Did Eddie Van Halen contribute to one of Michael Jackson's Greatest Hits?

Michael Jackson, the King of Pop, is known for his sweet and smooth melodic ballads along with his pop-dance music stylings.

As he ventured on beyond the Motown pop made famous with his brother on the "Jackson 5," he collaborated with mega-music producer Quincy Jones. Wanting to add a rock and roll vibe to his Thriller album, Jackson came up with the lyrics to the song "Beat It." Wanting to add a true rock guitar vibe to the song, Jones called Eddie Van Halen to record the riff.

Van Halen had built his reputation as a innovative guitarist. Eddie Van Halen's

approach to the guitar involves several distinctive components. His innovative use of two-handed tapping, natural and artificial harmonics, vibrato, and tremolo picking, combined with his rhythmic sensibility and melodic approach, have influenced an entire generation of guitarists.

Van Halen stated that he thought that it was a prank call, but after learning about the producer's true intention, he agreed to the offer and did the guitar solo free of charge.

Source: http://digitalnewspapers.libraries.psu.edu/Default/Skins/BasicArch/Client.asp?Skin=BasicArch&&AppName=2&enter=true&BaseHref=DCG/1983/04/22&EntityId=Ar02600

Was Madonna a University of Michigan Wolverine???

We have all heard stories of high school and college dropouts making something of themselves in the future.

For instance, Microsoft tycoon Bill Gates had dropped out of Harvard University to pursue his future in computer technology, MS-DOS, then his Windows franchise.

The University of Michigan is the home of another famous dropout known for her 80's pop music beats and her 2000 Euro dance grooves - Madonna!!

Madonna (born Madonna Louise Veronica Ciccone) earned a dance scholarship to the University of Michigan and lived in Stockwell Hall (one of the all-women's residence halls on campus).

However, after two years on campus, she made her famous trek to New York City to pursue dreams of being famous.

Was Jodie Foster the model for the Coppertone Girl?

Actress Jodie Foster is well known for her phenomenal work which has garnered her two Academy Awards for acting.  A fun piece of trivia associated with her is that she was the model for the Coppertone Girl.

Wrong......

In fact, when the original Coppertone ad debuted in 1959, Jodie Foster was not even born.

The Coppertone ad was the brainchild of artist Joyce Ballantyne Brand who used her daughter Cheryl as the model for the famous ad.  

It is true that Jodie Foster was in a Coppertone commercial, but it was a television ad that ran in the 1960's when she was only 2.  You can see a video of her in that commercial here.

Sources: 

http://www.sptimes.com/2004/09/05/Floridian/Real_Florida__Red_fac.shtml

http://www.tvacres.com/admascots_coppertone.htm

Is the MLB logo truly based on Harmon Killebrew?

As we all know, the NBA logo with its silhouetted basketball player was based upon the form of one of the NBA's greatest basketball players, Jerry West.  As you can see, the 14-time NBA All-Star and NBA Champion for the LA Lakers has the characteristics that has symbolized the NBA of the 1960-70's.

But how about the silhouette of the MLB logo?  Popular convention and multiple internet searches suggest that the player in question on the MLB logo is Harmon Killebrew.

MLB has neither confirmed nor denied that claim.

An article on ESPN sheds some light on the subject.  According to Paul Lukas, Jerry Dior helped to design the logo for the league and states that he did not choose any specific person to model his design after.

Nonetheless, hardcore Killebrew fans still feel he is the model for logo.  One picture they have submitted comes from a 1963 Twins Yearbook which in reverse looks like the logo.

However, it can be said that any baseball player can have a similar stance if a picture were taken at the right angle.

So where does that leave you - the trivia obsessed fan.....well, I have no good answer.  If you want to score points, answer Harmon Killebrew, but know that this is likely a baseball urban legend that has gone awry.

Why are doctors in-training called "residents"?

As I was sitting in the hospital waiting for yet another admission, I got to thinking......

Why are medical residents called "residents" anyway?

First of all, for those who are unclear about the terminology, a "resident" is the term applied to a doctor (either an M.D. or D.O) who has graduated from medical school and is continuing in clinical training in a certain specialty (e.g., internal medicine, pediatrics, OB/GYN, psychiatry, etc.).

In fact, the term "resident" was coined because in fact many doctors-in-training would gain their clinical experience in hospitals.  In order to be there when the patients were needed, the doctors would actually live in the hospitals that employed them.  For their services, the residents would have their room, board and laundry services paid along with a minimal wage.

Today, most residents only stay in the hospital if they are on call.  And that is usually every 4 or 5 nights depending on their rotation.  (Although my wife would argue that I live in the hospital with the amount of time I spend here.)

Welcome to the Trivia Nation!  

Here you will find the answers to random questions that run through my head through the course of a day, week or month while talking to my wife, my siblings or my friends!

I love trivia, and if I don't know the answer, I seek it out!

In addition, you will see a variety of information on topics that interest me.