There's been a recent renaissance in small living spaces.

New York City and San Francisco are moving forward with plans to build experimental "micro apartments," and a small tiny-house community has popped up on the outskirts of Washington D.C.

The idea of a "tiny home" is nothing new —Jay Shafer, founder the Tumblewood Tiny House Company, has been the face of the movement and a major advocate of the concept for more than a decade.

But their recent rise in popularity "could be seen as a denunciation of conspicuous consumption and a rejection of the idea that more is, well, more," writes The Washington Post's Emily Wax.

The homes, often with 200 square feet of living space or less, are brilliant examples of design. For such a small square footage, they can be surprisingly livable.

Shafer took sustainable culture blog *faircompanies inside his own tiny house. Click through to see what life is like in his 89-square-foot residence.

Jay Shafer is the founder of the Tumbleweed Tiny House Co. He's been designing tiny houses, and living in them, for more than a decade.

Source: *faircompanies

When he gave this tour in 2010, his 89-square-foot home-on-wheels was parked in Sebastopol, California.

Source: *faircompanies

"I started living small because it's so wasteful — a personal like me, with minimal needs — to live in a large house," Shafer said.

Source: *faircompanies

Please follow The Life on Twitter and Facebook.

Research firm ITG recently surveyed 100 energy pros from 37 different companies about big debates in oil and gas.

We got the results — and on many issues, there's a lot of disagreement.

They're split on the direction of natgas prices, but most expect WTI oil prices to go nowhere.

The legendary Bakken shale is considered overrated.  And there's one particular county in Texas that everybody wants a piece of.

Let's take a closer look at the responses.

Natural gas prices are at $3.50 right now. Experts expect prices to either stay put or rise at a double-digit rate next year

There's general agreement that prices will be higher in the long run

Respondents were split on whether exports or fleets switching would have a greater impact on natgas

Please follow Money Game on Twitter and Facebook.

Forty years ago today, Dec. 7, 1972, the astronauts of the Apollo 17 mission became the last people to launch into space and land on the Moon three days later.

Even though we haven't sent any astronauts to the Moon since Apollo 17, the Earth's only natural satellite is still revealing tons of new information. 

NASA's recent mission to map the Moon's gravity field, for example, found hidden volcanoes on the Moon.

That's not the only recent Moon finding or interesting fact — here are some you may have missed.

Eugene Shoemaker is the first person to be buried on the Moon.

Along with the launch of NASA's Lunar Prospector on Jan. 6, 1998 the ashes of Eugene Shoemaker came along for the ride and became the first person to be put to rest on the Moon.

Shoemaker was a geologist and astronomer who worked on several U.S. space missions and discovered about 20 comets and 800 asteroids along with his wife. He longed to be an astronaut, but was rejected because of medical problems.

A polycarbonate vial carrying an ounce on Shoemaker's ashes slammed into a moon crater burying him in the place he so badly wanted to go.

Moon dust is toxic to humans.

According to research particles of Moon dust are so small and jagged that if they get into the lungs it is likely that moon dust would cause airway inflammation, at best.

Researchers think moon dust is even more dangerous and cancerous to humans than regular dust because it has been exposed to the harsh radiation in space.

A survey in 1988 found that 13 percent of people think the moon is really made out of cheese.

According to a report by the Lowel Observatory, 13 percent of people really thought the moon was made of cheese.

Maybe because of the craters they thought it was a huge chunk of Swiss cheese.

Please follow Science on Twitter and Facebook.

Though most of the attention in the fiscal cliff negotiations has been on taxes and revenue increases, lawmakers are also trying to avert $1.6 million in spending cuts that kick in after the Jan. 1 deadline. They are cuts that could have a significant effect on companies that make their lifeblood from government contracting.

If Congress fails to get a deal that stops this sequestration, the cuts will be carried out in an across-the-board, uniform way, meaning that every civilian program and every defense-related program will get cut by the same percentage.

For civilian programs, excluding Social Security and Medicare, this means an 8.2 percent across the board cut. For the military, a 9.2 percent cut for every non-exempt program will apply. 

To find out which companies have the most to lose from the cuts, we took a look at the eleven companies that made the most from government contracting in 2012, based on numbers from Washington Technology. 

