Checking out the latest in my RSS reader is the way I start the day. Over the past few years a myriad of blogs and news feeds have come and gone from it, however these five have survived. I guess that means I rate them pretty highly.

notcot

Notcot.org is like a directory of everything cool. From architecture to furniture, graphic design to gadgets, Notcot features the hottest new stuff from all over the web. It will make you wish that you had more money to buy all these awesome things.

Seth Godin's blog

I am a big fan of Seth Godin's books, and even more so of his blog. It is probably the only blog that I literally read every single post as it goes up. A must read for anyone working in the marketing industry (and in my opinion anyone who works in business full stop), Seth's (almost) daily posts are challenging, inspirational, and thought-provoking.If you are looking for your next big idea, reading back through Seth's writing is a great way to get the gears in motion.

Swiss Miss

Swiss Miss is run by Tina Roth Eisenberg, a Swiss (surprise, surprise) designer in New York. What started for Tina as a personal visual archive has grown into one of the most popular design blogs on the web today. If you take the time to check out some of Tina's posts you will understand why. She has a great eye for spotting beautiful, interesting things from across the design spectrum.

Mashable

Mashable is a blog billed as 'the social media guide'. If you are like me and need to keep up with the latest trends on the web, and particularly in the social media and 'web 2.0' spaces then Mashable is a great place to start. A brief warning though: the content comes thick and fast, so be prepared for a rough ride if you are trying to keep up with every intricate detail.

Computerlove

Who doesn't like pretty pictures? Computerlove features great design from around the world. There is a lot more to it than just the news feed, particularly if you are a designer or creative professional. It is kind of like a social network for creatives. I like having the main news feed in my reader though. It keeps a steady stream of awesome design my way every day.