phranque - 10:41 pm on Nov 2, 2012 (gmt 0)


RewriteRule .? /serve-503-error.php [L]

specifically about the RewriteRule directive when used for an internal rewrite (in your case) versus an external redirect:
- do not include the protocol or hostname in the target URL or it will become an external redirect.
- if the [R] flag is used it is an external redirect.