11. Harris Corporation

Value of Government Contracts in 2012: $3 billion

Harris Corp. builds radio communications systems and integrated networks, working on IT for both civilian and defense government agencies. For example, the company builds air-traffic control systems for the FAA and designed a new database for the U.S. Census. 

CEO William Brown was just appointed by President Obama to the National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee.

Source: Washington Technology 

10. DynCorp International

Value of Government Contracts in 2012: $3.3 billion

DynCorp is involved in law enforcement training and support, security, logistics support, and aviation services.

The company specializes in staffing and providing contractors for the military. For example, the military contracts DynCorp to provide security at its bases in the Persian Gulf. 

Source: Washington Technology

9. Computer Sciences Corp.

Value of Government Contracts in 2012: $3.6 billion 

A wide variety of government agencies, including the U.S. Navy, NASA, and the Department of the Interior, use CSC services for cloud computing, networks, management consulting and supply-chain management. 

Source: Washington Technology,

Please follow Politics on Twitter and Facebook.

News of the Kate Middleton's pregnancy hasn't been out for a week; however, that hasn't stopped people companies from showering her with free baby gifts.

According to TMZ, the Duchess of Cambridge has received at least four gift baskets from the U.S. alone with one totaling $2,300.

What's in the royal baby swag bags?

High-end retailer Bel Bambini sent a $2,300 gift basket complete with ...

a Fendi layette set which cost $265:

... a $978 Bugaboo Cameleon 3 stroller ...

... and $275 Dior baby booties:

She also received $1,000 in items from Flicka– a baby store in Los Angeles where Melissa Joan Hart has been known to shop.

SEE ALSO:  A tour through Kate and William's path to becoming parents >

Please follow The Wire on Twitter and Facebook.

Join the conversation about this story »

It's Dec. 7, 2011.

You have exactly 14 days until the end of the world, according to ancient predictions based on the Mayan calendar. 

NASA and the U.S. government have made clear that Apocalypse rumors are false. Thought it has not stopped people from preparing for Earth's imminent destruction. 

Keep in mind that doomsday theorists and religious sects have been predicting The End for thousands of years.

Fortunately, all of these dates have come and gone uneventfully.

To maintain your faith that this will also be the case in two weeks when the 21st rolls around, we've compiled 10 other dates when the world was supposed to end, but didn't.

1000 A.D.

Christian authorities believed the new millennium would be the Second Coming of Jesus.

In anticipation of his return, many people disposed of their belongings, left their jobs, and abandoned their homes.

When the date came and went with no apocalypse, folks who thought the end was near realized they had miscalculated Jesus' age and decided the world would actually end in 1033 A.D.

This, as we know, also turned out be a vast miscalculation. 

Feb. 1, 1524

London astrologers freaked everybody out when they interpreted the alignment of planets in the constellation Pisces (a fish) to mean the world would be wiped out in a massive flood.

Tens of thousands of people sought refuge on higher ground and some people built arks.  

The Great Flood never came.

May 19, 1780

On May 19, 1780, a heavy gloom fell over New England prompting a religious group known as the Shakers to believe Judgment Day had come.

Though the unusual blackened sky, later called the "Dark Day," was most likely caused by a mix of smoke from forest fires and heavy fog, it sent the religious sect on a mission to spread their message of celibacy as the path to redemption.

Please follow Science on Twitter and Facebook.

Suffering some seasonal affective disorder? Bummed out that you have to spend time with your weird family for the holidays?

Hold fast. All is not lost.

From toilet jokes to highbrow wit, the apps in this collection will do their best to keep you laughing.

The Onion

Tough to beat The Onion, which has been doing fake news since 1988. Use the app to follow its priceless headlines and listen to its audio content as well.

Price:Free

Texts From Last Night

The popular website is now in app form. Get a peek into these weird text messages that range from surreal to hilarious.

Price:$0.99

Earwolf

Podcast network Earwolf put out an app that lets you listen to full episodes from its entire collection of shows. With hours and hours of content, you can listen to your favorite funny people like "Anchorman" cowriter Adam McKay and Matt Besser of the Upright Citizens Brigade wax comedic without worrying about running out of material.

Price:free

Please follow SAI: Tools on Twitter and Facebook.

Knight Frank's report on the state of housing markets worldwide shows exactly how hard Europe is getting pummeled.

