[Cadaverous Pallor]

Sorry for the confusion. When I read "waste and excess" the first thing that jumped into my head was the cost of running fireworks every night, then the amount that each of us spends on APs and dinners out and collectibles and DVDs.

If your point is, like iSm stated, the using of gasoline and pollution, then I'm sure the numbers on theme parks is much higher.

Entertainment in general is not a waste of money or resouces, IMHO.