I think this is one of the best news stories of the year, there are legitimate reasons to think of things as disposable, or having disposable experiences.  Politics is one of them, along with criminal behavior, but given that Trump is a convicted felon and also President those once clearly defined lines are now blurry. 

But. This story also is an excuse for me to share an experience I had talking to Gavin Newsom, I've actually talked to him once on the phone and met him in person one time, both as interns in Sacramento. 

The first was about 15 years ago around 2010 during the summer recess of the legislature and on a Monday in which nobody was in the office except me (the intern) the chief of staff and the office manager (who currently is a senior member of the CA Assembly Rules Committee). I was in the office of Senator Lois Wolk. 

The phone rang, so I answered it because that was what interns do. 

The person on the end of it introduced himself as Gavin Newsom, and wanted to express his thanks for meeting with Lois the prior night and was wondering if she was in the office.  

She was not.  So I told the person on the other end that she was out of the office but I could transfer him to her voicemail and inform her of his phone call. Which I did and concluded the conversation. 

I then said "Hey guys, some guy claiming to be Gavin Newsom just called saying he wanted to thank Lois for meeting him last night.  But there was nothing on the schedule as far as I can tell, I sent him to her voicemail, but that's kinda of an odd prank call." 

to which Craig Reynolds the famous Chief of Staff said "It probably was him Dylan, they were at a thing in Davis last night it was off the official schedule, but it was a Democratic Party thing." 

To which I looked at Mike and went... who was looked at me and went "I'm not even sure if her voicemail is set up, because this situation has never happened, people who need to contact her have her number." 

Any way the situation got fixed because Craig called someone who knew them both and was at the thing, that person then called Lois giving her Gavin Newsom's cell phone number, and the two had a conversation and the situation was resolved. 

The second time I met Gavin Newsom I was an intern with Cristina Garcia and he had a meeting about legalizing marijuana when he was Lt. Governor.  

But the concept of opening lines of communication between the powers at be is a problem that needs to be solved and having a burner phone helps solve the problems. 

The problem is that this is sort of an appointments/unofficial/official thing as well, and given what I know about how people actually get appointed to positions within the Governors office, and what my prior resumes have said about my experience I should be able to just go buy a burner phone, mail it to the Governor's Appointments office, and then wait for a phone call that results in a job offer. 

But that would also kind of be illegal, well it exists in the grey area, along with this thing as well. 

Which reminds me of working for Bill Dodd's campaign while being an intern in Napa and having to explain what "Independent Groups" was to voters.  From the voter's perspective the 4 million dollars that the Sacramento based "indepdnent Groups" spent to support Bill Dodd was basically the same as the official campaign who spent about 4 million dollars. As a paid employee of the campaign I never met anyone from the "Independent Groups" I was nothing but a phone banker.  But I also think the genius in Sacramento who formed this PAC for Bill Dodd and decided to name it "Independent Groups" deserves a raise or something, but that made for some interesting phone calls. 

I remember one voter who was complaining to me about all the T.V adds that the campaign was not paying for and was not a part of, blaming me for it.  To which I explained that I didn't have anything to do with it because it was "Independent Groups" who paid for it, to which she said

 "who are these groups who formed a PAC that isn't the campaign but for your candidate?"

To which I replied

"I have absolutely no idea, I know nothing about them except their name is "independent groups" and they are a registered PAC but that's a very good question I wish I could answer but I can't because we are independent from independent groups"

But back to these burner phones. 

They are paid for by a group in Sacramento that is sort of like "Independent Groups" from the 2016 campaign in support of Bill Dodd.  

They do things separate from the office of the Governor, they are subject to some FPPC rules but not as strict as staff within the Governor's office. 

For example: In the appointments office I was an intern, answering calls, doing mundane work among other things. But as an unpaid intern I wasn't necessarily officially ever hired, so the knowledge I gained from that experience is just sorta knowledge, which in of itself is worthless. What dollar value are we to put on our own thoughts?

Any way, one thing I learned was to get appointed you needed your name or your phone number to be in the hands of the principle people in charge, because with one 10 minute phone call from someone higher up the metaphorical ladder, it can make or break your success, or open or close doors of opportunity.  

But here is a reason why I probably shouldn't just go spend about $50 for a prepaid flip phone with some minutes and mail it to the Governor's office, as a thing in hopes of getting me a job.

Because that $50 exceeds the FPPC limit of gifts that lobbyists can send to officials.  Even though I am not a registered lobbyist and are not subjected to that provision, me doing this would be me lobbying for me and my business which doesn't make any money. 

So long as my business does not exceed the $630 threshold I should be okay to send gifts to the office and not get anyone in trouble. 

I also sort of fall into the category of being allowed to receive donations from people in the State legislature to help with bills and things due to the death of a family member.  However, the exception that allows this in the law is conditional of being a close personal friend.  Since literally the only communication I've had with anyone in the Governor's office has been the with the Governor when was not in the governor and we met twice in passing, this means that I am not a close personal friend.  

I could also technically make some homemade peach jam and offer it as a gift to the Governor as a way of trying to get his attention to hire me.  However, the provision that allows that to be an acceptable gift sort of is conditional that it be delivered to a residence, not the office. 

