Directory creation errors and publishing errors

[mikerk]

I posted this in the customers modules forum but is probably more appropriate here:

I get an error alert when I:

1.) Create a new directory. The directory is, however, created but not viewable externally via ftp or cPanel. Plus I can't save any changes to customer filters on the directory.
2.) Get an error message upon publishing the "download.php" document.

I have no other symptoms other than an occasional alert:

The page at http://www.swnewsherald.com says:
Unable to call RPC: Ping.

I'm suspecting permissions problems but do not have an difficulty saving and publishing documents from existing templates since the installation at the beginning of June.

Any insights would be appreciated. I did engage the debugging window, but get no messages.

mikerk