George Lindsey, Goober From Andy Griffith Show, Dies at 83

George Lindsey, who played the memorable character of Goober Pyle on The Andy Griffith Show, died early yesterday morning at the age of 83.

Lindsey, who later was a regular on the long-running country music comedy show Hee Haw, passed on at a healthcare center in Nashville, Tenn.

"George Lindsey was my friend," Andy Griffith said in a statement released on Sunday. "I had great respect for his talent and his human spirit."

Noting that they last spoke a few days ago, Griffith said: "I'm happy to say that as we found ourselves in our 80s, we were not afraid to say, 'I love you.' That was the last thing George and I had to say to each other. 'I love you.' "

The Andy Griffith Show, the classic 1960s sitcom starring Griffith as the kindly sheriff of Mayberry, N.C., was in its fourth season in 1964 when Lindsey appeared as the cousin of naive gas station attendant Gomer Pyle, played by Jim Nabors.

Lindsey's character became more prominent after Nabors left the show to star in the spin-off series Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. in 1964. R.I.P.

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Disneyland Fan Builds a Working Version of the Main Street Electrical Parade on His Coffee Table [Video]

There are some truly devoted Disneyland fans out there who visit so often they know every single detail about the park. But seemingly none are as devoted as Alex George, who can now visit the park whenever he's home thanks to this awesome miniature version of the Main Street Electrical Parade in his living room. More »

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Tibetan Freedom Concert Part Of Adam Yauch's Legacy

'It's given some meaning to me to be famous ... if I can use that attention to help other people,' late Beastie Boy tells MTV News.
By Kara Warner

Beastie Boys' Adam Yauch in 2000
Photo: Mick Hutson/ Getty Images

The news of Adam Yauch's untimely death on Friday continues to reverberate throughout the world and especially the music industry. From the multitude of reactions and expressions of sympathy from celebrities to the emotionally charged words from fans, Yauch's death has many in mourning.

MTV News took to the airwaves to express our appreciation for the influential artist with the one-hour special "Adam Yauch: Remembering a Beastie Boy," during which we reflected on the legendary MC's career and the indelible mark he made on music as a whole, as well as on society.

One of the more poignant aspects of the 60-minute tribute was a look back at Yauch's involvement in founding the Tibetan Freedom Concert, the first of which drew influential acts like the Smashing Pumpkins, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Rage Against the Machine and raised $800,000 to help support Tibetan social-justice causes.

MTV News once spoke to Yauch about why he chose to get involved in promoting awareness for social issues.

"Whatever involvement I'm able to put in it, it definitely makes me feel good to be able to help with that," Yauch said about the Tibetan Freedom Concert. "It's really everyone working together. It's all the artists who put in their time and all the people who come down to the show that actually care about it, people involved in putting it on.

"One thing Buddhism teaches is the only thing that brings us lasting happiness, that really makes us happy, is when we do things to benefit other people," he explained. "Trying to make money, buy cool sneakers, those things don't lead to any lasting happiness."

Yauch said what made him happiest was being able to use his fame in a positive way.

"When you do things to benefit people from a pure place in your heart, that's a feeling that lasts no matter what happens," he said. "It's given some meaning to me to be famous and be able to make music if I can use that attention to help other people — that gives some meaning to that."

Share your memories of Adam on Twitter using the hashtag #RIPMCA.

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• Adam Yauch: Remembering A Beastie Boy
• Beastie Boys' Adam Yauch: 1964-2012

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This Insane Amusement Park Ride Looks Like Three Minutes Of Pure Malfunctioning Terror [Video]

If you think you've seen amusement park rides like this before, think again. This one adds a unique twist, literally, with the two giant support arms able to move independently of each other. More »

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Look! Up in the sky! It's Supermoon! Due Saturday

FILE - A full moon rises behind the Empire State Building in New York in this view from Eagle Rock Reservation in West Orange, N.J., in this April 6, 2012 file photo. The biggest and brightest full moon of the year arrives Saturday night May 5, 2012 as our celestial neighbor passes closer to Earth than usual. Saturday's event is a "supermoon," the closest and therefore the biggest and brightest full moon of the year. At 11:34 p.m., the moon will be about 221,802 miles from Earth. That's about 15,300 miles closer than average. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File)

FILE - A full moon rises behind the Empire State Building in New York in this view from Eagle Rock Reservation in West Orange, N.J., in this April 6, 2012 file photo. The biggest and brightest full moon of the year arrives Saturday night May 5, 2012 as our celestial neighbor passes closer to Earth than usual. Saturday's event is a "supermoon," the closest and therefore the biggest and brightest full moon of the year. At 11:34 p.m., the moon will be about 221,802 miles from Earth. That's about 15,300 miles closer than average. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File)

