You are
>! **a Hopper**

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> I am the creator of five cent cigars,

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>! Edward **Hopper** created the painting *Nighthawks* of a corner diner at the top of whose sign is advertised "Only 5¢ — PHILLIES" *(cigars)*.

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> The creator of an American-Chinese dish.

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>! Edward **Hopper** also created a painting called "Chop Suey".

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> I am a Navy Rear Admiral,  

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>! US Navy Rear Admiral Grace **Hopper**

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> the creator of a programming excuse.

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>! Grace **Hopper** (yup, same one) created the first compiler, and *compiling* is a programming excuse as shown in [xkcd][1]. [![compiling][2]][2]

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> But very simply, I am a container,  
> A funnel for everyday objects.

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>! A **hopper** is *a chute, box, or receptacle, usually funnel-shaped with an opening at the lower part*


  [1]: http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/compiling.png
  [2]: https://i.sstatic.net/2ZfZ6.png