You would think the global recession might have had a humbling effect - especially in a place like Las Vegas. Not so. Despite the fact the city has been devastated economically by the recession, the tanking real estate market and the state has seen its unemployment rate skyrocket to 12.6%, the Las Vegas Sun reports a consortium of hotels on the strip is dialing up the city's largest ever fireworks display to ring in the New Year.

The show will last just over 7 minutes and cost $500,000. Where's that money coming from? Room taxes.

Wall Street clearly didn't learn its lesson in 2009. Apparently, neither did Vegas.