Make sure you didn't miss anything with this list of the Best of the Week in the Cloud Zone (Jan. 24 to Jan. 30). Here they are, in order of popularity:

1. In IaaS and PaaS Convergence, It’s PaaS That Should Lead

Do consumers really care about the difference between IaaS and PaaS? The answer to this question is most likely, no, but that doesn't eliminate the need for distinction. It merely is a matter of how best to deliver the value of cloud computing to users.

2. Clojure and CloudStack

This article is to give you a full taste of the functional programming when using Clojure with CloudStack. The article includes instructions for installing everything you need to operate these tools, and gives you an idea of how they will be utilized.

3. TechNet Radio: Delivering Results – How PoliticalTracker uses Windows Azure and More!

The most recent episode of TechNet Radio includes an exclusive interview with the CEO and COO of PoliticalTracker.com. In the video, they discuss a new website design for the website, as well as how they use online solutions such as Windows Azure and Visual Studio Online.

4. Monitoring the Performance of Multi-Tiered Windows Azure Applications

Multi-tiered applications are notoriously difficult to troubleshoot, especially when hosted in cloud infrastructures. When there is an outage or when performance slows, it is difficult to identify the root cause or location of the issue. This article can help you negate and overcome those challenges.

5. Are we taking enough responsibility for confusion about the cloud?

Most lay people don't understand what the cloud is. This is hardly breaking news, but is the IT industry taking enough responsibility for this lack of knowledge?