“Cloud” is basically another metaphor for the Internet, like web, but the focus is on services offered over the Internet that used to be limited to local apps. The web metaphor still applies, but it’s such a complex and multi-layered web that the structure is less easily discerned.

I liken it to drawing a mindmap with an endless stream of ideas layered on top of it. Early on, it looks like a web, but as the ideas get added it grows into an amorphous mass. Or think of it as being many different nodes that are tied together like the water molecules that make up a cloud. Either way, I think it’s an apt metaphor.

I also agree it’s a complete waste of money for most organizations to buy the infrastructure to support massive surges in traffic. However, there are certain entities– and I feel the major news sources and any type of “infrastructure business” (power, communications, etc) are an example– that need to be capable at any given moment (waste or not otherwise) to handle those loads in the event of a true emergency.

At the bare minimum, they should at least have the sense to have “burstable” services in which they pay for X amount of traffic burstable to double in heavy load circumstances. This is the type of service my data center provides me with, so others should be taking advantage of it if they’re not.

I never noticed it change at all. of course, i live in the japanese countryside and my internet connection is already slow as hell. =P

Basically, the issue is that one need to have as much hardware as needed to keep up with what one see as the average load, but not so much that its a waste of money to maintain it.

This result in a setup that will never be able to handle sudden surges of activity.

I have seen the same with mobile phone networks and vacations, where people insist on gathering in some specific area, resulting in a much higher usage then average. Or for that matter new years, when the amount of calls and text messages really peaks.

All in all, economic efficiency results in a lack of redundant capacity…