[...] For DNS, EasyDNS (https://web.easydns.com/DNS_hosting.php) are rather good and not too expensive, and you can get a 100% up-time guarantee if you want. A review of them regarding availability is at http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/01/31/why_i_use_easydns/
I have been a very satisfied EasyDNS customer for about a decade and concur with the article. Nothing is perfect, but the rapid response and support I've received have always been top-notch.
Do let us know who you end up picking and how it goes.
Indeed. "Cloud" outside of references to mists and objects in the sky is a completely meaningless term for operators. In fact, it has made it harder to differentiate between services (which I'm sure is the point). As an operator (knowing how things can be subject to accelerated roll-out when $business feels they are missing out), I wonder if a lot of these "cloud" service bumps-in-the-road aren't just a symptom of not being fully baked in. ~JasonG