Chronicle Books Blog

You’d think politicians would know by now that if they engage is sexual dalliances, they will undoubtedly get caught, and the country will slap its collective forehead in disbelief at such stupidity. Here’s how to survive that sex scandal:

HOW TO SURVIVE A SEX SCANDAL
Excerpted from The Worst-Case Scenario Almanac: Politics

By Dave Borgenicht & Turk Regan

1. Circle the family.
Gather your spouse, children, and any other available family members for a photo-op showing them standing around you looking proud and trusting. Invite the press to film you at a family picnic or volleyball game. Present yourself as a solid family person whose family members continue to support you.

2. Respond quickly.
If the allegations of sexual impropriety are true and can be proven, apologize and say you have asked your family for forgiveness and they have granted it. Then ask voters for forgiveness. If charges against you are false—or true but cannot be proven—vigorously deny them in front of media cameras and urge reporters to respect you and your family’s privacy.

3. Do not lie.
Providing inaccurate accounts of your activities may create a whole new avenue for problems.

4. Move on.
When pressed about the scandal by reporters, say you want to focus on issues that affect the everyday lives of your constituents rather than your personal life. Invite the press along to film you engaging in job-related activities such as talking to voters or signing legislation. Present yourself as someone who is too dedicated to his work to let a personal crisis keep him from going forward with more important matters.

5. Leave town.
If the scandal persists, arrange travel on official business. Do not allow reporters to go along and do not give a press conference when you arrive. Be visible and untroubled, but not quotable. If you cut off reporters’ access to you, the story may die down.

6. Take refuge in rehab.
If the furor over the scandal does not dissipate, declare that you have an alcohol or prescription drug dependency that drove you to the impropriety. Then check into a secure and secluded rehabilitation clinic.

7. Ask for forgiveness.
Upon checking out of the rehab clinic, declare that you are cured and now a far better person who can’t wait to get back to working for voters. Ask again for forgiveness and vow to work even harder on important issues.

8. Declare war.
If scandal refuses to die down, announce a bold new initiative such as a war against crime, or if you are in position to do so, declare war on a small country.

Purchase The Worst-Case Scenario Almanac: Politics

Hannah Cox
Marketing Manager

Here ye Here ye, if you’re in the Bay Area, or, heck, even the state of California, mark your calendars for these myriad upcoming Art + Design events with Chronicle artists and authors. You want events? Have we got events!

Here you go, enjoy, and happy Halloween!

Exhibitions:

In The Path of Righteousness
Photographs by Jona Frank
Now through January 3, 2009
California Museum of Photography, UC Riverside

The 1000 Journals Project
November 1- April 5,
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
Video Screening
Thursdays: November 20, December 18, January 22, February 22, March 5, and April 2
7:00 pm
Koret Visitor Education Center, SFMOMA

Harvey Dinnerstein: Underground Together
November 6 – December 14
Frey Norris Gallery, 456 Geary, San Francisco
Opening Reception
November 6th
6:00 to 9:00 pm

Linda Connor : Himalayas
November 13 – December 24
Haines Gallery , 49 Geary 5th floor, San Francisco
Opening Reception
November 13th
5:30 – 7:30 pm

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Events and Signings:

Masami Teraoka
Curator and Artist Discussion
de Young Museum , San Francisco
Friday November 7th
7:00 pm

Harvey Dinnerstein
Lecture
Academy of Art College , Media Room, 60 Federal Street, San Francisco
Wednesday November 5th
3:30 – 4:30 pm

Jona Frank, David Maisel, Jo Whaley, and Debra Bloomfield
Chronicle Books’ photographers’ book launch party
San Francisco Camerawork, 657 Mission St, 2nd Floor
Thursday, November 13th
7:00 pm

Still: Oceanscapes by Debra Bloomfield
Signing with images
Robert Koch Gallery, 49 Geary, 5th Floor, San Francisco
Saturday, December 13th
3:00 – 5:00 pm

Annie will read from her brand new Ivy and Bean Bound To Be Bad, and sign your copy of the book.
Tear the kids away from the candy long enough so they can get to know the fun, friendly, and clever creator of the zany Ivy and Bean characters!

3:00pm
Saturday, November 1st
At Chronicle Books, Union Street Store
1846 Union St.
SF (Marina)
415-345-8435

Last year we let you in on how silly Chronicle gets around Halloween with each department taking on the theme of one of our books and fiercely competing for the top slot. Needless to say not much work gets done around these parts Halloween day. We’ll be sure to share embarrassing photos in our next post but this week we’re wondering what you’re dressing up as this Friday. Link to a picture in in the comments or let us know what genius costumes you’ve come up with and we’ll send one randomly selected commenter a copy of Stencil 101, French General Home Sewn, Handmade Hellos, and The Sock Knitting Kit. And in case you need some last minute inspiration here’s some goodies we’ve found:

Paper Sneaker by Afrodandy

Sun Maid Raisin Girl by Carol of WIP

Corpse Bride by Crafty Chica She has very detailed instructions on how to recreate this look on her site.

Check out more Handbound posts.

Christina Loff
Craft Publicist

Pumpkin-Orange Waffles with Hazelnut–Maple Syrup Butter

Toasted hazelnuts in whipped butter lend a decadent crunch to these golden waffles for a real treat for brunch. The waffles freeze very well, ready to reheat in a toaster or regular oven at 300°F until hot throughout. It is smart to toast and skin a quantity of hazelnuts in advance so they are ready to pop into the sweet butter.

Hazelnut–Maple Syrup Butter
1/3 cup hazelnuts
6 tablespoons butter, at room temperature
6 tablespoons pure maple syrup

2 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 large eggs, separated
3/4 cup cooked puréed pumpkin or winter squash, canned or homemade
1 1/2 cups whole milk
1 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
1/3 cup unsalted butter, melted

To make the Hazelnut–Maple Syrup Butter, preheat the oven to 350°F. Spread the hazelnuts in a small baking pan. Bake until lightly toasted, about 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and rub the hazelnuts between paper towels while they are still warm, letting the papery skins fall off. Chop the nuts finely.

In a small bowl, combine the butter and syrup and beat with an electric mixer or wooden spoon until light and fluffy. Stir in the nuts. Scrape into a small serving bowl.

Preheat a waffle iron. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, and salt. In a medium bowl, beat or whisk together the egg yolks, pumpkin, milk, orange juice, and melted butter. In another medium bowl, using an electric mixer set on medium high___ speed, beat the egg whites until soft, glossy peaks form. Add the pumpkin mixture to the dry ingredients and mix just until combined. Fold in the egg whites.

Spoon or pour about 3/4 cup batter onto the hot iron. Close the lid. Cook according to the manufacturer’s instructions until the waffle is golden brown, 4 to 5 minutes. Remove with a fork to a warmed plate. Serve at once or keep warm on a baking sheet in a 200°F oven. Repeat with the remaining batter. Pass the Hazelnut–Maple Syrup Butter with the warm waffles.

Makes about eight 7-inch round waffles; serves 8

Purchase A Harvest of Pumpkins and Squash.

Click here for more great recipes.

Peter Perez
Senior Marketing Manager