I'm not really sure what gives with it.. I'm inclined to think it's something with the php since I can mod_rewrite anything else on the same server and test fine. But that really doesn't make sense either.

The php files that are working to build the page and url are just the start and function files, correct?

I'll triple check everything, and I'm going to put a call into the host, as much as I don't want to do deal with them.

I'll get it figured out and then post here in case you want to add whatever is figured out in a "if you host with 1&1" section. Ha.

Thanks for the help so far.