7. SaundersLog

Blogger: Alec Saunders

Why him? Saunders is the co-founder of Iotum, a startup focused on communication technologies, but his blog covers the gamut of VoIP, the Web and business/technology interconnections. He probably attracted the most attention when he published "Privacy Manifesto for a Web 2.0 Era" on GigaOm, one of the Internet's most popular blogs.

Sample post: "Every customer has the right to know the purpose for which data is being collected, in advance. Corporations must spell out their intent, in advance, and not deviate from that intent. Reasonable limits must be imposed on the collection of personal information that are consistent with the purpose for which it is being collected. Furthermore, the common practice of inserting language into privacy policies stating that the terms may be modified without notice should be banned. If the corporation collecting data wishes to change its policy, then it's incumbent upon the corporation to obtain the consent of customers in advance."

8. My Name Is Kate

Blogger: Kate Trgovac

Why her? Because marketers are among the first business users to make use of cloud-based Web tools without the IT department knowing anything about it. Because this particular marketer once dabbled as a system admin in the Unix days, and knows from Perl scripting. Because reading her blog offers a good sense of how Internet-savvy employees will use IT to collaborate and manage information.

Sample post: "My primary audience for my Blog -- the designed manifestation of MNIK -- is me. I decorate it...like I do my home. I use it to collect links that are important to me and it serves as a personal portal (not my only one, but a significant one). And there was a time when I had more widgets on my Blog because they gave me value, not necessarily my audience."

9. Startup North

Blogger: Jevon McDonald

Why him? If Canada has a Tech Crunch -- the blog that tracks the rise and fall (and occasional resurrection) of various software and hardware firms -- it's Startup North, which focuses on early-stage companies. Part newsgather, part industry social convenor, McDonald and his partners provide capsule reviews of many ones-to-watch that could eventually offer something of interest to IT managers or their users. And, if you've ever thought of branching out on your own, you'll never find a better primer on angel financing.

Sample post: "My favorite startups have all started on the crazy side of nutty. You can look at the now-established former starts that began as simply out-there ideas. Amazon.com was going to sell books, by mail order, via the Internet, in 1994. I can promise you, more than a few people probably rolled their eyes when Jeff Bezos pitched them... The difference between your bright idea and the ideas of a dozen other people is that you will get down to it and deliver. Build the product, test the market, sell."