New English's definitions

Back Lot Beauty

This describes the vehicles that sit in the back of the car dealership. These are the used cars that are more difficult to sell.

I need a new car but can't afford anything too pricey. I will have to look at a back lot beauty.

by New English August 17, 2010

Pre-Summer Movie

These are the movies that are released before the summer blockbuster season. They are usually released in April, but sometimes as early as March. They may have some elements of a summer blockbuster such as action and science fiction elements, but they usually are not quite the draw that summer movies are since kids are still in school. These movies also advertise summer blockbusters heavily.

Alice in Wonderland was an excellent pre-summer movie that made lots of money.

by New English August 10, 2010

Post-Summer Movie

These are the movies that are released from the middle of August to about the middle of September. They may have some elements of a summer blockbuster like science fiction and action, but they usually do not have a major draw since kids are starting to go back to school. Many times these are horror movies.

Freddy versus Jason was a post-summer movie that was fun to watch.

by New English August 10, 2010

January Blues

This is the funk that you enter when the holiday season is over. It starts on January 2nd and lasts at least until February 1st, sometimes until President's Day. It is an unpleasant time because the holiday season is over, spring is a ways off, the weather is cold and the only movies are lousy January movies. Super Bowl Sunday can be a good cure for this condition.

For a related condition see September Blues

There are no good movies out and the holidays are long over. Some friends and I are going to play some games to help fight the January Blues.

by New English July 22, 2010

Development Dead Zone

These are areas in a town that is experiencing growth in one area while another has no growth and may be decaying, sometimes to the point of urban blight.

The street on the west side of town is getting all sorts of big box stores. On the east side of town it is a development dead zone with just a gas station, an old motel, and a run-down restaurant.

by New English July 17, 2010

Rural Flight

Rural flight is the phenomenon that occurs in farming communities. As farms have become more mechanized, fewer people are needed to work them. Therefore, the children of farmers often leave for work in cities. Rural flight often depopulates towns to the point that the majority of the residents are elderly.

The Midwest and the Great Plains regions are replete with examples of rural flight. Younger people move away from the farming towns due to a lack of jobs and opportunity. This leaves many of the towns with an aging population.

by New English July 10, 2010

Monk/Nun Budget

The kind of budgets people will come up for you when they want you to move to an expensive town. The name comes from the fact that the people are only factoring in basic expenses such as rent, utilities, and maybe a car payment. This assumes that you live like a monk or nun, because they seem to figure that you never go out and eat very little or not at all.

I was duped into moving to that fancy resort town by being shown a budget that made it look like I could afford to live there. This was a true monk/nun budget because as soon as my car broke down I was out of luck.

by New English July 6, 2010