Yesterday I installed the os x security update 2008-005.
Now the mate command takes a very long time to run.
Have you tried removing .profile (and .bash_rc and whatever else is there), then opening a new Terminal and trying again?
Has anyone had any similar experiences.
I've installed the update but haven't had any problems.
Seems to work here too. No dramatic change after the SU.
I DO have this problem. Soon after I typed "mate" into a Terminal window I also had a kernel panic, while Textmate still was unresponsive. Don't know if these are related.
Jonas