Many of the blogs I read are by local authors. The niche each blog fits can be wide ranging and might not even be something I would read normally; but I don’t read just any local blog. Instead, the fact that they are local causes me to check them out the first time, but it is the style of writing and interest factor that will gain them a place in my Google Reader.

Darren Barefoot is a Vancouver blogger who I would follow even if he was not local. In fact, he’s quite famous on the internet, and has one of the top 2000 blogs according to Technorati. This is an impressive number alone when you realize that Technorati tracks 86.8 million blogs; but even more impressive when you consider that Darren writes simply because he wants to, and does not actively promote his blog like most of the others holding the top spots. His own description of himself on Technorati is:

The personal weblog of Darren Barefoot, concerned with technology, pop culture, marketing and PR, science and whatever floats Darren’s boat.

The description alone should explain why I read him, he is what the modern geek is about; interested in technology, science and the traditional geeky items, but an not introverted dweeb unaware of the world around him. A successful technologist and owner of his own company, he still finds time to find many different interesting items in the news and on the internet; more than I ever find. His posts are brief but informative, and can be quite intellectual without offsetting those looking for an interesting read, a tricky balance that he does quite well.

Darren and his wife recently sold almost everything they had in Vancouver and moved to Malta for six months, and will begin again anew when they return to build a house on Pender Island. Current postings include accounts of travels around Malta and Europe, with a similar interest in the cultures he encounters. He is also an avid photographer, which is a passion of my own in which I hope to soon re-indulge. I have therefore added him as a contact in Flickr in order to both appreciate his creations and to travel vicariously. A geek who is into travel and photography will always peak my interest.

An additional attraction that applies to all locals who stay in my reader is one that likely appeals to all of us; when he writes about the local park’s storm damage, his favorite hockey team, or his issues with a local credit union; we all connect better with someone who is writing about something with which we are familiar. Combine this familiarity with a casual writing style that flows well, and it feels as if you are reading something from a good friend. But in reality, the relationship is more the one has with a celebrity, in that he wouldn’t know me if I walked right up to him, but if I recognized across the room while out at a local establishment, I’d feel like he was a friend I hadn’t seen in a long time and would want to buy him a beer.

Edit: I almost forgot that it is through him that I discovered and won the Canuck’s Jersey contest, and so I already owe him a beer.

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