1.   These are lean times for the poor small farmers who work Marginal lands in the coastal districts.

2.   Too often in lean times the poorest are asked to make the largest sacrifices.

3.   Yet whether lean times or creative instinct drive customers to second-hand shops, they remain a valuable option.

4.   Salted away some jewels in a safe-deposit box for the lean times.

5.   The gentlemen of the press had had a fairly lean time of it so far.

6.   The Opera House has had other lean times.

7.   And unlike the last decade when record sales made change less urgent, auto industry experts say lean times will accelerate the move toward direct sales.

8.   At Scanink Design in Reseda, the pornography industry helped the owner survive lean economic times.

9.   Being on your own, he says, teaches you to work hard, save, learn new skills, and be prepared to weather some lean times.

10.   Being a center for federal agencies also adds a layer of security for Kansas City in lean times, Economy.com economist Craig Thomas said.