As 2010 draws to a close, it's time for The Lists. You know, the ones recounting everything that happened in the past year: the 10 best movies, the top 10 fashion trends, the 10 least-likely-to-be-kept promises by politicians, and so forth. But there is another list—a list of crimes that made headlines in 2010, some for their strangeness, some for their brutality. We don't have to look across the nation or the world to compile this list. There were plenty of startling events in our collective backyards. 1. Chelsea King's Murder The first, the worst, and most obviously horrendous crime of 2010…

There's still time to take action that might save money on your 2010 tax return before April 15 arrives. The Internal Revenue Service suggests taking a second look at these areas of tax planning: Charitable Contributions—Make 2010 deductible charitable contributions no later than Dec. 31. If the taxpayer's goal is a legitimate tax deduction, give to a qualified public charity and keep a paper trail. Clothing and household items must generally be in good used condition or better to be deductible. Donations charged to a credit card by Dec. 31 are deductible for 2010 even if the bill is paid in …

 The first year in the new decade brought both breathtaking designs and ideas that should never have been executed. Either way, a number of trends took off this year. Here are the top 10 trends of 2010.

We're marking Rancho Bernardo Patch's two-month anniversary with a look back at some of the best photos since our launch on Oct. 28. The site went live just in time for Halloween, perfect timing to capture all of the costume fun at the Rancho Bernardo Inn shown in the first photo in the gallery. These photos also offer a snapshot of some of the places Patch has been in the past two months. Basically, we've been all around: From City Hall to elementary school concerts, Patch has been there. Interested in the stories behind the photos? Check the links under "See More on Patch."

Here are Patch's picks for the top films of 2010: 10. Never Let Me Go: Taking place in a dystopian version of Britain, the film shows Ruth, Kathy and Tommy spending their childhood at the same peculiar English boarding school and later developing a love triangle. The three are actually scientific specimens created to donate their organs to sickly patients, and they must deal with what they are. Despite the film having a story so distinct and not directly relatable, we are still swept up by it because the film is essentially a tale about finding yourself in the world, and accepting your …