11.   Because most Washington pundits and media celebrities are extremely well paid to begin with, the lean times have not really been felt.

12.   Blades said any school is subject to lean times.

13.   Browning said the lean times for high-technology recruiters had been helpful in sifting out the bad recruiters.

14.   But from what we read, the Hall has seen a big drop off in attendance, translating to lean financial times.

15.   But in lean times, there would be no army of fishermen with overdue mortgage payments howling about their sacred right to catch every last fish in the ocean.

16.   But the end of the Cold War brought lean times for defense contractors.

17.   But the prospect of a good year has made farmers cautiously optimistic after lean times.

18.   But the oil industry is facing lean times.

19.   But the plucky, smaller areas have also learned to be resourceful in lean times.

20.   But with a snow drought throughout New England, it could be very lean times.