gistfile1.js

/* in main */

MyApp.userDefaults.defaults({
  "MyApp:searches": [
      {'query': 'Foo', 'count': 99}
      ,{'query': 'Bar', 'count': 0}
    ]
  }
});

/* Array Controller */
MyApp.searchController = SC.ArrayController.create({
  contentBinding: SC.Binding.oneWay(MyApp.userDefaults.getPath('MyApp:searches'))
});

/* in the list view */

,contentBinding: "MyApp.searchController.arrangedObjects"
,contentValueKey: "query"
,contentUnreadCountKey: "count"