The solution to build base :

more python/lsst64defs.py.m4
 # this defines some constants for 64-bit machines (that do not have a
 # dl module).

 #RTLD_GLOBAL = m4_RTLD_GLOBAL
 #RTLD_NOW = m4_RTLD_NOW

 RTLD_GLOBAL = 0x00100
 RTLD_NOW = 0x00002

There you go. Scons works! Next up, follow the order of

cd ../utils/
eups declare -c -r $PWD utils trunk
setup utils
scons

# repeat for ...
daf/base 

# wait, will this work?  can i say...
eups declare -c -r $PWD daf/base trunk

# nope...  
ERROR : Cannot read required table file "ups/daf/base.table". at /lsst/lsst_root_dms/eups/latest/bin/eups_declareline 234.

# how do i make sure this does not conflict with the normal base package i just spent so long trying to build!?
# ah, its relatively self-documenting...
ls ups/
  daf_base.build  daf_base.pacman.m4  daf_base.table  manifest.list

# so...
eups declare -c -r $PWD daf_base trunk
setup daf_base
scons     

# NOW, repeat for...
pex/logging
pex/exceptions
pex/policy
daf/persistence
security
daf/data
ctrl/events
afw
pex/harness
detection

And wowo I am up and running (well, after a couple of "svn udpates")!!!! Yay!

---

So lets deal with my ticket a little bit...

cd /lsst/becker/lsst_devel/DMS/t354
eups declare -c -r $PWD ip_diffim t354

And I think I lost my gstat when I rebuilt the build system. setup -l gstat confirms this. Where did I put it..? Oh yeah in my ~/src dir

eups declare -c -r $PWD gstat 2.5.1
setup gstat

Anyways, lets see if the ticket builds at all without even dealing with this gstat stuff... AH, no it doesn't. Lots of errors. I think Russ has probably changed the trunk from which this ticket came. How do I merge in changes to the trunk to this ticket? Time to ask Russ.