You don't actually have to have twitter to follow the account, just bookmark the page or something if you don't want actively use Twitter.
As for extended downtimes without reasons given it can happen, remember it's early morning for the ZOS team right now so the community team may not yet be in the office or just getting in.
@Turelus - EU PC Megaserver "Don't count on others for help. In the end each of us is in this alone. The survivors are those who know how to look out for themselves."
Better get used to it, seems to get longer every week. Just do what I do and take a shift at work every Wednesday afternoon (5pm till midnight in my local time is down time)...