Entry from July 18, 2004
New York Minute (or, New York Nanosecond)
"New York Minute" (a unit of time that reflects the fast past of New York City) was popularized in Texas! Perhaps the New York Minute has something to do with the slower, more laid-back Texas Time, or the Mexican Minute. The Dictionary of American Regional English has a first citation of 1967, from Texas. The "New York Minute" was popularly used in the lyrics to songs from Texas in the 1970s.
Channel 5's newscast had a "New York Minute" in the 1980s. Recently, "New York Minute" was used as the title of a movie by the Olsen Twins.
"New York Nanosecond" is a recent, "faster" improvement on "New York Minute." "A Hong Kong second is a New York minute" became a popular Hong Kong poster in 2012.
The shortest length of time in New York City? That's easy.
From William Safire's "On Language" New York Times column, March 7, 2004: "'Do you have a minute?' That's what we used to say when the person we were accosting was in a rush. That notion of a very short time was reduced, not long ago, by the split second, which was defined by New York Traffic Commissioner T.T. Wiley in 1950 as 'the time between the light turning green and the guy behind you honking.'''
6 January 1948, Independent Record (Helena, Montana), pg. 4, col. 1
It is said that the smallest measurable unit of time is the interval it takes, after the traffic light turns green, for some damn fool behind you to honk his horn.
15 August 1954, Galveston (TX) News, pg. 22, col. 5:
Island Pickups by...
THE BEACHCOMBER
...Christie Mitchell
(...)
Betty Jean Bird of the Pirate Club has what she claims the smallest French poodle in the nation...It's no bigger than a New York minute and that's only thirty seconds.
8 November 1964, San Antonio (TX) Light, pg. 5F, col. 5:
Believe me, it can happen to you, T. G., in a New York minute (45 seconds).
18 August 1966, Galveston (TX) Daily News, pg. 2B, col. 2:
He could fill all the open spots in a New York minute if he so desired.
28 January 1969, Austin (TX) Statesman, "Top O'Morn" by Lou Maysel, pg. 19, col. 8:
One long-time SWC figure put his finger on the matter when he said, "I can tell you how to put an end to it (recruiting violations) in a New York minute: Hold the coach responsible for them."
Wikipedia: In a New York Minute (song)
"In a New York Minute" is a song written by Tom Shapiro, Michael Garvin and Chris Waters, and recorded by American country music artist Ronnie McDowell. It was released in January 1985 as the first single and title track from his album In a New York Minute. The song reached #5 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart in May 1985 and #1 on the RPM Country Tracks chart in Canada.
Wikipedia: New York Minute (song)
"New York Minute" is a song written by Don Henley, Danny Kortchmar, and Jai Winding. Henley originally recorded it for his 1989 album The End of the Innocence. The single was a #5 hit on the U.S. Adult Contemporary chart the following year, although it reached only #48 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Google Groups: soc.culture.jewish
Newsgroups: soc.culture.jewish
From: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) (robert.j.brown)
Date: 4 Oct 89 15:31:01 GMT
Local: Wed, Oct 4 1989 10:31 am
Subject: Re: Question on "who is a jew?"
I know several "born Jews" who are part of the "Messianic" (yuk for you I'm sure) movement. If I swatted at Jews on soc.rel.christian like this, I'm sure I'd be charbroiled in a New York nanosecond.
23 July 1992, New York Times, pg. D6:
"You can lose your shirt in this business in a New York nanosecond," a senior executive at a competing Wall Street firm said.
Channel 5's newscast had a "New York Minute" in the 1980s. Recently, "New York Minute" was used as the title of a movie by the Olsen Twins.
"New York Nanosecond" is a recent, "faster" improvement on "New York Minute." "A Hong Kong second is a New York minute" became a popular Hong Kong poster in 2012.
The shortest length of time in New York City? That's easy.
From William Safire's "On Language" New York Times column, March 7, 2004: "'Do you have a minute?' That's what we used to say when the person we were accosting was in a rush. That notion of a very short time was reduced, not long ago, by the split second, which was defined by New York Traffic Commissioner T.T. Wiley in 1950 as 'the time between the light turning green and the guy behind you honking.'''
6 January 1948, Independent Record (Helena, Montana), pg. 4, col. 1
It is said that the smallest measurable unit of time is the interval it takes, after the traffic light turns green, for some damn fool behind you to honk his horn.
15 August 1954, Galveston (TX) News, pg. 22, col. 5:
Island Pickups by...
THE BEACHCOMBER
...Christie Mitchell
(...)
Betty Jean Bird of the Pirate Club has what she claims the smallest French poodle in the nation...It's no bigger than a New York minute and that's only thirty seconds.
8 November 1964, San Antonio (TX) Light, pg. 5F, col. 5:
Believe me, it can happen to you, T. G., in a New York minute (45 seconds).
18 August 1966, Galveston (TX) Daily News, pg. 2B, col. 2:
He could fill all the open spots in a New York minute if he so desired.
28 January 1969, Austin (TX) Statesman, "Top O'Morn" by Lou Maysel, pg. 19, col. 8:
One long-time SWC figure put his finger on the matter when he said, "I can tell you how to put an end to it (recruiting violations) in a New York minute: Hold the coach responsible for them."
Wikipedia: In a New York Minute (song)
"In a New York Minute" is a song written by Tom Shapiro, Michael Garvin and Chris Waters, and recorded by American country music artist Ronnie McDowell. It was released in January 1985 as the first single and title track from his album In a New York Minute. The song reached #5 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart in May 1985 and #1 on the RPM Country Tracks chart in Canada.
Wikipedia: New York Minute (song)
"New York Minute" is a song written by Don Henley, Danny Kortchmar, and Jai Winding. Henley originally recorded it for his 1989 album The End of the Innocence. The single was a #5 hit on the U.S. Adult Contemporary chart the following year, although it reached only #48 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Google Groups: soc.culture.jewish
Newsgroups: soc.culture.jewish
From: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) (robert.j.brown)
Date: 4 Oct 89 15:31:01 GMT
Local: Wed, Oct 4 1989 10:31 am
Subject: Re: Question on "who is a jew?"
I know several "born Jews" who are part of the "Messianic" (yuk for you I'm sure) movement. If I swatted at Jews on soc.rel.christian like this, I'm sure I'd be charbroiled in a New York nanosecond.
23 July 1992, New York Times, pg. D6:
"You can lose your shirt in this business in a New York nanosecond," a senior executive at a competing Wall Street firm said.
Commenting is not available in this channel entry.