But now, we have a new No. 1 reason to dislike them. A $5 monthly fee to have access to our own money.

Taking a cue from airlines, Bank of America has decided to nickle and dime its customers all the way to the poor house, which has a faulty sub prime mortgage and has been bundled with similar assets.

The new fee, which will kick in next year, according the Wall Street Journal, and lots of other banks are watching closely so they can get in line to charge their own customers $60 a year to get their own money. Checked bags cost less. (Other banks are already implementing some of these programs.)

The reason Bank of America feels the need to gouge its own customers is because new federal laws limit the bank on how much money it can gouge merchants who allow its customers to use a Bank of America debit card to pay for things.

Banks say they may lose as more than $6 billion a year from lost swipe fees. Of course, consumers never cared that banks were gouging merchants, which consumers pay for with higher prices.

Bank of America says it will not charge the fee for people withdrawing money — yet.

So how do you deal with this? Cancel your Bank of America account and learn about this other form of paying for things: Cash.

Now Museyon Guides is offering up a cultural guidebook that provides a deeper look at the life and look and art of Paris. At least that’s what the PR folks for the Museyon Guides is saying about Art + Paris Impressionists and Post-Impressionists: The Ultimate Guide to Artists, Paintings and Places in Paris and Normandy.

And why not? Museyon created this guide book with possibly the longest title in the world. Typically, we like guidebooks that are simple, light and complete. But then again, we also like to read through interesting ones that provide some of that historical context that fills us up with Trivial Pursuit pie pieces of information.

This particular guide book sounds even more interesting with an insider’s guide to impressionism as well as a view of Paris from the 18th Century. The guide promises:

• A pictorial display of 150 must-see paintings in Paris museums
• Maps and walking tours that explore the beauty of Paris and the French countryside the way the Impressionists saw it
• 11 ideas for expanding travel to the picturesque Normandy coast and other places that inspired the Impressionists
• Unknown life stories and fascinating anecdotes about the most famous artists of the period

We’re anxious to see it someday. If you want to see one, check them out at amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com and other book stores.

It hates it — it loves it.

The government wants people to quit, but it also wants a certain amount to keep smoking, as cigarette smokers pay a lot of bills with all of the taxes hit upon them.

Big Tobacco — a phrase often used to described these businesses — are evil. They are good. They are drug dealers, they are saviors for many states, paying out billions. They are the first group to be sued by consumers because of all of the evil they have perpetrated on an unsuspecting group of people.

Anyway, smoking is bad for you. Seriously, it is. And if the government really wants to save you, it would simply make smoking illegal. Drinking should be illegal too. And driving. And walking. And watching television. And just living will eventually lead to death.

And now, the government wants to put ugly pictures on cigarette packs to remind you how evil smoking really is. (We’ve included all 9 of the potential photos to be put on the pics.)

Of course, no one is sure how much more this will stop people from smoking, as most smokers don’t puff on a cigarette and gaze at the pack. These photos will likely make nonsmokers feel better about themselves though.

As for smokers, our answer is pretty simple. Buy a cigarette case — then you can decide what photos you want to look at.  They range in price from a few dollars to hundreds. Plus, just like dragging on a smokey treat on a street corner, they look pretty cool.

Now, check out the photos that will be reaching a cigarette pack near you.

Business Insider has a few details on the yet to arrive gotta’ have iPhone, which seems to be losing ground to phones like Android.

Highlights include a faster processor and a new operating system.

The expandable Shopper e1 bag by Reisenthel

The expandable shopper’s bag that can serve a number of purposes at once.

Part of the E-Series collection (the E stands for expandable), this bag will increase in size whenever needed by pulling out the lining and adjusting the strap. It looks pretty easy, though we haven’t seen how much we can cram inside the bag in person.

Nowadays, for women, the choice of a purse or a carryon has gotten more difficult because the one default bag has become the computer bag. That leaves you with either your luggage or a second small bag (though many have learned to stuff the purse into a bag. This particular bag should make for great day trips when in a new city — as it allows to travel in small mode during the day, and then double up in size after a couple of purchases.

Reisenthel has also created a new seatbelt bag that uses an actual airplane seatbelt strap to buckle it up. (Thus the name: Airbeltbag.) We think this falls onto the trendy side of things, as it has a price over $100 and doesn’t include cool expandability. In either case, though, it does look pretty cool.

Specs on the bags, which you can buy from TouchofEurope.net:

Prices:
airbeltbag in black and mud, M 11.8” x 11.8” x 2.8”,  $ 99.00,
L 18.9” x 11.8” x 5.5”, $ 119.00
shopper e1 in black, red, fleur black, 19.7” x 11” x 6.5” (normal),
19.7” x 14” x 6.5” (expanded),  $ 19.99
shopper e2 in black, red, fleur black, 19.7” x 11.8” x 6.7” (normal),
19.7” x 21.3” x 6.7” (expanded),  $ 29.99

Nowadays, that seems even more true because most airlines charge you a chunk of change just to check it.

