Dallas.org Brings the Heat on DISD Per Diems

Three things about Allen Gwinn’s latest database:

1) His intro makes it sound like per diems, by their very nature, are evil. They aren’t. The idea behind them is that by setting a standard amount for a day’s travel, and by giving that amount to an employee — no questions asked nor accounting done — you actually save money by not having to pay someone to review expense reports and so forth. It’s a sound idea.

2) With DISD’s total budget of $1.16 billion, $1 million worth of per diems in a year doesn’t strike me as unreasonable.

3) The thing to do is start at the top of the list. Some of these people are recruiters. Makes sense that they’d have high totals. Their job is to be on the road, convincing people to come work for the district. But the No. 1 receiver of per diems is a teacher at one of the magnets. Perhaps there’s a good reason why Dionicio Gonzalez got $21,060 in a single school year. I’d like to hear it. But if Gwinn is correct in saying that a DISD per diem is $36 per day, that means Gonzalez was on the road last year 585 days.

Naked Mannequin

Funny. I hadn’t noticed.

Re: Lane Garrison

A sharp-eyed FBvian asks if we’d seen the first comment posted under the Lane Garrison story on TVGuide.com. We have now:

“Having Joe Simpson visit has got to be the only thing worse then prison.”

I believe the only word for that is, “Burrrrrrrrn.”

Naked Picture of Hot (Mannequin) Chick

For some reason, the pictured mannequin showed up in our office today and took up position just outside the room in which our printer sits. So every time I walk back there to grab something off the printer, out of the corner of my eye, I spot the mannequin. And even though I know a naked woman would never (or almost never) be standing around our office, and, furthermore, even though this has happened to me several times today, somewhere back in the ancient lizard part of my brain, each time I see the mannequin, I think: Look! Naked babe!

Bottom line is, she’d better watch out. Because I don’t know how much longer I can restrain myself. (Because, oddly, the missing hand turns out not to be a deal killer.)

Mark Cuban Has What the Kids Call “Mad Hops”

(Again, thanks to The Sports Hernia.)

Lane Garrison “Surviving,” Says Joe Simpson

“Eh,” says everyone else, about this bit of non-news. I guess even Jessica Jones stopped caring.

Dirk Nowitzki Wants Me to Smoke. Or Not Smoke. Or Something.

I’m not sure what the point of this is, but if nothing else, I am even more fired up about the upcoming basketball season. We got our partial season tickets in the mail a few days ago. [Link props: the greatness that is The Basketball Jones.]

Re: Thank You, Dallas Observer

Also, local artist Tony Bones got a shout out in the Observer’s “Best Of” ish. (Best Legitimization, or some such.) You may remember him from such mayoral campaign CD covers as this one:

My hands actually look like that, by the way.

Keep Voting For 10 Most Beautiful

A simple reminder to waste time and make subjective decisions based almost entirely on looks with D’s 10 Most Beautiful Women in Dallas Contest. I finally did. And I knew one of the contestants was familiar: Hilary Kennedy. I wrote a brief profile of her and her teeth a few years ago when she was working for the Dallas Stars. That doesn’t mean I’m voting for her. At least, not necessarily.

Re: Zac’s Smokeout

Feeling good, Eric.

Re: Zac’s Smokeout

Lookin’ good, Zac.

Why, Thank You, Dallas Observer Readers

An alt-weekly-reading FrontBurnervian informs us FrontBurner bloggers that we are the Reader’s Choice for Best Local Blog in this week’s Dallas Observer (issue not yet online). Congrats to Ed “Uncle Barky” Bark for winning Critic’s Choice. (We were tired of winning that one, anyway.)

The D Cover Jinx

Todd Dodge can’t win a game. His former Southlake Dragons finally lost one. And now this. It’s all falling apart.

Paul, I hope you’re happy.

The Smokeout: Day 2

I’m still a few hours away from a full 48 hours off cigarettes, but I have to say I’m doing pretty swell so far. Went to a bar last night — didn’t smoke, or even really have the urge. Hung out with a friend/writing partner after that — he smoked, I didn’t. Again, didn’t really have the urge. I’m not saying I’ve beat this thing yet. I’m not getting cocky. My love of smoking is not something that’s going away anytime soon. (Seriously, smoking is awesome. Sorry, parents. Don’t let your kids read that. But it’s true.) But I feel like my need to smoke has been dealt a pretty severe blow. And that’s all that matters.

$50 Off Christian Louboutin

I just got word of a great promotion going on at Neiman Marcus and thought I’d share. Starting today through Sunday, in conjunction with Palm Night, the downtown Neiman Marcus store is offering a $50 gift card when you bring in an “old” (meaning gently used or never worn) pair of shoes to donate to The Family Place and purchase a new pair of Christian Louboutin’s. I was in there eyeing these just the other day. Seeing as Louboutins never go on sale, and I can save $50, I think this is a sign that I need to make a purchase.

Mark Cuban’s Butt Scar

In case you missed it, Cuban showed his hip replacement scar last night on Dancing With the Stars. As Annie Barrett said on EW’s site: “There are times in a woman’s life when she wishes she could reverse the earth’s rotation, thus going back in time. Seeing Mark Cuban’s nasty ass scar (NASCAR?) in HD was one of those times.” Far as I can tell, the folks at Unfair Park have the only image of it online. Ick.

Notes From Last Night’s Trinity Debate

If you’re playing along at home, you’ve already read the DMN’s recap of the gig. Here’s what I’ve got for you, including some advice for Mayor Tom Leppert:

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Fox 4 “Team Traffic” Guys Request Shout Out

Today on Channel 4’s “Good Day,” Stephanie says everything went well. But Todd Carruth wanted us to know that we should mention the entire morning team when we talk about the show, not just Tim and Megan. That includes traffic guys Chip Waggoner and Todd himself. Chip and Todd. What a pair.

Guys, check out the photo at left, watch this video, and realize that I know how tough you have it. You guys are just working for peanuts.

No AC Can Turn A Relatively Nice Girl Into A Witch

Day six of no air conditioning. I sit in my hot house waiting for a city inspector. An electrician knocks at the door and when he enters my house, he looks around and says, “Wow, this is funky.” I thank him for admiring my Out-Of-Africa-meets-Running-With-Scissors decorating style and somewhat politely ask him to get to work. He’s now crawling around under my house. Wires are broken. “Won’t be fixed today,” he just yelled. Friends, stay clear. Mommy’s crabby.

East Dallas Diners Are Vocal

Holy cow! Yesterday I asked the FrontBurner Nation to send in their favorite neighborhood haunts, and I was inundated by eaters in the east. Great job! Frisco, Plano, Colleyville, and always Southlake, you’re all ON NOTICE. Speak now or I will judge the best restaurants in your neighborhood. And you wouldn’t want that! (Sorry, I can’t link to the original review.)

Please Let Mark Cuban Stay on TV … Forever

(Thank you, The Sports Hernia.)

Leading Off

1. Dallas will try to reduce mistakes caused by an outdated method of administering police lineups. Readers of D Magazine are not surprised, as Paul Kix in April explained the problem and noted that Dallas would probably be the next city to participate in this effort.

2. Bryan’s House, the nationally recognized charity that treated babies with HIV and AIDS, is trying to recover after effectively being shut-down five months ago after an abuse investigation determined a baby boy’s injuries suffered there were not intentionally inflicted. It would seem that the state should offer something in this case other than a “my bad.”

3. I really never thought I’d type the words, “If Mark Cuban survives, next week he will dance the mamba to a Whitney Houston song.”