Trends for June 10, 2002

Lisa Ferguson

Monday, June 10, 2002 | 8:13 a.m.

Ode to Dad

OK, so maybe dear old Dad isn't as hip as America's new, favorite patriarch, Ozzy Osbourne.

But at least he doesn't dress as though he regularly raids Mike Brady's closet, or sit around the house Al Bundy style with his hand thrust down the front of his pants, right? Does it get more embarrassing than that, folks?

Surely there's something worth praising about your father especially seeing as how Sunday is Father's Day.

When you figure out what's so special about Pop, log on to fatherofcool.com. The site is sponsored by the Carrier Corporation in Farmington, Conn., manufacturer of air-conditioning, heating and refrigeration equipment.

Besides average American dads, the website pays homage to its "dad," Willis Carrier, the inventor of modern air conditioning, who it has dubbed the original "Father of Cool," and the upcoming 100th anniversary (on July 17) of his invention.

Designed with kids in mind, youngsters can log onto the site and submit a short story about why his or her dad is so cool, or about the coolest thing he's done. The stories will be posted on the site, where sons and daughters can also print a "certificate of coolness" with which to present their fathers.

Pops music

Is Dad a fan of The Beatles? If so, skip the requisite necktie and get him a Father's Day gift he'll actually enjoy.

The Onstage Beatles Edition is an interactive computer program that puts the user onstage playing guitar alongside the Fab Four as the "fifth Beatle."

Install the software, pick up a tennis racket or any other item on which to play air guitar and strum along (virtually, of course) to the bass or guitar parts from 25 Beatles songs including "Birthday," "Revolution," "Yesterday" and "Hey Jude."

The software, by a company called MusicPlayground, costs $19.95 and is available at MusicPlayground.com/Beatles.

To promote The Beatles' program, the company is sponsoring a trivia contest through June 30, the winner of which will receive a limited-edition lithograph of the original score of "Yesterday," signed by Paul McCartney and Beatles producer George Martin.

Pops quiz

Just how good of a dad are you? Interesting question, especially when it comes to relationships between fathers and their daughters.

Alice Rubentstein and Karen Zager, authors of the recently published book "The Inside Story on Teen Girls" (American Psychological Association/APA LifeTools, $12.95), have devised some tips for daddies to follow in attempting to raise "a healthy daughter." Among them: