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Yep, you got it, another list. However, if you take the time to read about these people you may just find that this post is more about excellence than link bait.

As bloggers, we see these people quoted, outlined and even pinned on unbecoming mashups around the Web. The defining constant among these people however, is excellence.

All of us can learn a little by studying and emulating the efforts and methods of these great bloggers and interesting people.

Richard MacManus

Richard MacManus is the founder and editor of ReadWriteWeb, one of the Internet’s premier blogs and perhaps the finest technology analysis site on the Web.  MacManus is a native of Wellington New Zealand and he has worked for some of New Zealand’s leading organizations as a Web Manager. Richard started and ran the Web 2.0 Explorer blog at ZDNet and he is co-founder and Executive Editor of Micro Media Corporation.

ReadWriteWeb is however Richard’s crowning achievement, There is really not a more in depth and detailed analysis blog on the planet and Richard has put his heart, soul and journalistic talent to work there. This blog is listed as one of the top 20 blogs in the world by Technorati, and according to the about page, number 15 as of December of 2007. The readership of RWW boasts some of the most influential and knowledgeable people of business and the Web, and the content there is regarded as virtual law for its readership. In a who’s who of blog editors, Richard is either at or near the top on anyone’s list.

I was lucky enough to work for Richard, and as you might expect he is the consummate professional. Beyond that he is simply a kind and intelligent person who is very approachable. Even though I cannot type and I tend to be rather wordy, Richard always admired my passion for the subject and overlooked the ramble on nature of my posts. He is a guy I am proud to call friend.

Michael Arrington

Michael Arrington is the founder and editor of TechCrunch, the world’s most renowned technology blog. Michael grew up California and England and attended U:C: Berkeley. He later graduated Stanford, obtained is Law degree in 1995 and then worked for a time as a corporate attorney dealing with Technology companies. During the dot-com era Michael co-founded a company called Achex, which was later sold for a tidy profit and eventually became the backend infrastructure for Western Union online.

Michael started TechCrunch back in 2005 and quickly built the blog into the world’s most widely known and most respected technology blogs. Michael is a consummate professional and though he considers TC a hobby, no one could work at a real job more diligently than Mike does at his hobby.

I remember once I was asked to review a fantastic startup called Streamy, and I was the very first blogger to get a peek. The second day I went back to the site to gather more information only to find that Pete Cashmore of Mashable and Mike had been there in my absence. Needless to say they broke the story before me, but in talking with co-founder Donald Mosites, he related to me that Michael had spent quite a bit of time really scoping out the new development. So as you can see, Mike does not take very much for granted (except maybe my emails) – perhaps this is one of his keys to success (No, not ignoring my emails -the other stuff)?

Pete Cashmore

Pete Cashmore is an Internet entrepreneur, consultant, writer and founder of Mashable, another one of the Web’s premier blogs. Pete started Mashable back in 2005 and built up one of the most visited and respected Web 2.0 and technology blogs in the world. If there is one thing to know about Pete it is that he obviously never sleeps – ever. Mashable was built up primarily to focus on social networks like MySapce and Bebo, but it has expanded to cover Web 2.0 startups and other subjects. The site is reported to have over 5 million visitors per month and judging from what I know of Pete, he can tell you how much change is in the pockets of every one of them.

I had the pleasure of working with Pete for a spell back in 2007 and I was amazed at the level of energy this man has. I remember once he messaged me and asked if I could write a short article. I said yes of course, to which he responded: “Ok, here is the press release, can you have it ready in 20 minutes?’ I was astonished that he expected so much in such a short time, but Pete just said: “It’s a press release, what is the problem?” Some people are taken aback by Pete’s vigor, but you just have to accept him for what he is, hard driving, intelligent and demanding. I think this is another key to success, not letting anything stop you.

Tim O’Reilly

Tim O’Reilly is the founder of O’Reilly Media, a company that publishes books and Web sites, along with conferences on computer technology topics. Born in Cork, Ireland – O’Reilly graduated from Harvard and later he was on the board of directors of Macromedia until it merged with Adobe in 2005. Though not primarily a blogger, Tim does maintain a blog called O’Reilly Radar, where Open Source and Technology topics, among other things, are discussed. This is an excellent blog and Tim is a very accomplished author and speaker, but he populates this list primarily because of his involvement in Open Source and also because he is widely accepted to have coined the term “Web 2.0.”

O’Reilly is one of the most influential celebrities of the Web and can probably be given at least some of the credit for the “blog revolution” that took the Net by storm a couple of years ago. O’Reilly was one of the first investors in Blogger which helped spur a new type of media with the blog. I used to take issue with whether not Web 2.0 was a concoction by O’Reilly and other traditional media leaders, but in effect the term has become the thing and vice versa. There is no question that O’Reilly is one of the most brilliant and successful Web entrepreneurs as well as a great blogger in his own right. If you get the chance you should check out the was Tim writes, it is like reading verse about Web 2.0.

Darren Rowse

Darren Rowse is the creator of Problogger. Darren started his blogging career as a hobby back in 2002 on sort of a whim. It is amazing how things can grow from a simple interest and Darren has proven that a small seed can indeed grow into an oak with many branches. Problogger, one of the most respected blog of any kind on the Web, has not branched off via B5 Media, into a network of hundreds of blogs covering virtually every subject.

Problogger is dedicated to helping other bloggers tune their craft and promoting the blog network around the world. Darren blogs full time and focuses energy like many of the other bloggers in this expose. Darren professes on his about page that he is not selling anything, and how would he have the time any way. I am always amazed at the level of writing and dedication some of these people have to their craft and Darren is certainly a model by which all others can be measured. If you ever need help in your blogging adventures, Problogger is the Mecca for blogging.

Catherine (cat) Morley

Catherine (cat) Morley is somewhat less well known than the Arrington’s of the world, but no less professional or dedicated. Catherine is the creator of Creative Latitude, which was essentially launched from her About.com design forum. Unlike the other fine bloggers featured here, Catherine is a designer who has traveled extensively and brings her content from personal experience and a lifestyle born of paradise.

Catherine’s newest blog, Designers Who Blog, is specifically tailored for designers sharing thoughts and essentially an experiential journey through the world of design. Just as Arrington and MacManus are deeply rooted in technology and Web 2.0, Catherine is dedicated to that thing she loves – design. This is one of the most interesting, and perhaps under publicized Web personalities out there, particularly given the exquisite content and value of her sites. I may get some static for not highlighting a more “high profile” blogger, but this business is not just about numbers, it is about dedication, professionalism and of course quality -Catherine is a class act.

So, there we have it, a no-holds-barred list of 6 of the very best bloggers on this orb. I know we missed someone, this is the way of lists after all. However, no one who works this list can dispute the unerring dedication and quality of what these people have produced and continue to unveil for all of us.