LAST EDITED ON Jan-07-09 AT 05:01 PM (PST)
 
Ed,

You shouldn't have to alter .htaccess to use PHP virtual:

<?php virtual($_SERVER<'DOCUMENT_ROOT'>."/cgi-bin/search/search.cgi/?skin=blank&length=5&keywords=stuff"); ?>

(replace <> with open & close square brackets )

That may not be the problem, but it's where I'd start.

Jeff