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user_id=45365

Brett, please try the following:
>>> import Carbon.File
>>> Carbon.File.FSGetResourceForkName()
u'RESOURCE_FORK'
>>> 

You mention it prints ERROR for you, I'd like to see exactly what it 
prints (u"ERROR"? "ERROR"? ERROR?).

And a bit more information I need to try and duplicate the 
problem:
1. Are you using a framework build or a straight build?
2. Is your /Users/drifty directory in yoor root partition?
3. Could you check that there are no test_support.TESTFN or 
test_support.TESTFN + '2' turds on your system?