Problem solved!  Here's what I did:

Instead of using getwork, I used the gbt server and port on eligius.  For some reason I just can't get getwork to work any more.  Input these, delete the cookies from the previous config and restart.  I'll update with my hashrates tomorrow.  Currently (a few minutes after startup I'm doing 20.4 gh/s).

Thanks to all who contributed.  This successfully proves the hypothesis that n00bs can, indeed, learn