South America has seen home prices rise by 9.8 percent, while prices in Asia Pacific have gone up 4.2 percent in the past 12 months. By contrast, home prices in the Eurozone's 17 member states have averaged a 1.8 percent decline over the same time period.

From the report:

With the Eurozone now in its second recession in three years buyer confidence is at an all-time low and it is no coincidence that all the bottom 12 rankings are occupied by European countries this quarter.

We've compiled Knight Frank's list of the housing markets experiencing the worst year-over-year declines, listed from smallest to largest decrease in home values.

Italy

Q3 2011 - Q2 2012:
-3.5 percent

6-month change:
-2.0 percent

3-month change:
-1.0 percent

Demand for expensive homes (over € 3 million) has remained strong. The value of prime property has dropped by about 20 percent since 2008.

Source: Knight Frank

Poland

Q3 2011 - Q2 2012:
-4.6 percent

6-month change:
-2.5 percent

3-month change:
-2.2 percent

Investment in commercial properties slowed in 1H 2012, though the vacancy rate rose to 9.3 percent as more projects reached completion. Approximately 425,000 sq. miles of new office space is expected to be added to Warsaw by year-end 2013.

Source: Knight Frank

Croatia

Q3 2011 - Q3 2012:
-5.2 percent

6-month change:
-3.3 percent

3-month change:
-1.9 percent

The mortgage market spiked from 4.7 to 18 percent of GDP from 2000 to 2010. Home prices are expected to fall 10 percent by year-end 2012.

Source: Knight Frank, Global Property Guide

Please follow Money Game on Twitter and Facebook.

Have you ever shopped online or received an electronic receipt?

As the holiday season is now in full swing, an app called Slice is definitely worth your time.

Slice automatically pulls information from the electronic receipts in your email inbox – shipping notifications, tracking numbers, return policies, and customer service information – and assembles it in an easily digestible format so you’re never left wondering when that package you ordered will arrive or how much money you spent on holiday shopping last year.

Even if you aren't an expert online shopper but want to keep track of price alerts for things you've previously bought, a new feature will alert you of a price drop and tell you exactly what to do to receive a refund based on the merchant's return policy.

Slice is a free app available for iOS and Android.

Once you open up the app, the first thing you'll notice is how well designed Slice is.

After getting past the introductory screen, you have the option to Sign in with your Facebook account or sign up via email.

Slice aggregates your online purchases by scanning your email for receipts and shipping confirmations. Don't worry, it's safe. The company told us that they never use your information or sell it "under any circumstances."

Please follow SAI: Tools on Twitter and Facebook.

Larry Page is the head of the world's most important Internet company, Google.

Page ran Google alongside co-founder Sergey Brin up until 2001 when Eric Schmidt came on board to serve as chairman and CEO.

Last year, Schmidt stepped down to become executive chairman of the company, while Page assumed the role of CEO at Google.

How'd Page take Google to such great heights? Where's he taking it next?

SEE ALSO: The Google+ Boss Just Brilliantly Deconstructed Everything Annoying About Facebook

On starting a business

"I think part of the reason we're successful so far is that originally we didn't really want to start a business."

Source

On the purpose of companies

"You need to invent things and you need to get them to people. You need to commercialize those inventions. Obviously, the best way we've come up with doing that is through companies."

Source.

On having high standards

"You may think using Google's great, but I still think it's terrible."

Source 

Please follow SAI on Twitter and Facebook.

The beginning of Hanukkah is only a couple days from now — do you know where your chanukiyah, the nine-branch menorah, is?

Using the Hanukkah menorah your grandparents used may be a family tradition, but do-it-yourself, arty, or high-tech menorahs have the same symbolism.

Here are a few interesting ones found around the internet.

1. LED Hanukkah Menorah Kit

Evil Mad Scientist Laboratories posted their first LED Menorah project back in 2006.

A microcontroller keeps the LEDs in order, so that each time you turn it on, the correct configuration of lights of that day of Hanukkah are displayed  — as long as you start on the right date.

So many people were interested that they started making kits for sale, which have been improved and updated over the years.

But if you want to provide your own parts, the code is open source and available through the Evil Mad Scientist Wiki.

2. Star Trek Menorah

Once you have the parts and the instructions, your own imagination can make your homemade menorah special and even reflect your personal interests.

