"open" from the command line just hangs using iTerm2
It appears the issue were rather with iTerm2.   I tried the same commands on Terminal and it worked fine.  I do need some of the features of iTerm and am investigating which version(s) actually work. The one I am using (and does not work) is the one on the Download link.  So far I am having better luck with their iTerm 3.0 Alpha version.