Today’s Rant No. 26: Bags and Boxes Edition

Summary

The author reflects on their personal collection of unique and nostalgic bags and boxes, from childhood to adulthood, each with its own story and significance, while also addressing common misconceptions and the importance of accuracy in forming opinions.

Abstract

In "Today’s Rant No. 26: Bags and Boxes Edition," the author takes a trip down memory lane, discussing their eclectic assortment of containers, including a vintage cigar box from kindergarten, an Indiana Jones lunch box, and a Golden State Warriors bag. They share their connection to these items, which are not only practical but also hold sentimental value. The rant touches on the author's fandom for the Warriors, their enjoyment of collecting, and a memorable bachelor party with custom-made backpacks. The author also debunks a rumor about Tommy Hilfiger and Oprah Winfrey and clarifies a misattributed quote from "Dragnet." The piece concludes with reflections on a stolen Timbuk2 messenger bag and the peculiarity of buying luggage while on vacation, emphasizing the importance of research and truth over hearsay.

Opinions

The author values unique and memorable containers, considering them collectibles.
They have a strong dislike for the fourth Indiana Jones movie, "Kingdom of the Crystal Skull," and skepticism about the upcoming fifth installment.
The author is a proud native of the San Francisco Bay Area and a dedicated fan of the Golden State Warriors and Stephen Curry.
They believe in the importance of accuracy and research, citing Joseph Pulitzer's emphasis on "accuracy, accuracy, accuracy," and debunking the myth about Oprah Winfrey and Tommy Hilfiger.
The author points out the irony in buying luggage while on vacation and the oddity of having a costly messenger bag stolen with relatively inexpensive contents inside.
They express the idea that persistent falsehoods can become accepted as truth without proper verification.

Today’s Rant No. 26: Bags and Boxes Edition

While I would not consider myself to be a hoarder, I do enjoy collecting certain items. Elvis Presley trading cards. X-Men figurines. Raggedy Andy dolls (seriously). And — without even trying — some pretty cool containers. “Containers”? Yes, containers. Backpacks. Lunch boxes. Even cigar boxes.

“Wait. You smoke cigars?” Hell no. But I carried my school supplies in a cigar box when I was in kindergarten. Not sure why. It was one of those white vintage Dutch Master cigar boxes with an illustration of six men on its cover. I still remember classmates commenting on its unique design. It is probably worth a fortune and floating around eBay nowadays.

I loved Indiana Jones when I was a kid. I would even walk around my house with a fedora on my head and a whip in my hand, pretending to be good ol’ Indy. Hence, I naturally owned a cool Indiana Jones lunch box. The front and back covers had photos from the second film of the trilogy, “Temple of Doom.” Yes, “trilogy” since the fourth installment, “Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” is utter trash. I certainly do not look forward to the fifth one slated to be released next year. Probably should be named “Kingdom of Crap.”

I no longer carry lunch or cigar boxes with me daily, but I own a nifty Golden State Warriors bag. I typically use it for traveling. I am a native of the San Francisco Bay Area, hence my love for the Warriors and Dub Nation. Stephen Curry of the Warriors is also my all-time favorite NBA player. Watching the Warriors win four championships the past eight seasons has been amazing and I hope to witness at least two more title victories before my time on Earth ends.

My wife, Kay, had ordered custom-made backpacks for my groomsmen and me for my bachelor party last year. The backpacks are black and have illustrations of tuxedos with the word “groomsman” on them. As a sports fan, I opted to host the event at a Los Angeles Dodgers game instead of a bar or house like most men. It was fun to hang out with my brother, nephew, cousin, and best buds, most of whom had flown in from the Bay Area for the event. Plus, it was great to see the Dodgers defeat the pitiful Los Angeles Angels.

For years, I had taken my Tommy Hilfiger backpack everywhere with me. College. Gym. Work. It was compact, but I could still fit everything I needed in it. I believe it is important to research a given topic before forming an opinion about it. Never assume anything. “Accuracy, accuracy, accuracy,” in the words of newspaper publisher Joseph Pulitzer. There had been a rumor that Oprah Winfrey had kicked Hilfiger off her talk show after he admitted to making racist comments about his customers. But the truth was that incident never happened. Never. In fact, Hilfiger and even Winfrey herself have publicly denied the alleged run-in. Similarly, the character Joe Friday from the television show “Dragnet” has often been associated with the catchphrase “just the facts, ma’am.” Yet, Friday had never said that exact line in any episode. Never. The moral of the story: a lie repeated enough times sadly becomes the truth.

I once owned a Timbuk2 messenger bag. Timbuk2 bags look ordinary, but they are actually expensive. The retail value for one is around $100. A former employer had given it to me — and then laid me off (seriously). Unfortunately, some punk broke into my locker one day while I was exercising at the gym and stole it. Ironically, the contents of the bag were fairly cheap in price — a pair of jeans, T-shirt, and a deodorant stick— but it was the bag itself that was costly.

I also once owned a beautiful black and green suitcase with a Hawaii-inspired design on it. The irony is I had bought it while I was vacationing in Hawaii. As years have passed, I have come to realize buying luggage while on vacation is weird, no? Sort of like putting the cart before the horse. Selling snow to a snowman. Encouraging your neighbor to buy your house and then asking him or her to rent it back to you. Of course, considering I had once carried my school supplies in a cigar box, is anything I do really that weird?