Mike, What is in $HOME/bin/python/bin? It seems to me you've a slightly odd python setup (I'm guessing to work around not having/not wantint to use root privs). If that section of the path variable is another python installation you might try moving it to the end so $HOME/lib/lib/python2.4/....etc is picked up before it.
I'm making blind guesses now as it's difficult to pinpoint these things without being able to play with the machine itself. Lee