It would be easier if someone buys my peach jam, but it also is illegal for me to sell it because I don't create it in a health and safety inspected kitchen, and I am not registered as a cottage food company, and even if I did go through the hoops to do that I still wouldn't be allowed to sell it because it doesn't fit as an approved food legally allowed to be sold under the cottage food license.  I would have to get a commercial food license, which is hundreds of thousands of more dollars that is far above my price range. 

click here for the rules on gifts

 

Expanding on the prevalence of disposable relationships or connections.  This psychology is prevalent in politics and business especially in customer service.  Ask anyone who has ever worked in customer service about a crazy customer they once had, they can recall a story about them years later even though their interaction with them was only for a short time and they never saw them again. 

The memory centers of our brain have a way of storing this information and allowing us to recall it at will.  

I'm not a psychiatrist or neuroscientist or have any explanation as to why I remember some conversations I had with random voters over 8 years ago. 

The Mental Health Benefits of Disposable Relationships: How Fleeting Connections Can Leave a Lasting Impact

In a world obsessed with long-term commitments, deep connections, and “forever friendships,” we often overlook the quiet power of temporary, disposable relationships. For travelers especially, these brief encounters can become some of the most meaningful interactions in life—precisely because they’re untethered by expectations.

Picture this: You’re sitting in a café in a city you’ve never been to, striking up a spontaneous conversation with the person next to you. You exchange stories, insights, maybe even secrets—without the pressure of social media follows, future meet-ups, or maintaining a connection. You part ways, knowing you’ll likely never see them again.

Why does this feel so good?

Because it’s freeing.
You’re allowed to show up as you are, without needing to curate or sustain a version of yourself over time. There’s authenticity in that moment, a purity that comes when you know there’s no long-term stake. It fosters openness, vulnerability, and surprisingly, deep human connection.

Psychologically, these fleeting relationships offer a few key mental health benefits:

• Emotional catharsis without long-term vulnerability: You can share thoughts, feelings, or stories that might feel heavy with close relationships—without worrying about how it affects the dynamic later.
• Reduced social pressure: No need to "perform" or people-please. You're simply two people in a moment, with no expectations.
• Increased sense of belonging and connection: Even brief, positive social interactions boost feelings of connectedness, combating loneliness and improving mood.
• Perspective shift: Meeting people from different walks of life in a casual, low-stakes setting can offer fresh insights and broaden empathy.

Not every relationship is meant to last. Some are meant to be brief but beautiful—a reminder that meaningful connection doesn’t always require longevity. Sometimes, a single conversation with a stranger can stay with you longer than a years-long friendship.

And when you’re traveling, you realize: Life is made up of these moments. The freedom to let people come and go without clinging might just be one of the healthiest things we can embrace.

The Lasting Power of Brief Encounters: Why One Conversation with a Politician Can Matter More Than You Think

In politics, it’s often said that all campaigns come down to one thing: conversations. For politicians, meeting new people—shaking hands, listening to stories, answering questions—is part of the daily routine. It's part of the job, a necessary rhythm of connecting with strangers, town after town, event after event.

But for voters, these quick moments can have a much deeper, longer-lasting impact.

Think about it: You’re at a town hall, a community event, maybe just grabbing coffee when a candidate approaches you. You exchange a few words. Maybe you share a concern, tell them about your family, or ask about an issue that matters to you. After a handshake and a thank-you, you part ways.

For the politician, it may be one of dozens of such conversations that day.
For you, it might be something you remember for years.

And that’s the beauty—and power—of these disposable relationships in the political world.

Why do they matter so much?

Because in that brief exchange, something real happens.
There’s no long-term relationship to maintain, no obligation beyond the moment, but there is a human connection. It’s a chance for voters to feel heard, seen, and respected. A chance to engage directly, without filters or intermediaries. And for politicians, it’s a reminder of the very real people behind every policy, every statistic, every vote.

These fleeting moments offer:

• Validation and voice: For voters, speaking directly to someone who holds power—even for a minute—reinforces that their voice matters.
• Perspective and purpose: For politicians, these conversations ground them in the everyday concerns and stories of the people they serve.
• A human touch in an impersonal system: Politics can often feel distant or mechanical. Brief face-to-face exchanges reintroduce the humanity into the process.
• Long-term impact: Voters may leave feeling inspired, remembered, or reassured. That short moment could shape how they engage civically for years to come.

Not every interaction needs to develop into a relationship. Sometimes, one honest, respectful conversation is enough to bridge the gap between public servant and citizen, leaving an impression far deeper than either party expects.

In politics, it’s part of the job.
For voters, it can be part of the story they tell for a lifetime.

This concept I will explore later in future blog posts in this Classified Blog. 

Also disposable phones should be done right, there are some legitimate reasons as to why you want some communications separate from others. 

Business relationships should be business relationships on business phones, personal relationships should be personal relationships on personal phone lines. 

Disposable relationships should be on disposable phone lines. 

So I hope when the governor's independent group sent these out, they added a second phone line to the Governor's cell phone, or linked it to a different cell phone.  Because he doesn't want to be harassed by some CEO on his personal line. A move like this deserves an independent dedicated number that could be burned easily if it gets leaked on the internet or something. 

For most people simply downloading an app and adding a second temporary line is good enough.  I have a line with Hushed, I use for dating, and I can easily set up a new line for a week or two for a few dollars.