The Containers

As a whole, not many of us truly contribute anything that changes the world in any way.  This doesn't mean that we should give up as soon as it's apparent that whatever we're doing is really only going to prove the certainty of the adage: death and taxes.  Some people might miss us for a while, but we're not likely to crack the obituary plane and get a send-off that alerts the living that what we did in life "revolutionized" something.

Even those that do accomplish something that when added up is worth noticing are not always aware at the time that what they're doing is going to change anything other than their finances.  That's why it's best not to get discouraged.  Our lack of global contribution may not be apparent until it's over.  You just never know.

Take the story of Keith Tantlinger who recently passed away.  Hardware, basically is what he contributed, but what it allowed did change things.  Greatly.

Shipping containers could be stacked because of what he devised, and thus, ships could be filled with them, and the containers filled with cargo.  Like the barrels that fit inside of the barrels that you might have played with as a kid, containerized shipping got its boost from his design for stacking the boxes. Box boy supreme.

I love the containerized shipping stories.  They lead me back to an entry I made September 11, 2009 about the waterfront and one of my favorite stories about pilferage and a deterrent to it, however inconvenient the deterrent was.

Mr. Tantlinger's contribution ensured the lefts could come over with their rights on the same voyage and enjoy a better chance of reaching market legitimately than falling off the backs of trucks. 

Saks Fifth Avenue in New York has a dedicated express elevator that whisks the eager straight to the floor containing women's shoes.

Brought to you by hardware.

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