"Real Change," by Tim Harris

The cover of Vol. 7, No. 3, February 2000 issue of Seattle's Homeless Newspaper, Real Change.

"The Balance," by Jennifer Schmidt

"Teenage Toasties," by Leo and Abigail Wilber

"Alphapurna - Trek to Enlightenment," by Marilyn, Ian, and Paul Scriver

The names of Alix and Andy and all the characters on "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" appear as stepping stones along a remote pathway in the Nepalese valley of Alphapurna. Is that obscure enough?

"Cheese ManŠ," by Michael Upchurch and John Hartl

Michael Upchurch: "Cheese ManŠ is an entirely authentic breakfast food creation, blending the Dutch tradition of eating a big old bunch of cheese for breakfast with the North American practice of nibbling at some healthy granola before setting out for a hard day's work.  Cheese ManŠ's mournful little face is constructed from a slice of Dutch Leerdammer cheese and three raisins handpicked from a two-pound package of Northern Gold's Cashew and Raison Granola.  A slice of Leerdammer also provides a steady-its-breakfast-time foundation in which to mount the toothpicks to keep Cheese ManŠ's stupid little eyes and mouth in place.  (Attempts to use a cashew for Cheese ManŠ's mouth were unsuccessful; cashews tend to break in two when you try sticking a toothpick into them.) Cheese ManŠ has been lovingly handcrafted by Seattle cheese lover Michael Upchurch, working in what he calls a "high-concept low-yield mode," and is guaranteed to get your day off to a chewy start!"

"No to the WTO," by Paul Loeb, Rebecca Hughes and William Martin

Political protest in the form of polychromatic breakfast treats.

"Chocolate-covered Cheerios," by anonymous

A repulsive assemblage. Something of a Zen koan, actually. Maybe the most edible yet least attractive of all entrants in the DBCT Contest, going back to the beginning of time.

"TeeVee Breakfast," by Peter and Nancy Ansell

Do you remember back in the early 80s when Jackson Browne wrote that song "Lawyers in Love," in which he excoriated Americans for their cultural philistinism and affinity for TV dinners? Some of us listened to it over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over . And then we went and ate our breakfast cereal.

"Seven Bells," by Phyllis and Bill Bultmann

A nautical reference is hidden here somewhere.

"Life Cycles of A. Himes," by Christine Hintz Himes

"Frosted on Everest," by Dale Rogerson and Sarah

Look closely, and you'll spot the body of poor Mallory, frozen at his peak moment.

"Accessories for the Cereal Era," by Dean Erickson, Mary Curran, Jonathan King, and Betsy Curran

It's a neck thing, I believe.

"Eventual Breakfast in a Cup," by Kathleen Atkins

For those days when you have a lot of time before you have to go to work and you can afford to plant your breakfast and have a cup of coffee while it grows.