[mod_python] weird error in mod_python (3.1.4.r1) /scipy (0.4.8)/gentoo (~x86) web application

This may be un-reproducible, and it does NOT happen within ipython
shell, but I am getting the backtrace below when trying to import
scipy within my application.  I would guess it has to do with the very
outdated ebuild of mod_python, (see the gentoo bug: 
http://bugs.gentoo.org/show_bug.cgi?id=123852), but just in case
anybody has any quick fixes, please let me know.

I have restarted Apache numerous times to make sure there isn't some
weird cache thing going on (the source of most of my phantom bug
reports).  Scipy 0.3.2 does not have this problem.

Backtrace follows. (6), with LcUtil.py, is where it tries to import
and errors out.

Mod_python error: "PythonHandler mod_python.publisher"

Traceback (most recent call last):

(1)  File "/usr/lib/python2.4/site-packages/mod_python/apache.py",
line 299, in HandlerDispatch
    result = object(req)

(2)  File "/usr/lib/python2.4/site-packages/mod_python/publisher.py",
line 98, in handler
    path=[path])

(3)  File "/usr/lib/python2.4/site-packages/mod_python/apache.py",
line 457, in import_module
    module = imp.load_module(mname, f, p, d)

(4)  File "/var/www/localhost/htdocs/larry/lc.py", line 32, in ?
    import LcSinglePopObject

 (5) File "/var/www/localhost/htdocs/larry/LcSinglePopObject.py", line 40, in ?
    import LcUtil

(6)  File "/var/www/localhost/htdocs/larry/LcUtil.py", line 8, in ?
    import scipy as S

  File "/usr/lib/python2.4/site-packages/scipy/__init__.py", line 18, in ?
    import pkg_resources as _pr # activate namespace packages
(manipulates __path__)

  File "/usr/lib/python2.4/site-packages/pkg_resources.py", line 2347, in ?
    working_set = WorkingSet()

  File "/usr/lib/python2.4/site-packages/pkg_resources.py", line 343,
in __init__
    self.add_entry(entry)

  File "/usr/lib/python2.4/site-packages/pkg_resources.py", line 358,
in add_entry
    for dist in find_distributions(entry, True):

  File "/usr/lib/python2.4/site-packages/pkg_resources.py", line 1450,
in find_distributions
    importer = get_importer(path_item)

  File "/usr/lib/python2.4/site-packages/pkg_resources.py", line 1407,
in get_importer
    importer = hook(path_item)

TypeError: zipimporter() argument 1 must be string, not
builtin_function_or_method