Joyce and Kaufman made this Star Trek menorah with the above-mentioned LED kit and character heads from PEZ dispensers.

3. Recycled Circuit Board Menorah

If you like the LED idea but don’t want to make your own, this LED menorah from Zion Judaica also lights sequentially and runs on batteries.

Environmentally-friendly, too, as it’s constructed of recycled circuit board! And since it is sold through Amazon, they have instructions on how to get it shipped by December 25th. Heh.

Please follow The Life on Twitter and Facebook.

Cities that cut police budgets to save costs may be shooting themselves in the foot.

A recent study by Aaron Chaflin and Justin McCrary at UC Berkeley found that for every dollar spent on police, the average U.S. city can expect about $1.60 in reduced crime costs.

"Our estimates suggest that if you increase police officers by 10 percent, you can get something like a 5 percent reduction in cost of crime," McCrary told The Baltimore Sun. "For cities with a high level of crime, where police are relatively inexpensive, that's a tradeoff a city should be willing to make."

The benefits of increased police spending vary greatly by city.

Some places are actually overpoliced, including small, low-poverty cities like Sunnyvale, Calif. and Waltham, Mass. Other places are drastically underpoliced, like Gary, Ind., where $1 in police spending could save $14 in crime reduction.

Chalfin and McCrary collected data spanning from 1960-2010 for 242 cities that have at least 50,000 residents. The researchers calculated victimization costs by taking into account direct costs of crimes, such as the value of a stolen car, as well as emotional costs.

#15 Richmond, Calif.

Each additional $1 spent on police could reduce crime by $3.60.

Population: 103,701 

Average cost of crime per person per year: $3,010

Source: The Effect of Police on Crime

#14 Richmond, Va.

Each additional $1 spent on police could reduce crime by $3.60.

Population: 204,214

Average cost of crime per person per year: $2,614

Source: The Effect of Police on Crime

#13 Macon. Ga.

Each additional $1 spent on police could reduce crime by $3.70.

Population: 91,351

Average cost of crime per person per year: $1,774

Source: The Effect of Police on Crime

Please follow Law & Order on Twitter and Facebook.

The Military Channel does a pretty good job of giving insight into aspects of the military most people will never experience. Elite schools, intricate equipment, and historical events all get a chance in the spotlight.

The "Dirt" episode of their series "Toughest Military Jobs" does feature tough jobs, in the military, that involve getting dirty. Sewage treatment engineer, definitely. Tank recovery crew member, for sure.

Infantry... well, that might be a better fit in the "Dangerous" episode. Nevertheless, "Dirt" is a great look at the overlooked troops who keep the military running.

We begin with Army tank recovery crews, who drive their M88 A1s to the rescue when heavy vehicles get stuck in mud

Not only do they get deep in the mud to get the 100-pound recovery equipment in place, sludge also gets in their vehicle from below

They're not always dirty though--in 2003, a tank recovery crew took down the Saddam Hussein statue.

Please follow Military & Defense on Twitter and Facebook.

Boxing has fallen a long way over the past 100 years.

At one point it was the the country's national pasttime. Now it's a disorganized niche sport that's quickly leaking fans to UFC.

The Library of Congress has a jackpot of boxing photos from the early 1910s that perfectly capture the strangeness and simplistic beauty of the bygone sport.

We've been scrolling through them all day, and they're so, so awesome.

Gunboat Smith prepares to fight Arthur Pelkey in San Francisco on Jan. 1, 1914

Gunboat knocked him out

Mike Donovan sparring with his father in the early 1910s

Please follow Sports Page on Twitter and Facebook.

Chances are, you’ve been humming the theme songs for the "The Andy Griffith Show" and  "Bewitched" for years.

Turns out these songs weren't just tunes, but actually had lyrics that went along with them.

Our friends at mental_floss have uncovered the lyrics to 11 popular TV show songs.

Now you can get their lyrics stuck in your head, too.

'The Andy Griffith Show' theme song

Andy Griffith recorded a version of “The Fishing Hole” – AKA the theme song to "The Andy Griffith Show" – that was replaced by the all-whistling version. 

The 'Star Trek' theme song

Controversially, "Star Trek" creator Gene Roddenberry penned lyrics to Alexander Courage’s theme song even though he never intended to use them for the show. Why? Because under their contract, writing lyrics – even unused ones – meant Roddenberry would get half of the royalties for the song.

