I wrote:

> I've added every google host-name I can find to my (arguably dated)
> copy of the MVPS hosts file - while still allowing the basic google
> search page and google-maps to operate that is. I've also added
> every twitter and feacesbook host I can find to completely rid by
> browser of those web-cancers.
>
> So I guess it's conceivable that my "enhancements" could be why
> I'm seeing increasing bogging while browsing.

See also:

http://blog.patrickmeenan.com/

============
Browsing the broken web

For the purposes of this example I'll be "breaking" the twitter,
Facebook and Google buttons as well as the Google API server (jquery,
etc) and Google Analytics.

Now that we have a blackhole server, breaking the web is just a matter
of populating some entries in your hosts file
(C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts on windows). Go ahead and add
these entries and save the updated hosts file:


72.66.115.13 ajax.googleapis.com
72.66.115.13 apis.google.com
72.66.115.13 www.google-analytics.com
72.66.115.13 connect.facebook.net
72.66.115.13 platform.twitter.com

....and go browse the web. It shouldn't take you long to find a site
that is infuriatingly painful to browse. Congratulations, you just
experienced a Frontend SPOF - now go fix it so your users don't have to
feel the same pain (assuming it is a site you control, otherwise just
yell at the owner).
==============

The IP 72.66.115.13 is blackhole.webpagetest.org, a "server" set up by
the author such that it can be routed to, but drops all connections. I
don't know why that was necessary (or what the difference is) in using
local host (127.0.0.1) which I would think would give the same behavior.

I do have all the above host-names in my HOSTS file, BTW.

I would really appreciate it if someone here can tell me the purpose of
ajax.googleapis.com. As in - what is it designed to serve up - and how
does my web-experience change if I block it.