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CNN Live Sunday

Interview With Homer Moyer

Aired September 21, 2003 - 16:37   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: And now we move on to the lighter side. A few minutes ago we posed this question from the real world aptitude test. What's the 2003 federal minimum wage? Check out the possible answers. We'll give you another moment to decide. Ok. If you picked $5.15 an hour, you are correct.
Of course, states also have different wage laws, but that is the minimum set by the federal government. And there you have it. In fact, that's just one of the questions in Homer Moyer's new book "The R.A.T., or the Real-World Aptitude Test." It's full of zany tips on how to deal with everything from emergencies to food stains. Author Homer Moyer is in Los Angeles to tell us more. Hi, Homer. How are you?

MOYER: Hi.

LIN: What a great idea. I want you to share with the audience how you came up with it.

MOYER: Well, it was a fun idea. It was prompted by prospect of our oldest daughter, Bronwyn (ph) leaving for college. And that led to what ultimately became the R.A.T. And two weeks ago, our youngest daughter just left for college. So this was timely for her.

LIN: But how did you pick what to include in your book?

MOYER: Well, we started with some of the basics. Managing money, cooking, the kinds of things that you often have to deal with quickly after you step out the front door. And it gradually expanded to automobiles and music and etiquette and...

LIN: And sex. Was that kind of difficult for you to write the chapter on sex when you knew that you were really talking to your daughter?

MOYER: It was a little tricky. It was probably a little stressful for them as well. It's not a how-to chapter, but there's some physiology and a little law and facts about conception and the kinds of things we all should know.

LIN: All right, well, let's share some of the questions that you have in the R.A.T. In fact, I've got the R.A.T. with me here. Name two styles of music -- all right. I'm going to look at the screen there. Name two types of music that originated in the U.S. well, actually, we're going to have those answers after the break. So I'm going to -- oh, we can do it now. The producer says we can do it now. Do you know the answer to that, Homer? You wrote it. There you go. MOYER: Yes indeed. There are actually several to choose from. Lots of American styles of music, Jazz, Gospel, as you see...

LIN: Homer, why would you think that your daughters would need to know that?

MOYER: Well, there are lots of things in the book that are probably not essential to survive in adulthood. But they're all things that if you are conversant with them probably make it a little easier to get through life and a little more fun to navigate through the real world.

LIN: In fact, talk about the real world. Answer one of your own questions here. What are the three things you can say to a friend who's been drinking and is now driving to get him or her to stop the car?

MOYER: A question with more than one correct answer. Whatever works is of course a correct answer. One of the most popular answers is "stop I think I'm going to throw up" or "I have to go to the bathroom" or "I dropped something out the window."

LIN: So you're thinking like a teenager, too, when you write these things, right?

MOYER: Well, yes, a little bit.

LIN: You're writing this book for mass consumption, but really, I mean, this is a reflection of what you think, you and your wife think that these kids need to know. For example, the chapter on the Bible is the only one that actually deals with religion. I mean, do you think this is a book that speaks to the masses today?

MOYER: Sure. That chapter, for example, is fairly value- neutral. And I think the answers are not just my opinions. Experts and authorities are quoted throughout. And knowing how to crack an egg with one hand or knowing how to start a flooded car, that's not so much a car of opinion as know-how.

LIN: Well, when I teach my daughter how to crack an egg with one hand, I'm also going to be thinking what is she doing with the other one? But that's part of sending your kids off to college, I guess. Thanks so much, Homer, for joining us. Great book.

MOYER: Thank you, my pleasure.

LIN: All right, Homer Moyer, father and author.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com







Aired September 21, 2003 - 16:37   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: And now we move on to the lighter side. A few minutes ago we posed this question from the real world aptitude test. What's the 2003 federal minimum wage? Check out the possible answers. We'll give you another moment to decide. Ok. If you picked $5.15 an hour, you are correct.
Of course, states also have different wage laws, but that is the minimum set by the federal government. And there you have it. In fact, that's just one of the questions in Homer Moyer's new book "The R.A.T., or the Real-World Aptitude Test." It's full of zany tips on how to deal with everything from emergencies to food stains. Author Homer Moyer is in Los Angeles to tell us more. Hi, Homer. How are you?

MOYER: Hi.

LIN: What a great idea. I want you to share with the audience how you came up with it.

MOYER: Well, it was a fun idea. It was prompted by prospect of our oldest daughter, Bronwyn (ph) leaving for college. And that led to what ultimately became the R.A.T. And two weeks ago, our youngest daughter just left for college. So this was timely for her.

LIN: But how did you pick what to include in your book?

MOYER: Well, we started with some of the basics. Managing money, cooking, the kinds of things that you often have to deal with quickly after you step out the front door. And it gradually expanded to automobiles and music and etiquette and...

LIN: And sex. Was that kind of difficult for you to write the chapter on sex when you knew that you were really talking to your daughter?

MOYER: It was a little tricky. It was probably a little stressful for them as well. It's not a how-to chapter, but there's some physiology and a little law and facts about conception and the kinds of things we all should know.

LIN: All right, well, let's share some of the questions that you have in the R.A.T. In fact, I've got the R.A.T. with me here. Name two styles of music -- all right. I'm going to look at the screen there. Name two types of music that originated in the U.S. well, actually, we're going to have those answers after the break. So I'm going to -- oh, we can do it now. The producer says we can do it now. Do you know the answer to that, Homer? You wrote it. There you go. MOYER: Yes indeed. There are actually several to choose from. Lots of American styles of music, Jazz, Gospel, as you see...

LIN: Homer, why would you think that your daughters would need to know that?

MOYER: Well, there are lots of things in the book that are probably not essential to survive in adulthood. But they're all things that if you are conversant with them probably make it a little easier to get through life and a little more fun to navigate through the real world.

LIN: In fact, talk about the real world. Answer one of your own questions here. What are the three things you can say to a friend who's been drinking and is now driving to get him or her to stop the car?

MOYER: A question with more than one correct answer. Whatever works is of course a correct answer. One of the most popular answers is "stop I think I'm going to throw up" or "I have to go to the bathroom" or "I dropped something out the window."

LIN: So you're thinking like a teenager, too, when you write these things, right?

MOYER: Well, yes, a little bit.

LIN: You're writing this book for mass consumption, but really, I mean, this is a reflection of what you think, you and your wife think that these kids need to know. For example, the chapter on the Bible is the only one that actually deals with religion. I mean, do you think this is a book that speaks to the masses today?

MOYER: Sure. That chapter, for example, is fairly value- neutral. And I think the answers are not just my opinions. Experts and authorities are quoted throughout. And knowing how to crack an egg with one hand or knowing how to start a flooded car, that's not so much a car of opinion as know-how.

LIN: Well, when I teach my daughter how to crack an egg with one hand, I'm also going to be thinking what is she doing with the other one? But that's part of sending your kids off to college, I guess. Thanks so much, Homer, for joining us. Great book.

MOYER: Thank you, my pleasure.

LIN: All right, Homer Moyer, father and author.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com