you will need to spin the fortune on the X-Y axis -- again using a rotating motion, but this time with your wrist.

In almost all cases these steps will reveal your fortune to you. Panic can be averted.

If the other side is also blank, then I guess you're screwed. Sorry.

Links of the day for 2/18/05

Truck Vs. Train - Guess who wins
Image puzzle - I couldn't get past stage 5...
China overtakes U.S as world's biggest consumer - See I told you cocks were in...
New York City Seeks to Trademark Slogan - "Fuck You" would be more like it
WB to update Characters for 'Loonatics' - Wow, good to know the gang's got superhero genes
'Dogs Playing Poker' sell for $590k - What? It would look good in the bedroom
Woman overstays hospital Stay by a year - Can you imagine hospital food for a year?
Command and Conquer Den - Someone who plays war games waaay to much
Userfriendly - Hehe reminds me of this video
Microsoft to Recall Xbox cords - a Friendly PSA

Horoscope reading for the day

Fancy playing a prank on someone? Disguise yourself as a newspaper then spontaneously combust when someone tries to read you.
Thanks Crazy horoscopes

Links of the Day 2/16/05

Guimp Pacman - World's smallest eater
Honey, Remember to turn on the Rooster Booster - Sounds like a clever euphemism.
Surprised Customer says penis pills don't work - I wonder if they had a hard time finding others to admit to buying it.
Police say man signaled turns during chase - Of course he did, he didn't want to be charges with reckless driving too...
Have a blog? Lose your job? - "People mistakenly believe that the First Amendment protects them in the workplace, which is generally not the case," Damn
Hide and seek on the web - Gee I know of someone who's plays hide and seek right now

I saw you this weekend.

You there with your “fuck me” pumps on… or at least that’s what I think they were supposed to be. I can’t believe you were sucking face with the cook. I mean it wasn’t like you were at Wolfgang Puck’s place, you know a place with some class. It was a bar… a dive bar for that matter. Guess you were hard up. I know how it is some times when you haven’t had anything but the precursor to a pickle for the last 6 months. Its okay, I’m sure the grease stains will wash out of the sheets. I know you're loud... but damn that night you were really loud... and that was before you got it on with the cook. I loved it when you ordered drinks and put it on someone else’s tab. I’m sure you didn’t know that it was a small world after all and that the people you scored from were co-workers with other people you know. Typically I say “I’ve never been kicked out of this place before”, but I’m usually joking. But, that’s not the case with you that night. I’m sure you new man can hook you up right with free French fries and stuff. Oh and I saw you charge your lounger upholstery to a customer so that you wouldn’t have to pay for it. Must be nice to screw people in so many different ways.

Links of the day 2/15/05

Seeing new detail in old masters - Maybe we can see more things in davinci's work
Mall Gunman 'fasinated' with Coumbine - Well, at least it wasn't video games
Did the teacher say to put your tongue in my mouth? - A little late for Valentine's Day... I know
Hello Kitty Crop Circle - This means something
Userfriendly - For those that used to watch TechTV
The Librarian Dialogues - For those things that are important to Librarians
Color Test - My cousin did this one when he was in college for one of his clases... it should have 3 choices... then it would be harder
The 100 Funniest Jokes of All time - All 100 of them
Dr. Fun - Hehe Life

Happy VD

Got an e-mail today with the subject line of "Happy VD". Now that doesn't sound like a good e-mail to me. I mean I don't even know this person and I know I wasn't THAT drunk on Friday.

Links of the day
Your crazy horoscopes - Mostly Geared towards women... but funny none the less. Take mine for today as an example:
Jam a peanut up your nostril and sneeze at your desired love. They will give you a banana and say, "Use that to clean your armpits"

For those that don't know what to do today

The Cuddly Menace - The Truth about Zogg
I'm just crazy about saffron
A video game PSA - He should have just hit him in the head with a baseball bat and ran over the hooker.
Kidnaping - This PSA is F.A.T. Approved
Tivo Deathwatch - I don't know... Tivo users are like mac users in a way... they are pretty loyal.