Why Do Men Have Nipples? and Other Low-Life Answers to Real-Life Questions

This brief book collects excerpts from the question-and-answer column that Dunn ( Geek Love ) formerly wrote for an alternative weekly newspaper in Portland, Ore. As ``The Slicer,'' Dunn is more irreverent than many advice columnists, taking on such issues as why orgasms clear the sinuses, the etiquette of body piercing and the psychology of women who leave droplets of urine on public toilet seats. Dunn's investigations of language terms like ``86'' and ``cracker'' are entertaining. But some queries, about laundered money and decaffeinated coffee, are run-of-the-mill while others, such as her instructions on how to perform bar tricks with flies, are of dubious taste. Moreover, the book has a strong local bias, as ``The Slicer'' answers questions on racism in Portland, on military recruiting in Portland's high schools and on the size of one of Portland's parks. This book was originally published in Portland as a limited edition entitled The Slice . (Nov.)