In case anyone else has this problem, I found the solution:
I killed the SBC Yahoo Connection Manager. The one the techs said I absolutely, fundamentally needed in order to "authenticate with the SBC servers."
I can connect just fine. Faster, in fact. Everything on the internet loads faster. IE works just as well as Netscape. I don't have a problem with Java-based programs going all wonky anymore. I boot a heck of a lot quicker. I don't get annoying little popup "reminders" of stuff I didn't need to know about from SBC Yahoo anymore.
It's excellent.
Did I mention that the SBC techs told me I absolutely positively NEEDED the Connection Manager software?
