Cheat Sheet - Inside the ‘Killer Robot’ Olympics

Today: Man Sets Self on Fire at Vatican , Rev. Defrocked for Gay Wedding , Execution Rates Near 20-Year Low December 19, 2013 END OF DAYS 1. Inside the 'Killer Robot' Olympics The research branch of the U.S. Defense Department, DARPA, is putting on a big competition in Florida this Friday and Saturday for the world's most advanced robots. Many of these "robots" will take the form of airborne drones, big and small; some will be weapons systems on ships; and some will be moving more or less like animals and humans. The Daily Beast's Christopher Dickey reports. Read it at The Daily Beast DRASTIC 2. Man Sets Self on Fire at Vatican An Italian man, armed with a bottle of gasoline and a note with his daughter's phone number, entered St. Peter's Square in the Vatican early Thursday morning, and set himself ablaze. A Jesuit priest tried to save the man, attempting to use his cape to put out the fire before police showed up with a fire extinguisher. The man, 52, is now at the hospital suffering serious burns on his torso. His motive for setting himself on fire is still unknown. The police officers who responded to the scene suffered smoke inhalation and minor burns on their hands. Read it at Reuters DEFIANT 3. Rev. Defrocked for Gay Wedding Rev. Frank Schaefer was officially defrocked by the United Methodist church for officiating his gay son's wedding Thursday. A jury of Methodist pastors found the Pennsylvania pastor guilty of violating the church's rules last month and suspended him, but gave him the opportunity to agree to follow the Methodist Book of Discipline before forcing him to resign. Schaefer said he thinks the book is discriminatory against gay people and refused to quit—so they defrocked him. Read it at The Associated Press YOU'RE EXCUSED 4. Obama Commutes 8 Crack Sentences Eight federal inmates imprisoned for crack cocaine offenses are expected to have their sentences commuted by the president on Thursday. The unprecedented move by Obama is seen as a further rebuke to the severe mandatory penalties for drug crimes loosened by 2011's Fair Sentencing Act, as the inmates likely would have received lighter sentences under current law. "The bottom line…is that there are several thousand more where they came from," said Julie Stewart, founder of the group Families Against Mandatory Minimums. The inmates, who are serving sentences ranging from 15 years to life, would be released within 120 days. Read it at The New York Times DOWNER 5. Office Parties: Bad for Business? It might be best to cancel that company shindig this week—new research suggests forcing coworkers to mingle can be damaging for relationships between diverse members of staff. Read it at The Daily Beast JEALOUS Putin: 'I Envy Obama' Because he "gets away" with spying. NEW MEDIA IAC Creates Match Group To house online dating ventures. BASKETBALL DIPLOMACY Rodman Balling in N. Korea Despite recent execution. NOW YOU SEE IT 'Invisible Helmet' Creators Dish On their stylish biking gear. LOL Jennifer Lawrence on Butt Plugs Watch the hilarious 'Conan' interview. GET The Cheat Sheet A speedy, smart summary of news and must-reads from across the Web. You'll love the featured original stories on politics, entertainment, and more from The Daily Beast's diverse group of contributors. GET Culture Beast Weekly cultural recommendations from The Daily Beast. West Virginia 'Heathers' by Caroline Linton 10 Best Movie Sex Scenes of 2013 by Marlow Stern Why Pat Buchanan Loves Putin by Caitlin Dickson

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