Since discussions about bloated union benefits are all the rage, here’s a good one for you. The top paid stagehand at Carnegie Hall makes $442,599 per year, plus $107,445 in benefits and deferred compensation. There may even be a certain number of free Swedish massages performed on-site several times a year as well. If not, that should definitely be in the next union contract.

But forget about “top paid” let’s talk average salary. The average salary for a stagehand at Lincoln Center is $290,000 per year. That’s for a job that requires no special skills. A monkey could do it. They put chairs into place, hang lights, etc.

Unions would have us believe they’re about the “working man” and a “strong middle class.” Maybe on occasion, but for the most part they’re about greed. They’re about extorting all the pay and benefits possible from their employer even if drives them into bankruptcy.

Glenn Beck did an epic rant yesterday about all the lies the media told about him while he was on vacation. First he tears into the media for accusing him (and Sarah Palin) of exploiting 9/11. He also put to rest the media myth that he raked in the money with the huge “Restoring Honor” rally in DC.

Based on his comments I imagine Beck probably spent several hundred grand out of pocket for the “Restoring Honor” rally. Once again the media tried to vilify him and failed miserably.

(hat tip Story Balloon)

A psychiatrist who serves in the IDF reserves is suspected of offering classified information to foreign intelligence officials, including those from Iran, police announced Friday morning.

45-year-old David Shamir, ranked as major in the army, was indicted on severe charges of attempted espionage, contacts with a foreign agent and perverting the course of justice.

He was arrested by the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) in cooperation with the Israel Police’s Serious and International Crimes Unit on November 14.

TMZ is reporting that rapper Lil’ Wayne was overcome with greed last night and refused to play a concert that was for a good cause.

The concert was being promoted as a “Stop the Violence” event, inspired because of eight gang-related murders in the small community of Wilmington, NC. Lil’ Wayne was the draw, with ministers and local celebrities taking the stage to speak out against violence.

They were expecting a crowd of around 3,000 people who had paid $40 for floor seats and $30 for balcony, but only about 1,000 kids showed up.

As a result of the low turnout, Lil’ Wayne, who had been paid a part of his fee up front, wasn’t able to collect the rest of his fee. The rapper then sat backstage for around three hours waiting for a crowd to arrive.

When the crowd didn’t grow, about 80 sheriffs and officers in attendance offered to raise the money themselves to get Wayne to perform! The extra dough couldn’t be raised until Monday, which wasn’t good enough for the rapper, who left without appearing.

Normally, I wouldn’t blame anyone for making sure their money situation is correct. In this case he was only owed around $2,000 or so, and the concert was for a good cause.

Lil’ Wayne is a multi-millionaire who wouldn’t even perform a few songs at a “Stop The Violence” concert, because he was owed a couple of thousand dollars.

Even worse, Mitchell Entertainment Group — who fought to make the concert happen and to have Lil’ Wayne appear, now has to deal with refunding tens of thousands of dollars to irate concert goers.

Thanks to Lil’ Wayne that event was more likely to start the violence than stop it.

-Chris Jones