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Above, images that shaped our world in 2008

The Best of 2008: Portraits
Times photographers pick some favorites, including Evan Rachel Wood, Angelina Jolie and Beck.

Best & Worst 2008: The Weird Wide Web
The young Web may not yet be a font of high culture, but when it comes to bringing the strangest human activities to the surface, it's nonpareil.

Best & Worst 2008: Reasons to fear 2009
More reality TV? A SAG strike? Read on … if you dare.

Best & Worst 2008: Disses, feuds, slights and slams
Public spats by Rosie and Barbara, Taylor and Joe, Angelina and Jennifer and more.

Best & Worst 2008: The year in Vegas
The Monte Carlo fire may have been an ominous sign of what was to come.

Best & Worst 2008: Unanswered questions
What's in the future for Batman, Eminem and the "Watchmen"?

Best & Worst 2008: Surprise! It didn't stink!
From "Wanted" to "Camp Rock," some things that were better than we thought.

Best & Worst 2008: TV moments
"Rosie Live" left quickly. Tina Fey brought Sarah palin to life on "SNL." David Letterman ripped John McCain, a few times. We compile some of the best viewing tidbits from the past year.

Best & Worst 2008: Most shocking headlines
Heath Ledger, Madonna, Britney Spears and Herbie Hancock topped the news this year.

Best & Worst 2008: Ann Powers pop music list
The genre got further fragmented, but there were standouts nonetheless.

Best & Worst 2008:  Pop R.I.P.
Are you ready to say goodbye? This month marks the end of 2008, and with it, the end of a slew of pop culture phenomena.

Best & Worst 2008: Searching for meaning (top searches)
Hot chicks, video games and the next president of the United States -- they all took over our collective consciousness in 2008, at least according to the top Internet searches on Yahoo.

Best & Worst 2008: Breakout stars
Who was hot in 2008: Katy Perry, Demi Lovato, Russell Brand, David Cook, David Archuleta, Leona Lewis, M.I.A., Duffy, Sarah Palin and more.

Best & Worst 2008: Kenneth Turan's movie picks
Chief film critic Kenneth Turan discusses the year's most intriguing films.

Best & Worst 2008: Mary McNamara's TV picks
Chief TV critic Mary McNamara talks about the year's most talked about TV.

Best & Worst 2008: Robert Lloyd's TV picks
TV critic Robert Lloyd gives a rundown of the year in noteworthy TV.

Best and worst of the Democratic National Convention
Best speeches, moments and more.

Best and worst of the Republican National Convention
Highlights and lowlights from John McCain, Sarah Palin and George Bush.

Best & Worst of the Olympics
Greatest accomplishments, awkward moments and more.

Best & Worst 2008: Comic-Con
"Twilight" girls, an awesome "Watchmen" trailer and a no-show by Jennifer Love Hewitt were just some of the high- and lowlights of this year's Con.

Best of 2008: Arts & Entertainment photography
The Oscars, Grammys, Golden Globes ... the list goes on. The Times' coverage in 2008 of the Arts & Entertainment world produced compelling images of all its stars.

Best of 2008: The Envelope photography
The stars shined bright this year in The Envelope with Johnny Depp, "Changeling" star Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, star of "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button." Also see Mickey Rourke, who is quite the comeback story.