But is it still worth it to lug everything you want to carry with you through security, having the TSA fondle your unmentionables, dragging along behind you in the airport like some poor lost child? Is it worth the overhead bin battle that occurs on nearly every full flight (and they’re all full now).

Oh sure, there are some downers. On a recent flight from Salt Lake City to Detroit, my checked bag took more than a half hour to even get unloaded in the rain. And there’s always the chance that the TSA is going to fondle my unmentionables when it goes through the machines in the airport’s bowels. But I doubt that.

Unencumbered and completely stress free, I glide through security — not lugging a big bag on to those stainless steel counters. I don’t rush from my one quart Ziplock and hope no one notices that I packed hair gel from a different container into one that says 2 oz. If I wanted to bring the Costco bottle of Pantine, I could, it’s in my checked bag. In fact, I could bring bottles of liquor too.

I’m starting to believe that checking your bag is the way to go.

See that: My bag arrived.

First of all, I’ve got a frequent flier card — so I don’t have to actually pay that baggage fee. (That typically means I can also find overhead bin space if I need it, but now, I’m guilt free tossing a camera bag and my jacket in to a nook up there. I hate when my jacket smells like feet.

And I’m also just tired of the whole lugging part of the luggage. I like walking with a simple computer bag. That’s all I need, a couple of power cords, a good book and maybe a newspaper. There’s still room for a sandwich and a bottle of water.

Sure, I may have to wait a few minutes at baggage claim while others are already heading to the parking lot. And sure, there’s always an off chance that my bag may end up in Los Angeles when I’m in Atlanta – but is that really a big deal? I never put in my bag something I absolutely must have. It’s usually just some clothes, a few toiletries and anything else I might need on the trip. I even use a bag that can fit in the overhead bin — I simply choose not to place it there.

No, I’m checking my bag when I can. Let the airline do some work for a change and let me sit back and enjoy the trip. I’m learning that I’m not so much in a rush, so much in a hurry, that other people are just as competent as me and they’ll do their best to get my bag where I’m going.

Now Sierra Trading Post appears to like them too as the western travel retailer is offering two different trips to two two lucky travelers for free. The sweepstakes — which takes all of one minute to enter.

“We look forward to giving away this trip every year, and this year it is extra special because we are celebrating our 25th anniversary,” said Juliette Rule, Community Development and PR Manager for Sierra Trading Post, in a press release. “It’s always a blast to show people around our neck of the woods and introduce them to our authentic Western culture. Plus, they get to see how we are able to offer terrific deals on the brands they are passionate about.”

Trip dates are July 3−10, 2011 (Cody, Wyoming); July 24-30, 2011 (Cheyenne, Wyoming).

For your chance to win and complete sweepstakes details, visit the site’s blog. Entries must be received by May 31. Some restrictions apply. You can learn more right here as well.

In either case, one astute PR person sent us a whole slew of new travel apps that might help you along your way for some travel. We’re going to download all of them (except the one we’re we have to pay for, no one does that) and let you know what we think — but we thought we’d give you a quick run down of  them with how the app is being pitched and our immediate take on them.

AppBox Lite – Pitch: The art of traveling is in traveling light.  Clear valuable screen space on your iPhone/iPad with AppBox Lite has 11 apps in one handy little app.  Travelers will find the currency converter, holidays (in 83 countries) and tip calculator the most useful, but the Days Until calculator is a fun one for the countdown to your vacation and there’s even a mirror option.  Free.  Available on iPhone/iPad.

Our take: We like the idea of this app and all of the little features it offers and it certainly can come in handy when planning a trip. Every app should have a mirror option, as it reflects well on us.

YPmobile App – AT&T Yellow Pages Pitch: This app is your trusted resource for answering the question “Where do I find …?”  Need to get medicine for that unexpected stomach upset at 11 pm?  It will show you the drugstores nearest to the hotel.  Need gas on the way back to the airport?  Search for gas stations near your current location.  Looking for some entertainment?  Search the local events or movie theatre categories.  Free.  Available on Android, Blackberry, iPad, iPhone and Palm.

Our take: Who doesn’t want to take a phone book with them on their next trip? And it will be interesting to see how much we can glean from this particular app.

My Vacation Pitch: This app helps you create a travel journal with photos, videos, maps, journals and audio recordings creating a travelogue which you can revisit in years to come. You can even share your travels with your family via Facebook, WordPress, Blogger, Twitter, Facebook or old-fashioned email.  And for fun, you can create postcards to email to your loved ones.  $2.99.  Available on iPhone.  (Also available for $4.99 on iPad as My Vacation HD.  For Android users, check out the free competitor app, MyTripRecorder)

Our take: Do you need to start doing digital scrapbooking? Or should you just turn each vacation in a power point presentation? Then again, how many great photos have you taken on vacation and then only seen them disappear off of your hard drive? In the past, there used to at least be a shoe box somewhere full of photos. But seriously $2.99? That’s a PBR during happy hour some where.

