'pg_ctl status' not working

Logged in as the 'postgres' user, 'ps x' shows that postmaster is
running. 'psql' works properly and I am able to connect to
databases--but 'pg–ctl status' returns 'postmaster or postgres is not
running'. Any idea why?

Postgres 7.3.3 on Max OS X 10.3

Thanks,
Michael

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Where are we going? And what am I doing in this handbasket?