Python scipy modules can't be imported with macports install
Question: I've just reinstalled OSX Lion and decided to use macports to get an updated
python, plus numpy, scipy, matplotlib, ipython, etc. After some fuss
everything looks installed correctly in the /opt/ folder, and numpy,
matplotlib, and ipython are running correctly, but when I try to import
modules in scipy I get a failure that seems to go back to the sparse module:

    
    
    >>> import scipy.sparse as sparse
    Traceback (most recent call last):
      File "<stdin>", line 1, in <module>
      File "/opt/local/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/site-packages/scipy/sparse/__init__.py", line 175, in <module>
    from csr import *
      File "/opt/local/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/site-packages/scipy/sparse/csr.py", line 12, in <module>
    from sparsetools import csr_tocsc, csr_tobsr, csr_count_blocks, \
      File "/opt/local/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/site-packages/scipy/sparse/sparsetools/__init__.py", line 4, in <module>
    from csr import *
      File "/opt/local/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/site-packages/scipy/sparse/sparsetools/csr.py", line 25, in <module>
    _csr = swig_import_helper()
      File "/opt/local/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/site-packages/scipy/sparse/sparsetools/csr.py", line 21, in swig_import_helper
    _mod = imp.load_module('_csr', fp, pathname, description)
    ImportError: dlopen(/opt/local/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/site-packages/scipy/sparse/sparsetools/_csr.so, 2): Symbol not found: ___emutls_get_address
      Referenced from: /opt/local/lib/gcc45/libstdc++.6.dylib
      Expected in: /usr/lib/libSystem.B.dylib
     in /opt/local/lib/gcc45/libstdc++.6.dylib
    

Import scipy.stats or such things ends up in the same place. I've googled a
bunch and tried fixing various PATH variables (in the python interpreter and
out), as well as hiding the default python install(s? what's the difference
between the one in the main Library and the one in /usr/?) and reinstalling
scipy but that's done nothing.

I'm not very familiar or comfortable with this stuff - I was working with the
EPD before I wiped and reinstalled, but had run into problems getting new
packages to recognize that. I use python for scientific stuff, hence not
really understanding its guts! So answers assuming I barely understand what a
PATH variable is are much appreciated.

So (a) Is there an easy way to fix whatever is going on above? (b) Should I
delete some stuff and start from scratch? (c) Is there a non-painful way to
get scipy, numpy, matplotlib, and ipython (plus the things it needs for the
qtconsole and the html notebook), AND be able to install new packages in the
right place? Should I go back to EPD if possible (their academic email thing
failed for me, so I moved on)?


Answer: You could try the [ Enthought Python Free
distribution](http://www.enthought.com/products/epd_free.php), its free and
generally is an easy install, and comes with Numpy, Scipy, matplotlib etc.