TripIt – Pitch: TripIt organizes your travel itinerary so it’s easy to access (and share with your loved ones so they know where you are.) Free.  Available on Android, Blackberry and iPhone.

Our take: We like the idea of this and as long as it requires no work on our part and no typing anything with our thumbs, we’re in. But will you use it?

GateGuru – Ever have that experience where you arrive at the airport hungry and needing new books to read?  But you’re short on time so you focus on getting through security only to discover that the food options are limited and the bookstore is closed?  GateGuru was created to make the airport experience – which for less experienced travelers can be a little chaotic and confusing – into a more satisfying one. Free.  Available on iPhone.

Our take: Anything that has the word guru in it is suspicious in our book. But we’ll see what it offers on our next trip.

Below, we’ve listed some of the “Best of the Worst” merchandise items available for your purchasing pleasure.  (Prices listed do not include tax.)

SkyRest Travel Pillow—No, it’s not that comfy pillow thing that wraps around your neck; it’s more of a “douche wedge.” This ginormous inflatable bouncy-house forms a triangular wedge that rests on your tray table, allowing you to place your head down, along with your upper-body weight, to annoy the poor soul sitting in front of you. The inflatable doggie ramp is bigger than Kevin Smith and should be charged an extra ticket. Price: $29.95

Gravity Defyer Sneakers—Basically, these look like any other pair of sneakers (and no, I didn’t misspell the product’s name), except for the swimming sperm logo—yes, sperm—displayed on the sides, which the company proudly calls “The Seed of Life.” Or, “Hey, man, you missed a spot.”  $129.95 (That’s some expensive sperm.)

Hidden Litter Box—This litter box is quite creative: it disguises itself as a tree in a clay pot, so your cat can crap in a tree in your living room in complete comfort and privacy. The only problem?  You have to remove the huge tree top portion of the box each time Whiskas makes a mess, which would get tiring and impractical after a few days. You can always opt out of clean the litter, and leave your guests to wonder why your fern smells like feces. $89.95

Lightsaber Chopstick Set—This makes the perfect housewarming gift for the man-panion in your life who’s moving back into his mother’s basement. Now he can finally enjoy that delicious bento box while protecting the galaxy against the perilous evils of Darth Maul. Connect to the sticks to form a double-bladed lightsaber big enough to satisfy Princess Lea.  $21.99

Hidden Message Collar Stays—First off, what guys (excluding New York metrosexuals) actually use collar stays in their shirts when packing? These stainless steel tabs feature trite love messages (“You make me feel like a (heterosexual) queen;” “You smell irresistible”) to be tucked away as a sign of your undying love for your honey while he’s away. Really?  I’d rather leave Post-Its in his shoes (“These smell”) and some tucked away in his boxers (“Thanks for forgetting the garbage. Again.”) $37.95

Bigfoot Garden Yeti Sculpture—Where is Bigfoot? Not only in your pants, but now your garden, too. This two-foot tall resin statue of Sasquatch makes the perfect ornament if you want a nasty-gram from your homeowners’ association or if you forgot to buy presents for the holidays: Simply place the Yeti behind the Christmas tree and tell the kids Santa got brutally mauled. $98.95

We’ve gone beyond the realm of ruining foreign diplomacy and plummeted into a pit of visible self-loathing before leaving the country.

We’ve stopped dressing for the airport.

It’s one thing to walk into WalMart dressed in a garbage bag. The airport? Not so much.

I’m not sure where we lost control of the fashion train, or why, even, the clothing stakes are raised while traveling. Maybe it has something to do with all the suits running around looking important or the uniformed pilots clustered like migrating penguins which creates an implicit sense of decorum. Or maybe it’s just the smell of dirty feet and hatred at security.

Either way, it’s time to start putting some standards into place.

I propose an immediate ban on all clothing and accessories listed below. The TSA will confiscate and destroy the following items:

*Crocs—Sure, they might slip on and off easily and are rumored to be very comfy. But wearing them in an airport (or anywhere, for that matter) is another way of saying, “My clown shoes are getting re-heeled.”

*Track suits—Unless I see you traveling with a pack of athletes and your jacket bears the official U.S. Olympics logo, please muster up the energy to wear actual clothing in public, not something Jack LaLanne was buried in. Death by firing squad to matching track-suited couples.

*Anything NASCAR—‘Nuff said, Jeb.

*Daisy Dukes—Regardless the number of Zumba classes you’ve been taking and how firm you think your butt is, please cover that dimpled ham. It’s a family show, people.

*Hawaiian shirts—We already know your penis is smaller than the umbrella in your Mai-Tai—and at least the umbrella functions.

*Little white girls with beaded cornrows—Sorry…vacation’s over, small fry, and you’re still white.

*Adolescent white girls in pajama bottoms—Was your house on fire before you left for the airport?

*Velcro sneakers—See Crocs.