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To take the edge off Michigan's brutal winter, the Henry Ford museum raised the heat by opening the hoods on dozens of the automobiles on display at its Dearborn history palace. The special Engines Exposed exhibition runs through January. For severely afflicted gear heads needing a preview fix and for those who can't make the trek, we present this guided photo tour.

The Honda Element's dog package is a win-win for both Honda and dog owners. For Honda, it's a way to attract some attention and customers to an appealing but aging model with minimal engineering investment. For dog owners, the affordable $995 package offers both the whimsical and the practical. For instance, the heavy-duty rubber floor mats with the dog-bone pattern are both fun and useful. The seat upholstery now has subtle drawings of dogs woven into it (don't worry, it looks cool and you'd hardly notice it). Most important, there's a comfortable and safe fabric kennel for your pooch that sits on a raised platform in the rear cargo area, and there's a slide-out ramp so that small or old dogs can prance right on up into the kennel (which is like a tent) and plop themselves down onto the cushy bed. A built-in, spill-resistant water bowl and an electric fan offer relief during hot weather.inline_mediumwraptextright26594423/reviews/editors_notebook/1001_2010_honda_element_ex_4wd1001_06_z+2010_honda_element_eX_4WD+front_three_quarter_view.jpgTrue

Like most people my age, I absolutely love not paying for stuff, especially when that stuff comes from my parents. So when the folks said they were visiting Illinois to check on the house they have for sale (a nearly new, five-bedroom, brick-front home in Arlington Heights that's recently been reduced - you're welcome, Dad) I saw an opportunity to literally clean house.inline_mediumwraptextright32017134/reviews/editors_notebook/1001_2010_ford_transit_connect_xlt_van1001_04_z+2010_ford_transit_connect_xLT_van+storage.jpgTrue