Not $1.75 million, but one dollar and seventy-five cents, which is apparently the going rate on abandoned homes in Saginaw, Michigan.

There's a word for what this seasonably warm August weather is. That word is "nice." Not "hot" or "sweltering," but "nice." Seattle doesn't get hot or sweltering. Kennewick gets hot on occasion. Mississippi and Miami get even hotter, and sub-Saharan Africa can elicit sweat at times. But Seattle? Never hot, not by anyone's standards but Seattleites'. If I hear one more person complain about how hot it is, I'm going to stuff them in a fisherman's knit unitard and chain them to a furnace in the boiler room of the King County Jail. That'll learn 'em. Now, on with the show.

Ashley Harrell of our sister paper SF Weekly wrote a fine cover story last week on San Fran's "woo-wooers," i.e., (mostly homeless) freelance parking valets who secure "free" street parking in particularly frustrating neighborhoods (that would be virtually all of San Francisco) for a small gratuity. I've witnessed a smattering of woo-wooing in Downtown Seattle, mostly around the Moore Theatre, but have yet to see it practiced in other barrios -- including Lower Queen Anne, where I used to live and where parking sucks. What about Capitol Hill? Has this underground industry taken hold in Parking Purgatory?

Welcome back for another edition of Turf War's Ballard Vs. Brooklyn. By now you should know how the game is played. Can you tell which of these fine fellows was seen in Ballard, not Brooklyn?

A. Sideshow Bob 

B. Mr. Waiting Patiently  

More >>

Alright, gang. By now you should know the drill. If you're new at this, check out our previous installments and vote. The answer to Part 2 is at the end of this post.

Can you tell me which of these pics was taken in Ballard? 

A. Lady #1

B. Lady #2

Welcome back to another edition of Ballard Vs. Brooklyn. If you haven't taken our first quiz, you'll want to do that before you proceed.

Remember, the object of the game is to tell us which of these fine gentlemen is from Ballard and which hails from Brooklyn.

Can you tell which of these photos was taken in Ballard?

A. Mr. Swim Team

B. Mr. Shorts

One of these pictures was taken in Ballard and one in Brooklyn. Check back on Monday for another quiz and the answer to today's puzzler.

Which man was seen in Ballard? 

A. Dude with attitude. 

B. Dude with Soda

WARNING! SPOILERS AHEAD

Take the "Portland Vs. Seattle Fashion Quiz," before you look at these answers.

Below are the answers to Monday's Portland vs. Seattle quiz. 

Two men. One lives in Portland, one dwells in Seattle. Can you guess which one parties in which city just by peeping their fashion? 

Get out those #2 Pencils! It's time for Thread Count's first fashion quiz. Check out the hoopla of photos posted below and guess which city they were taken in.

Check back to Thread Count for the answers!

And please folks, no cheating. Keep your eyes on your own screen.