SIDEBAR PROBLEM SOLVED
Kathy Kinsley figured out my problem and, alas, it was one of my own creation. In trying to install the compression code, I inadvertanly overrode the .htaccess file because, since my FTP program doesn’t display files with a leading “dot,” I presumed I didn’t have one on the server. Apparently, there was some rather important stuff on the “old” .htaccess file which has now been restored.
The fact that this coincided with HostingMatters screwing around with their php protocols, with which this problem is loosely associated, added a bit of confusion to the whole thing.
Oh, well. This adds credence to Joy Larkin‘s argument that the non-technical among us need to pair ourselves with someone who knows what they’re doing on the programming side.
Well, since it sounds like you’re in the market for a new ftp program, try SmartFTP. It’s graphical, easy to use, and shows hidden files. This is the FTP program I use on Windows.
Thanks–will give it a looksee. I’m currently using WS_FTP LE and WS_FTP Pro. I haven’t used the Pro one much and wind up using LE mostly because I’m familiar with it; it may do hidden files in a way that’s not intuitive.
I can also see and manipulate hidden files on the HM control panel, which I usually forget about.
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