The lyrics:
Beyond
The rim of the star-light
My love
Is wand’ring in star-flight
I know
He’ll find in star-clustered reaches
Love,
Strange love a star woman teaches.
I know
His journey ends never
His star trek
Will go on forever.
But tell him
While he wanders his starry sea
Remember, remember me

Can’t quite put the words with the tune? Listen to Tenacious D putting their spin on the sci-fi classic here.

The 'Bonanza' theme song

The pilot episode of "Bonanza" featured the Cartwrights singing a little ditty. “We nearly fell off our horses from laughing so hard,” Michael Landon later recalled. Apparently producers realized that it was a little silly as well since they ended up scrapping the lyrics for music only. Here’s Ben Cartwright himself – AKA actor Lorne Greene – doing his version.

Here’s a different version by Johnny Cash, who changed the lyrics a bit.

Please follow The Wire on Twitter and Facebook.

Artist Henry Leutwyler has been collaborating with the New York City Ballet for four years, even receiving an unprecedented all-access backstage pass this past winter to photograph the dancers.

From classes to rehearsals, opening to closing nights, Leutwyler was allowed to photograph the unguarded moments of the over 90 dancers in the company.

Now that his new book BALLET has been released and his images are on display at the New York's Foley Gallery, we can finally peek behind the red velvet curtain, too.

Founded in 1948, the New York City Ballet is the most famous ballet company in America.

It performs a total of 65 ballets each year.

Source: New York City Ballet

It's the only ballet company in the country to have its own permanent costume shop.

Source: New York City Ballet

Please follow The Life on Twitter and Facebook.

Good excuses for a December break, from migrating butterflies in Mexico to Santa spotting in Lapland.

Edinburgh - for Hogmanay

No city parties quite like Edinburgh on New Year’s Eve.

It’s very much a public event and easy to feel part of it.

Events get going on December 30 with a torchlit procession and an opening party in Revolution Square starting at 5pm, and continue until January 2. Full details of timings and tickets are on www.edinburghshogmanay.org.

For other things to do in Edinburgh, and suggested places to stay, see our expert guide to the city.

Vienna - for New Year

Edinburgh does New Year in style, but not quite the style of Vienna with its spectacular balls, concerts, operas and operettas.

The most useful guide to the different events, including details of how to book tickets to one of the balls, is found at the tourist board website.

Germany - for the festive spirit

No country does Christmas markets quite like Germany, from the sausage and gluwein, to the toys and picturesque settings, and the majority have already opened their doors.

The best places to go are Nuremberg, one of Europe's most enchanting medieval cities, Munich, or — for something more contemporary — Berlin.

Berlin city break guide

Please follow The Life on Twitter and Facebook.

So you’ve got a label-loving lady in your life, but you’re terrified that her high-end taste will leave you penniless this holiday.

Relax. It’s easy to suit her style without breaking the bank.

With this fashion-friendly gift guide, she can wear her heart—or whom she hearts—on her sleeve for less!

Tory Burch: Logo Thong Flip Flops

Women adore Tory. Her brand has built a cult-like following over the last decade thanks to her pretty-in-prep style.

Though the signature Tory Burch ballet flats are a little (read: a lot) out of our price range, you can still score the eponymous T logo with these adorably chic Logo Thong Flip Flops ($50) at Saks Fifth Avenue in your choice of black-and-white or winter teal.

(Until December 31, save up to 40 percent off select designer styles with Saks Fifth Avenue coupons.)

Marc by Marc Jacobs: The Jacobs Tote

This one’s in the bag. Coming in at a mere $35, the Jacobs Tote is the perfect little cotton-canvas carryall.

And it aptly represents Marc Jacobs’ stylishly quirky sense of humor by simply stating, “Jacobs by Marc Jacobs for Marc by Marc Jacobs in collaboration with Marc Jacobs for Marc by Marc Jacobs.”

(Get free shipping on all orders of $150 or more with Marc Jacobs coupons.)

Jonathan Adler: Carnaby Acid Palm Mug

Home decor and furniture designer Jonathan Adler offers a bevy of great gifts under $50 this season.

He’s best known for his ceramic work, so why not warm her heart—and home—with the cheeky Squirrel Match Strike ($42)?

