most recent install instruction for Mac OS

Can someone point me to up to date installation instructions for Mac OS (10.6.4, python 2.6.4)?

Every route I pursue hits a dead end.
- if I install from dmg files on the matplotlib, it is not visible to my python installation (I think it installs to the OSX native python).
- if I install via easy_install or pip, then I get an error (previously emailed about) saying that numpy is incorrectly installed (Numpy tests pass)
- if I try to follow the instructions on http://blog.hyperjeff.net/?p=160, I get errors such as:

ยทยทยท

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tar: Unrecognized archive format: Inappropriate file type or format
tar: Error exit delayed from previous errors.
make: *** [zlib] Error 1
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Ages ago I successfully installed on my laptop but I do not seem to be able to repeat the feat on my desktop.
Any help appreciated.

Christopher