First air travel took our free checked luggage, then they took our free snacks, and now security for these airports will probably take our last shred of dignity and decency. Nudie X-ray scanners are coming!

New state of the art digital imaging scanners used to detect weapons have made their way to airports all over the United States. Right now they are in use for random passenger screenings in Los Angeles, Baltimore, Denver, Albuquerque, and New York's JFK. Good thing they got Albuquerque in there. Plus 10 more airports including DC, Vegas, and Dallas will begin using them this month.

Using millimeter waves to bounce off selected passengers in a glass screening booth, the device is able to see through all clothing and perfectly illustrate a person's breasts and genitals. The new scanner is capable of getting a lot more detailed than the picture to the left, but officials will not release examples of it.

Speaking of that picture, was this image taken mid-flatulence or mid-urination? Either way, gross.

Many privacy groups are up in arms about this invasion of personal space, but the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is saying all faces will be blurred while viewing images and nothing can be saved or printed from the machines after the passenger has cleared security. Yeah, right! - "Supermodels, sorry to bug you, but could you walk through a few more times for me, please. Just following protocol here."

The reason for these new devices is to detect plastic and ceramic weapons that pass through standard metal detectors. The Pottery Class murderer's days are numbered.

After that woman was forced to remove her nipple rings with a pair of pliers during a security screening, I had a feeling we would be in for some updated technology. In my opinion, airport security just got 20 times sexier.

Engadget: Scanners See Through Clothes, June 6, 2008

AP: See Through Scanners Installed at 10 Airport, June 10, 2008

Steve Jobs and Apple announced the much-anticipated updated 3G version of the iPhone today. Reviewers and bloggers are impressed with the new features, clearer connections, slimmer model and new updates— but most of the world will be talking about the new price. Previously $399, now only $199.

That's a 50% price slash for a new product in a world where newer usually means more expensive. Most Apple fans and Mac-aholics were shocked when Steve Jobs announced a reduction in price during the roll out of the first version of the iPhone. But this is a whole new ball game.

When the iPhone was first unveiled over a year ago, a major sticking point for potential buyers was the price. $599 was too steep for the average cell phone user to make the switch. A few months later with some needed updates, the price dropped down to $399. Early adopters were fuming and Steve Jobs tried to console his lovelies by offering a nice little $100 Apple gift certificate.

Now with a $199 price tag, the real question is how can Apple afford to do this? The first part of that answer has to do with the exclusive carrier of the phone's service - AT&T. According to a NYTimes article about this:

The carrier will no longer give a portion of monthly usage fees to Apple. Instead carriers will pay Apple a subsidy for each phone sold, in order to bring the price from $399 down to $199 for the 8 Gigabyte model. The company did not specify the amount of the subsidy.

In addition to the new upfront revenue for Apple, AT&T is banking some extra coin by bumping its monthly data service charge up to $30. It was previously only $20. However, some might argue this isn't a big gouge, because after all the new 3G service and network is heralded as being faster and clearer than the previous one.

Many Apple investors are creaming their pants over these new pricing models for Apple. For one thing, with a more standard up-front purchasing model with AT&T, Apple can standardize how it sells the iPhone internationally. Asian and European markets will be more likely to get on board. This is bad news for AT&T, because Apple doesn't need to care about young punks 'unlocking' the iPhone for different wireless services anymore. That'll hurt AT&T's exclusivity leverage.

But what if you stupidly bought the old iPhone just a few weeks ago? According to Apple, if you bought an old-iPhone after May 27th, you'll get the new 3G one for free. Hooray! Sucks for everyone who went on that big May 26th shopping spree.

I think the new updates, better reception and more marketable price tag will give the iPhone the edge going forward. I can't really see how similarly priced phones can compete with all that innovation and demand.

Actually when they start kicking this new version out on July 11, I may even get one. Let us know what you think in the comments section.

NYTimes: The Cost of the $199 iPhone, June 9, 2008

Gizmodo: iPhone 3G First Hands On, June 9, 2008

The transition of the once great empire of Microsoft to the new great Empire is upon us. Unless you have been living under a rock, here is a short little history on Microsoft's fatal flaws and the buttons they pushed.

We all remember the first 1.0 version

Hidden deep inside that damned piece of metal was this little program that seemed to be guiding us all to suicide or pieces of monitor stuck in our knuckles.

Helpful note: Bill, we might be tempted to come over to the dark side if you don't mind sending a bone to us once in a while. This is the button the programmers of the newest windows seemed to keep pushing.

It took me 10 years to find this button, but I hit it and never looked back.

Obviously I'm not alone in my thinking. Next stop the iPlay video game system.

I'd like to welcome a new member to the WallstreetFighter team, Nick James. I know what you're thinking. How in the world does he afford to pay someone to help on the site? Nick is working for all the cast off college tail that is all over me since I started the site. Since I'm very happily married I have decide to pass it all on to Nick James in exchange for a few stories here and there. Nick loves the tech (and the ladies). The problem Nick has faced is his striking resemblance to one Brad Pitt. It has haunted him his whole life and has forced him to hide behind the pages here at WallstreetFighter. Please ladies and gentleman, give a big round of applause to the one, the only Nick James

PS: His first article is below and please bare with him. He's young and naive.

You've seen spinners on the wheels. You've seen spinners on the chest bling. Welcome to spinners on the exhaust. For a mere $40 you too can turn your exhaust to the world's worst air freshener. The creative design is that the axle of the spinner is fixated to a spring that will let the spinner come out and away when you speed up. It gives you the effect of a free foating spinner, cool, but still the only person who will notice it is your mechanic , drinking buddies, or the 17 year old High School girl text messaging her friend at the stoplight. This is a good time to introduce my newest car gadget. The spinning rear view mirror. The thought came to me when I was driving home the other night after 12 beers. Come to think of it, pretty much every thing was spinning that night.