You could also opt for the neon-chic Carnaby Acid Palm Mug ($18).

Since it’s under $20, you could buy two and still be on budget. (Spy these Jonathan Adler coupons before you check out.)

Please follow Your Money on Twitter and Facebook.

The House of Representatives will have several fresh faces among the ranks in the upcoming term. 

The 2012 election was a particularly strong year for challengers — a whopping 66 new members will head to Washington when the 113th Congress kicks off in January. 

With close to 15 percent of the new House comprised of fresh faces, there are a lot of new people to meet. 

We've checked them out, and compiled a list of the 12 members who, because of their strange back-stories or all-star potential, are bound to make life on Capitol Hill more interesting next year. 

Krysten Sinema (D-AZ)

Sinema, the first openly bisexual person elected to Congress, is one of the most fascinating up-and-comers in the Democratic Party.

A Tucson native, Sinema spent several years of her childhood living with her family in an abandoned gas station without running water or electricity. Despite her poor background, she graduated as valedictorian of her high-school class, and went on to graduate from Brigham Young University and earn three advanced degrees, in law, social work, and justice studies. 

Sinema entered politics in 2005 as a member of the Arizona state legislature. She has earned a reputation for her fierce liberal politics, even taking on Arizona's controversial Sheriff Joe Arpaio. In 2010, TIME magazine named her to its 40 Under 40 list.

Source: The Almanac Of American Politics, The New York Times

Ted Yoho (R-FL)

Yoho, a large animal veterinarian from Gainesville, scored one of the most shocking upsets of the 2012 primaries, defeating 12-term Republican Congressman Cliff Stearns by fewer than 1,000 votes.

During the primary, Yoho made a national media splash for his unconventional campaign, which included a fundraiser with a George W. Bush impersonator and a Herman Cain-style ad featuring "career politicians" rolling around in a pig trough. 

Yoho will carry the Tea Party torch in the 113th Congress, filling the role vacated by departing representatives like Florida's Allen West. Last week, he made it clear he won't march in lockstep with the Republican Establishment when he told NPR that he doesn't plan on signing Grover Norquist's anti-tax pledge. 

Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI)

Despite being just 31 years old, Gabbard is already considered a rising star in the Democratic Party. She will be the first Hindu member, and, along with Democratic Representative-elect Tammy Duckworth, one of the first female combat veterans to serve in Congress.

Gabbard got her start in politics, when she was elected to the Hawaii state legislature at age 21, making her the youngest female state representative ever elected in the U.S. 

While serving as a state lawmaker, Gabbard joined the Hawaii National Guard. In 2004, she opted out of a second term to voluntarily deploy to Iraq with a field medical unit. She went on to attend Officer Candidate School in Alabama, where she was the first woman to ever graduate at the top of her class, and voluntarily deployed again in 2008, serving as a military police platoon leader training counterterrorism units in Kuwait. 

After returning from her deployment in 2009, Gabbard co-founded the environmental educational nonprofit Healthy Hawaii Coalition, started her own film production company, and served on the Honolulu City Council. 

Source: Tulsi Gabbard 2012

Please follow Politics on Twitter and Facebook.

Do you have a politically obsessive person on your list this year?

Whether they prefer the neutral "Happy Holidays" or are a frontline soldier in the War on Christmas, we've scoured the internet to find the best presents for the political junkie in your life.

Heat-activated Global Warming mug

The Unemployed Philosophers Guild has a number of great products for the politically involved.

If you're buying for an environmentalist, you've got to check out this mug.

When it's empty, there's a standard map of the world.

When you pour in hot liquid, the seas rise and show a post-climate change map. 

Unemployed Philosophers Guild: $15

"Political Party In My Pants" Silk Panties

Are you in a relationship with a partisan hack?

Get them these innovative undergarments, from Etsy. 

SoloJones/Etsy: $25.00

(GOP Version)

BONUS: Ron Paul Thong — $10

A life-size poster of their favorite vice presidential candidate

This six-foot-two, life-sized poster of 2012 Republican vice-presidential candidate Paul Ryan is a tasteful addition to any Republican's wall. 

As product reviewer mkayreagan puts it: "Quality is excellent, sturdy enough to hold til 2016."

Amazon: $39

See Also: Barack Obama, Mitt Romney, Joe Biden

Please follow Politics on Twitter and Facebook.