February 3rd, 2012

rock

the definitive reckoning of the man-hour


Dr Thurgood: Larry! 
Larry David: Hi. I know I don’t have an appointment, but I got a bill in the mail today… am I to understand that you charge me for talking to me on line in a baseball card show? Is that possible? 
Dr Thurgood: Well yes, it is. 
Larry David: Dr Thurgood, we spoke for all of three minutes! 
Dr Thurgood: Let me just point out, Larry, that sometimes when people suffer with what I might call the more dramatic forms of narcissism, they have a hard time gauging how long they have been talking about their problems for themselves. 
Larry David: You’re saying I’m a narcissist? 
Dr Thurgood: Larry, maybe I can help you understand this way. I had a client, he was quite an illustrious, well-known director. I don’t want to reveal who he was, but he did direct Star Wars… And he enjoyed, in his repertoire of things that he liked, to see prostitutes. Now, in that particular situation, if he were to hire a prostitute, let’s say for an hour, which was normal for him… 
Larry David: You might as well call him George Lucas, I mean that’s who directed Star Wars! 
Dr Thurgood: Oh, well, I would never say that. I would never say that. 
Larry David: Well, you just told me who it was. 
Dr Thurgood: I merely alluded to the fact that he was a well-known director. Now, one of the things he needed to complete his work, it was important for him… 
Larry David: Everybody knows who directed Star Wars! 
Mr. Thurgood: Well, not everyone is in show business, Larry.  
Larry David: Okay, good… all right, go ahead. 
Dr Thurgood: My point is… 
Larry David: God only knows what you’re saying about me! 
Dr Thurgood: No one asks about you. 
Larry David: I didn’t ask about George Lucas, but you just brought him up! 
Dr Thurgood: I merely said “a well-known director”. And here’s my point: he used to frequent prostitutes. And very often he would hire them for an hour, which was their minimum, but it only took him three or four, maybe five minutes to complete the shot, if you understand what I’m saying. However! they considered it fair and he considered it fair to pay them for the full hour—that was the way they did business. 
Larry David: First off, I am appalled by what you just said to me… 
Dr Thurgood: He has a right to do what he wants. He is an adult. 
Larry David: It’s supposed to be confidential! 
Dr Thurgood: And it is. 
Larry David: You’re not supposed to be telling people! 
Dr Thurgood: It’s merely my way of illustration. My point is that people need various things to help them function, and my hope is that I was doing that for you. Well, it was good to see you. 
Larry David: And congratulations, doctor, I think you’ve stumbled upon the perfect analogy for exactly what you do. 
Dr Thurgood: Well, it’s somewhere between a hobby and a profession for me, just as it is for them.  
Larry David: Uh huh. 
Dr Thurgood: Good seeing you. 
Larry David: Okay. 
—Curb Your Enthusiasm, Season 8, Episode 9
rock

we loved to trust him


Sushi Nozawa is closing on February 29th after 24 years in Studio City. Allegedly designated as the “Sushi Nazi” by his admirers and detractors, Kazunori Nozawa is known for claiming daily fishmarket dibs at the crack of dawn and eschewing all pandering and pollution in serving his omakase.

Nozawa will continue to oversee his rapidly proliferating prix fixe Sugarfish sushi bars. But his craftsmanship and comportment will be sorely missed in their dining rooms. Nozawa’s imperious service instantly separated vexatious vulgarians and fastidious foodies from discerning and diligent disciples. Time and again I saw Hollywood celebrities and Wall Street mavens reduced to solicitous timidity at his sushi counter. My favorite vegetarian relinquished a life-long, second-generation herbivorous scruples and eagerly embraced the ingestion of flesh upon her first exposure to Nozawa’s handiwork. So long, Chef Nozawa. I regret your departure, but hope and trust you to enjoy your hard earned retirement.



Nozawa’s fans…
…and their fodder.