This Saturday, March 19, 2011 photo shows a full moon over Pembroke, N.Y. at its closest point to the Earth since March 1993. The biggest and brightest full moon of the year arrives Saturday night, May 5, 2012 as our celestial neighbor passes closer to Earth than usual. Saturday's event is a ``supermoon,'' the closest and therefore the biggest and brightest full moon of the year. At 11:34 p.m. EDT, the moon will be about 221,802 miles from Earth. That's about 15,300 miles closer than average. (AP Photo/David Duprey)

NEW YORK (AP) ? The biggest and brightest full moon of the year arrives Saturday night as our celestial neighbor passes closer to Earth than usual.

But don't expect any "must-have-been-a-full-moon" spike in crime or crazy behavior. That's just folklore.

Saturday's event is a "supermoon," the closest and therefore the biggest and brightest full moon of the year. At 11:34 p.m., the moon will be about 221,802 miles from Earth. That's about 15,300 miles closer than average.

That proximity will make the moon appear about 14 percent bigger than it would if the moon were at its farthest distance, said Geoff Chester of the U.S. Naval Observatory. The difference in appearance is so small that "you'd be very hard-pressed to detect that with the unaided eye," he said.

The moon's distance from Earth varies because it follows an elliptical orbit rather than a circular one.

Like any full moon, the supermoon will look bigger when it's on or near the horizon rather than higher in the sky, thanks to an optical illusion, Chester noted. The full moon appears on the horizon at sunset. On the East coast, for example, that will be a bit before 8 p.m. Saturday.

The supermoon will bring unusually high tides because of its closeness and its alignment with the sun and Earth, but the effect will be modest, Chester said.

The last supermoon, on March 19, 2011, was about 240 miles closer than this year's will be. Next year's will be a bit farther away than this year's.

But no matter how far away a full moon is, it's not going to make people kill themselves or others, commit other crimes, get admitted to a psychiatric hospital or do anything else that popular belief suggests, a psychologist says.

Studies that have tried to document such connections have found "pretty much a big mound of nothing, as far as I can tell," said Scott Lilienfeld of Emory University.

Lilienfeld, an author of "50 Great Myths of Popular Psychology," said the notion of full moons causing bizarre behavior ranks among the top 10 myths because "it's so widely held and it's held with such conviction."

Why do people cling to the idea?

Lilienfeld said a key reason could be the way people pay attention to things. If something unusual happens to occur during a full moon, people who believe the myth take note and remember, even telling other people because it confirms their ideas. But when another full moon appears and nothing out of the ordinary occurs, "they're not very likely to remember" or point it out to others.

So in the end, he said, all they remember are the coincidences.

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Online:

Moon facts: http://1.usa.gov/K2Ae5g

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Malcolm Ritter can be followed at http://www.twitter.com/malcolmritter

Associated Press

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5 Tips for Throwing an Awesome Summer Cook Out | In Our Kitchen

Whether you are celebrating an engagement, birthday, graduation, or just taking advantage of the season?s warm weather, a cookout is the perfect choice for a summer party. From formal outdoor fetes to casual barbecues, hosting an awesome summer cookout is a matter of creative planning, detailed preparation and thoughtful consideration. Follow these five tips to host a cookout your guests will remember all summer long.

1. Prepare Your Party Space

Just as you wouldn?t have friends over to a house party without doing the dishes or vacuuming the rugs, take care to clean and organize your garden or patio before you host a cookout. Mow the lawn, wash down the pavement and stairs, weed flower beds and clean the grill and furniture. Be sure to store tools and toys for safety and neatness. If hosting the cookout at a public space, arrive early to make sure that the picnic tables are clean and the is area is free of broken glass and trash. Bring a broom and plenty of trash bags to clean up before and after the party.

2. Plan the Perfect Menu

Decide what type of food you will serve at your cookout. You can choose to provide all the meat and main courses while your guests bring side dishes or drinks. Choose a theme, such as Mexican food, and assign a side dish, dessert or appetizer to each guest. Another option is a ?grill your own? gathering where each guest brings their own meat to grill while you provide everything else. The fun and delicious options are many, but the important thing is to inform your guests ahead of time so that you don?t end up with fifteen versions of potato salad. It is also important to consider dietary restrictions and preferences. Provide a few gluten-free, nut-free and vegan options to ensure that everyone will enjoy the meal.

