Squid whips out the phone and texts with politicians, then decides flying commercial is for plebes.

FLYING FREE… When the tides are right and Squid has the time, there’s nothing Squid would rather do than get out into the waves and enjoy a good surf. It’s exhilarating, it keeps Squid fit and perhaps best of all, it’s free.

Given the state of Squid’s bank account, the free part is important, but Squid was intrigued by an invite to a July 9 launch party for Surf Air, a private, members-only flight service expanding into Monterey. On Surf Air’s website, Squid learned the club offers unlimited monthly flights to Las Vegas and a host of swanky California locales. Flights can be booked “in under 30 seconds” and can be done just “minutes before departure.” No need to meddle with the less-moneyed masses, wait in lines or hassle with delays. For $1,750 per month, it’s all-Squid-can-fly, and shrimp popcorn and beverages are even thrown in free.

The price point’s a bit out of Squid’s league, but the site’s video gave Squid a look behind the curtain: We see a handsome dude driving a Mercedes on the coast, making deals, high fiving on the beach and getting on a plane. Everyone around him is rich-looking and white. The video ends with the guy looking out the plane’s window, a smug smile on his face. He hasn’t had to see a single non-rich person all day. Mission accomplished.

POWER PLAY… Squid knows the next-best thing to being rich and powerful is cozying up to the rich and powerful.

That’s reason enough for Squid to visit quaint Carmel-by-the-Sea, where power lurks in surprising places, like the Carmel Pine Cone. The Monterey County Civil Grand Jury recently slammed the Pine Cone for one-sided reporting, and City Council for being unduly influenced by the newspaper. More revelations, this time courtesy former Monterey Herald Editor Royal Calkins on his blog, Monterey Bay Partisan, come in the form of text messages obtained via a Public Records Act request. The texts show Pine ConePublisher/Editor Paul Miller effectively inviting Mayor Jason Burnett to control the news.

“I’ll keep a very sharp eye on Mary [Schley]’s story to make sure nothing is in there that you didn’t intend to be in there,” Miller wrote in one. “I completely rewrote the top six graphs of Kelly [Nix]’s story. Can I go over them with you to make sure I have it right?” in another.

Squid is all for fact-checking, but what these two had going resembles consulting. Miller asked when “No on Measure O” editorials should run. Burnett even shared his desal-related strategy with Miller: “Now we need to change the dynamics on their [water] boards so they stop wasting everyone’s time and money.” Burnett says he responds to all media outlets and has never been shy about promoting his views on desal (all true). And Squid thought pine cones were prickly. Turns out, they’re just cozy.