What To Do When The Website Is Down

I guess you could always fire off Solitaire, make Coffee, or talk nice to those around you, but this is a very different story.

Over the weekend I had a quest.  It started on Friday when I had gotten the call that I was wanted to come in for an interview.  The company is one that I have been targeting for a while, would be a great opportunity, and I'm looking forward to getting to see the place. 

There's only one problem.  Directions. 

I was given the company website for their maps, thanked the person who I was speaking with, and went on my merry way.

Typing in the website, I waited... nothing happened.

Realizing it could be my own laptop, or some of the security software I run here, I twiddled around with settings, used a different browser, then tried it on another computer since all were available at the touch of a mouse click.  After all, I had been to that very same website just earlier that day for a different reason and it was happily up and running.
 
Still nothing.

Oh great, another "challenge".

One thing I remembered is that there were websites that you could check to see if someone else's website was running.  So I keyed in the URL into the link on the website box for www.downforeveryoneorjustme.com and it said helpfully that "It's Not Just You" and it looked down to them.   Helpful site for this sort of thing.

It remained down all weekend.  Someone needed to "Feed the Squirrels" as we would say, and get that server back up again.

Ok, so now what?

We all have our favorite web search sites, some like www.google.com  others like www.bing.com or www.yahoo.com.  Lately I've been going to www.startpage.com since it uses Google for its searches, but doesn't have the IP Reporting thing since I don't really like being watched.

Clicking on the helpful "Images" link up top, I was able to find my map in two clicks.   I was also able to find an Org chart for the department and some other background information.  Very helpful.

Success!  The map is printed out, my directions are printed out, and I have my resume on some very nice "palm fiber" paper.   I always did like high quality paper, it's something that nobody else may notice but it makes me feel better and isn't that what it's all about when you're going to that important interview?

I'll let them know their map site is or was down when I get there.