3. Pay Attention to Ambiance

Even the most informal summer cookout will be more enjoyable if a little thought goes into the party atmosphere. Arrange tables and chairs into conversation areas. Create food and drink stations at different locations around the yard so that your guests don?t all crowd around one area. Use small chalkboards or colorful note cards to label unfamiliar dishes or to designate non-alcoholic drinks and items containing nuts. String lights in the trees and along fences for a little sparkle in the evening, and use citronella candles for atmosphere as well as to repel bugs. Don?t forget the music!

4. Consider Your Guests? Comfort

Make the cookout enjoyable for all your guests by taking everyone?s comfort needs into consideration. Be sure to provide plenty of areas of shade and comfortable seating. Parents will appreciate a ?kids? table,? complete with water-squirting toys, sidewalk chalk, bubbles and crafts. Designate a table for first aid supplies, sunscreen and hand sanitizer. Toilets should be clean and easily accessible to everyone.

5. Don?t Forget ?Plan B?

Unfortunately, you can?t always count on summer weather for a summer cookout. If you?re prepared with a back-up plan a little foul weather might slow the party down, but shouldn?t stop it altogether. Be prepared to quickly cover and store food and supplies in the event of a surprise rain shower. Make sure you have access to a sheltered spot where the festivities can continue until the sun comes out again.

Shawn Evans writes for ER UK (www.equityrelease.net ? click here to visit) covering a wide range of retirement and household topics.

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Afghan child bride's in-laws sentenced for torture

FILE- In this Saturday, Jan. 7, 2012 file photo, Afghan doctors, unseen, dress the tortured ear of Sahar Gul, 15-year-old at a hospital in Kabul, Afghanistan. The in-laws of a child bride who became the bruised and bloodied face of women's rights in Afghanistan have been sentenced to 10 years in prison for torture, abuse and human rights violations, a judge said Saturday, May 5, 2012. (AP Photo/Musadeq Sadeq, File)

FILE- In this Saturday, Jan. 7, 2012 file photo, Afghan doctors, unseen, dress the tortured ear of Sahar Gul, 15-year-old at a hospital in Kabul, Afghanistan. The in-laws of a child bride who became the bruised and bloodied face of women's rights in Afghanistan have been sentenced to 10 years in prison for torture, abuse and human rights violations, a judge said Saturday, May 5, 2012. (AP Photo/Musadeq Sadeq, File)

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) ? The in-laws of a child bride who became the bruised and bloodied face of women's rights in Afghanistan have been sentenced to 10 years in prison for torture, abuse and human rights violations, a judge said Saturday.

The plight of 15-year-old Sahar Gul captivated the nation and set off a storm of international condemnation when it came to light in late December. Officials said her husband's family kept her in a basement for six months after her arranged marriage, ripping out her fingernails, breaking her fingers and torturing her with hot irons in an attempt to force her into prostitution.

She was rescued by police in northeastern Baghlan province after an uncle alerted authorities.

Gul's husband's father, mother and sister were each sentenced to 10 years in prison by a court in Kabul on Tuesday, presiding judge Sibghatullah Razi said.

Also found guilty were Gul's husband, a member of the Afghan army, and her brother-in-law, both of whom have been on the run since her case became public, Razi said. He said the men will be sentenced when they are captured.

Gul was present for the decision, telling the court that she wanted her in-laws "severely punished" for what they had put her through, Razi said. She has filed an appeal for a longer sentence with the help of the Women for Afghan Women, a group that works for women's rights in the country and has been caring for the teenager since her rescue.

"Of course we are not happy with the court's decision," said Huma Safi, program manager for the group.

Gul's case has prompted calls for more efforts to strengthen women's rights and end underage marriage. The legal marriage age in Afghanistan is 16, but the United Nations agency UN Women estimates that half of all girls are forced to marry under age 15.

There has been progress in women's rights since the 2001 U.S.-led campaign that toppled the Taliban regime, which banned girls' schools and prevented women from leaving the house unless accompanied by a male relative.

But ending abuse remains a huge challenge in Afghanistan's patriarchal society, where traditional practices include child marriage, giving girls away to settle debts or pay for their relatives' crimes and so-called honor killings in which women seen as disgracing their families are murdered by their relatives.

Gul, who had been married for seven months when she was found in late December, is still seeing doctors for some problems with her hands and fingers, but is doing better both physically and emotionally, Safi said. She said the girl is now very interested in studying, very different from when she first arrived.

She also has made great progress in her efforts to become comfortable around other people again, Safi said.

"She was very brave. When she was brought to us after her rescue, she was unable to speak. But this week she was able to get up and speak in front of an entire courtroom asking for her rights," Safi said.

"These are all positive signs and of course we are very proud of her."

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Associated Press writer Chris Blake in Kabul contributed to this report.

Associated Press

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