Facebook down, what will we do

Currently there is an international Crisis... Facebook Pages and Timeline went down, around 10:00 a.m. EST,  but users say they things appear to function normally on their News Feeds.
This disruption seemed to affect users globally as Facebook users from San Diego, Calif.; the Dominican Republic; New York City, N.Y.; and more, according to several comments posted on Twitter with the hashtag #Facebook.

Websites that check for updates like Is It Down Right Now  are commenting:

 "We have tried pinging Facebook website using our server and the website returned the above results. If facebook.com is down for us too there is nothing you can do except waiting. Probably the server is overloaded, down or unreachable because of a network problem, outage or a website maintenance is in progress.."

 and the site Down Right Now which monitors the status of your favorite web services, combining user reports and official announcements to tell you when there's service trouble, are listing this as a server error. These sites are flooded with comments about problems accessing pages outside of Facebook’s homepage.

Facebook has made no comment as of the time of this post regarding an estimated return to normal schedule.  

TxDOT kicks off US 77 project 8-20-13

WAXAHACHIE – Ground has broken on a TxDOT project that will improve safety along US 77. This will involve constructing a raised median from Overhill Drive to just south of YMCA Drive.

 

Traffic signals will also be upgraded at Kirksey, Northgate Shopping Center, Indian Drive and Northgate Drive. The upgraded signals will have the new flashing yellow arrow left-turn light replacing the circular green light indicating it’s safe to turn left when oncoming traffic has passed.

 

The signal at the southbound US 287 service road will be adjusted to coordinate with those signals for smoother flowing traffic through the corridor.

 

The third part of the project will be to modify the outside median along northbound US 77 at US 287 widening the travel lane in front of Walmart to the entrance of the Target shopping center.

 

This project was requested by the City of Waxahachie after a traffic study concluded that installing the raised median and removing the existing center-median would improve operation and safety along the corridor.

 

Work requiring lane closures will be performed at night, between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. the next morning. The work is estimated to be complete in January 2014.

 

The $1,755,231.90 contract was awarded to O. Trevino Construction of Roanoke, Texas, and was funded with 87% federal funds and 13% state funds.

 

Road conditions and traffic updates are available on the drivetexas.org website, on Facebook, www.facebook.com/txdot and Twitter, www.twitter.com/txdot orwww.twitter.com/txdotdallaspio.

 

For more information, contact TxDOT Dallas District PIO Michelle Releford atmichelle.releford@txdot.gov or 214-320-4485.                                 ###

4 Mistakes to Avoid During a Downturn Economy

Written by:
Randall Chase
Membership Director
Waxahachie Chamber of Commerce

There have been quite a few ups and downs lately, the Dow was down the NASDAQ was up, your budgets were down (hopefully) your profits are up. CNN just called the U.S. economy 'prettiest house on an ugly block'. This roller coaster we call business has a tendency to throw us into firefighting mode but it’s very important to remain calm and keep in mind some simple keys to success in a down turned economy.

There are 4 mistakes to avoid, helping make your upswing a successful one.

Mistake #1 Hasty Hiring: The thought that if you fire your staff and start new you can get great results.  

Real Result: Bad hires that are costly and time consuming. As the saying goes “it’s better to be alone than wish you were.” If you must start with new folks then it’s better to try out new staff members as independent contractors first or temp to hire. Then, after you’re confident that they work well with your team and share your values, bring them on as permanent hires, if it’s just not working out, you have made no commitments and it’s on to prospect #2.

Mistake #2 Pausing Your Profit: No one consciously does this, but it happens all the time.  

Real Result: By spending extra time propping up ailing products, divisions or accounts you may just end up discouraging your own growth. Always remember the 80/20 principle: 20% of your product make 80% of your profit, focus on that 20%. Consider offering commissions for selling higher $ items. This will in turn encourage sales from the staff and boost the bottom line.

Mistake #3 Skipping the Six-Month Plan: During a downturn is not the time to put a hold on planning.

Real Result: A scattered focus getting nothing accomplished. With a six-month plan, you will have mapped out the projects for the immediate, foreseeable future and can skillfully avoid manic distractions with poor results.

Mistake #4 Chasing All Sales Leads: The thought that you must close every one that comes in the door, right then. 

Real Result: The key is getting to know your client better, and then you may see a referral from them down the road. Be genuine, and listen to them, don't always try to close them, get to know them. Through networking groups like Ambassadors or Lunch Bunch and Fun Bunch we can give you the opportunity build that connection. Just because you have a name and number doesn't mean they are in your market. Look at (or create some) key indicators of who is buying what you are selling, and spend your time on those folks, and try to understand your client on a personal level.