$72.34 to $276.49...

Jimmy Carter on The Gulf

Happy Memorial Day weekend from the Gulf coast of Alabama where the "Oil Watch" never stops!

The beach is great, the sky is clear, but lurking off shore -- maybe 20 miles and 1,300 feet down, a cloud of goo ... oil. Killer oil. Like in "Jaws," the enviro-exterminator is on a course for who knows where ... 1,300 feet down for now. This is everyone on edge. Is it coming and when? Scary times ... sad and worried people here.

In the land of OZ, far far away, people are going to concerts and paying a mortgage for the privilege. I guess when you are making ZERO from you record label, you have to make it on the road. And that is being done!

At a million-plus a night, more than a few are charging almost-shocking prices. Saw a $895 for the Eagles ... and it was sold out. The $60 seats were available in the need-oxygen level.

If you got it, pay it, I guess. Using publicly-subsidized facilities to make your million and exclude the common taxpayer is another discussion.

You make nothing from your CD sales ... download sales even at millions are not a "get rich fast" plan. You get your concert guarantee and then the business of off to the races. As an act, what are you to say? Garth wanted low prices and Taylor has followed that line of thinking, but most have NOT!

The new tricks include charging fans for photo ops and charging for soundcheck. $350 for Justin Bieber coming soon ... just for soundcheck.

It's out of balance and I'm done ... as a DAD, too. She got Jonas and Bieber and we are done! TBA or when the ticket prices drop.

The big show in Baton Rouge at Tiger Stadium with KC, TS, KU and B&D was at a reasonable $125 top-end. Brad P and CMA Festival are reasonable. Good values this year especially.

Not sure where these trains are going. Derailment sounds like a good choice at this point. As a family we are NOT going to do a $20 Shrek ticket and we are NOT going to do any more $120 teenybopper show tix. DONE! And I am sure not the only one. Enough already.

"American Idol" is dead ... or at least dying. Nothing lasts forever and this once-enjoyable show is broken. Maybe it was the loss of a few lead producers or just old age in TV terms; it is stiff and stinky.

The talent was lame in 2010. From Ted Mack to "Star Search," things just run their course. Ellen didn't kill "Idol," as it was already dead when she got there.

Nashville is no longer flooded except for a few areas. $2 billion in damage, but in specific areas. Music City is ready for CMA fest and is open.