How about use this period to test out https://steemitstage.com! 

Let's help the steemit devs! Steem (blockchain) isn't down; has never been! 

Hive account@busy.org is in test phase but works well. You can also use that, if your current intention is to create a post. However, if you would like to vote with sliders, you may want to do that with https://steemitstage.com currently as it works and i am currently responding to my comments and curating as well.

Features like slider votes are being worked upon to be added by Hive account@busy.org according to Hive account@fabien. All other features on the new Hive account@busy.org beta interface work awesomely, even transfers and steemconnect v2. 

https://steemitstage.com

Is like sandbox for steemit devs, to help them with optimization of steemit.com. The interface is practically just like steemit.com, however, tests are ran or implemented on there first; tested by us and feedback from our use, is used by steem devs to make optimizations before an actual implementation on steemit.com.

At times like this, when www.steemit.com appears down, we can easily use https://steemitstage.com and enjoy our steemit journey, while give steemit developers something to work with.

https://steemitstage.com/ 

Please don't get phished. So you can copy/paste. 

Any apprehensions, simply use your posting key to sign in. 

This is especially for many who interact non-stop and want to respond to comments and for curators who like gem and digging.

Overall, steemit devs will have more things to analysis in terms of optimizing steemit, to ready it for a future filled with masses.

As for creating posts, there are many outlets or interfaces that allow that to happen seamlessly. 

The steem blockchain ofcourse runs! 

My "steemgigs" witness runs too, incase that's of value!

A witness server is simply one of the servers holding the steem blockchain. Each is ran in decentralized locations round the world. 

There are many witness servers too, so that there is backup non-stop and so that transactions upon the steem blockchain pull through, non-stop! 

Too, there is a human factor (witness). So behind these servers are reputable steemians. By reputation, i don't mean numbers or (reputation score) necessarily. I mean reputation for real!

Proven

Yes, many steemians create value, unannounced and behind the scenes too. And on steemit, it is value that is reward; content creation being just one of the ways to add value!

So a reputation score of 25, as seen on steemit, doesn't necessarily mean that you don't have an actual rep of 100. 

Altogether, a reputation is score is a good measure of actually rep as these numbers have a history dented into them and over time, growth and evolution happens. 

Yes, you can't jump from rep 25 to 70, if time didn't fly by. Ofcourse, there are other factors involved when it comes to measure rep but time (history) is very much involved, whether on the scenes (on steemit) or behind the scenes. 

Overall, actual rep is what we seek, so let's be humans, forgiving, un-condeming, loving and etc

I will forgive you a hundred times

Your Boy Terry

Hive account@surpassinggoogle

For further references, see:

1. https://steemit.com/steemit/@steemitdev/help-us-test-new-performance-optimizations-for-steemit-com
2. https://steemit.com/steemit/@steemitblog/the-state-of-steem-august-expansion

If you will like to vote for my witness, its appreciated! Simply visit: 

https://steemitstage.com/~witnesses incase steemit.com doesn't load and type in "steemgigs" in the first search box!