An amorous sourcing: The NYO's Alexandra Jacobs reviews Jessica Cutler's "The Washingtonienne: A Novel" for the NYT Review of Books, and sorta seems to like it! Still, she doesn't seem to raise the bar particularly high - is saying a book "could be a lot worse" the new "good"? She does say it's "tolerabe" "refreshing" "shallow" and "unpretentious" so who knows - I mean, really, from this review, who knows? You get the sense that the story sells the story; Rachel Kramer Bussel of LustyLady points out that "it's not that often the Times features a sentence with these three key words: "Apparently the nerdy mien of D.C.'s lawmakers belies a jungle of inner tigers who enjoy spanking, anal sex and threesomes, among other pastimes." I'd heard of Washingtonienne but hadn't read her exploits; piqued, I did so, perhaps best summed up by this post. Let's just say that pretty much anyone would feel like a blushing virgin next to this chick. So obviously that's the big selling point of this book: lots of people kiss and tell over work email, but this girl went far, far beyond that. Which is my biggest problem with this review, without having read the book: Jacobs pooh-poohs the infraction which got Cutler fired ("unacceptable use of Senate computers"), likening it to a harmless game of solitaire, which seems pretty out of touch with the reality of the scandal she precipitated and the fact that we're all writing about her book. I mean, it's not your average sex diary, even if she wasn't being bent over for cash by various public servants in the nation's capital. For me, the credibility of this review is also undermined by equating showing "a little gam" with flashing a nipple for Playboy. Please. We all know the difference. If these things really aren't a big deal, then the book better be a whole lot better than tolerable. Even if it's not, yes, I'm going to read it. Girlfriend can learn a few things. [NYT via LustyLady]

Newsweek props its package: The ever-helpful service journalists at Newsweek provide a virtual cupping to their male readership with a rundown of the latest in briefs with built-in codpieces (which, presumably, make the wearer look less, er, brief). Staffer Ramin Setoodeh "recruited volunteers" to test out the undies, but coyly doesn't say who, leaving us to imagine various Newsweek bylines parading around in beefed-up underoos. Is that a stitched-in microfiber sling, Michael Isikoff, or are you just glad to see me? In other news, The Washingtonienne wants to meet the guy from #2. [Newsweek]

Ben Widdicombe opens up: Literally. According to Jossip, he just had an emergency appendectomy! Ben, we wish you a speedy recovery. Scars, every one of them tells a story. Especially the ones on the inside. Sob. This isn't about Ben Widdicombe anymore, is it? There there, we didn't think so. [Jossip]