Hi Carol,
I really don't think it's a "nasty" - I'm pleased to say

Over the last few weeks I've sometimes received such a message (though not in the last few days) - I've assumed it's just some glitch on the LDS site. So I tried again a couple of minutes later and all was well.
People on other genealogical sites have reported the same thing.
The recent slowness of the site is, I think, something to do with them implementing updates/upgrades.
A specific part of the site which has had problems in the last few days is the Census. For a while it wouldn't work at all. Then it sort-of worked ... One could use it but could not select a specific census, or certain parameters. And relationships were in the index but not in the household screens. It still seems to be having problems ...
But the site as a whole is, I'm pleased to say, working beautifully and really fast for me.
I guess we just have to be patient!
JAP