Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with catch-22

What do you do with a pig in a poke?

Anonymous — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 16:46:10 -0800

We were bequeathed a Steinway grand piano, and were initially excited but now are wondering if this is more of an albatross than a gift. What should we do? I just finished school and have 20k in school loans. I'm getting by, but have no extra money to spend. I do have a beautiful climate-controlled place for a piano to live.

I also was just bequeathed a beautiful Steinway which turns out to need some emergency fixing. The piano techs say for $10.5k, they'll fix the emergency stuff and ship it to me. In its present condition, it is worth $12k. It will be worth $35k after it is repaired. If the repairs don't happen within 2-3 months, the piano will be worthless.

The family has told me it is my instrument- I'm responsible for repairs and shipping. But I also know that if I don't get it fixed (or, horror, if I sell it) I'll never hear the end of it from the family, for whom it is one of the most cherished family heirlooms. No one has room for it to stay with them in the area, and I'm at my wits end as to what to do.

Any suggestions?

Joseph Heller Interview

occidental — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 20:39:06 -0800

I would like to find a Joseph Heller interview on video or online that I saw in 1998-2000 where he was sitting down and musing on life and Catch-22 with Candida Donadio and another friend of his who I believe was his publisher for Catch-22. The program seemed like an A & E Inside the Actors studio except that it was only the three of them discussing the past and the publishing of Catch-22 and other events in their lives. I remember it being a very enjoyable piece and would love to find it. Bonus points to anyone who can point me to a copy online.

What's the appeal of Catch-22 by Joseph Heller?

jknecht — Sat, 03 Mar 2007 10:30:39 -0800

What's the appeal of Catch-22 by Joseph Heller? I picked up this book because I've heard/read so many people who say they love it. I'm about 200 pages into the book, but I don't get it.

I mean, yes, I see that it is a commentary on the absurdity of the military. And, yes, I think I recognize most of the jokes -- I get a good smile on just about every page.

But the story... I'm having a hard time getting into it. It seems like an endless procession of jokes and puns. There's very little continuity, and the characters' actions seem to have almost zero consequences (unless Heller sees an opportunity to show how the military will reward incompetence).

The characters seem like 2-dimensional caricatures. I don't see a central conflict. I am really having a hard time relating to Yossarian, and as a result, it's difficult for me to care what happens to him. I have to almost force myself to read the next chapter -- my goal is just to finish the book, rather than to find out what happens next.

What am I missing? Please help me enjoy what is supposed to be an American Classic.

You have to be crazy to work in accounting, but since you want a job, you must not be crazy

squidlarkin — Mon, 17 Jul 2006 12:57:17 -0800

Ok, this is getting ridiculous. I'm incredibly qualified for data entry work, but all the data entry in my area falls under the heading of "accounting". I'd love to get some accounting experience, but every job that would give me accounting experience requires at least a year of -- wait for it -- accounting experience. What can I do?

Is the lack of a pun the pun?

lasm — Tue, 23 Dec 2003 10:17:33 -0800

In an interview, Joseph Heller talks about Catch-22 and a pun based on the character Sheisskopf. He says there's an additional pun in the book, which at the time of the interview, no one had found. (more inside) I've read the book over, and searched the usual sources, but cannot find it. Does anyone know? Here's the relevant excerpt from a 1975 Playboy interview.

Playboy: There is a minor character in Catch-22 named Scheisskopf. At one point someone refers to him as Shithead, with a capital S. Since Scheisskopf is German for shithead, it works like a pun, though it looks as if the capital letter were a typographical error. Was that intentional?

Heller: Yes, and you're the first one to comment on it. I've waited 14 years for someone to pick that up. I've blabbed it to a couple of people myself, but nobody's asked about it.

Playboy: Are there any more so-far-undetected jokes in Catch-22?

Heller: There is one more.
Playboy: Any chance you'll tell us what it is?

Heller: No chance at all.