Remove all extended attributes recursively on an OSX directory & files and fix "chown: ... Operation not permitted" and "chmod: ... Operation not permitted"

reset_osx_attributes.sh

# This is the nuclear option. Use with extreme care
# Works up to and including Mountain Lion (10.8.x)
 
# Show all extended attributes
ls -lOe ~/dir-to-fix
 
# Remove no-change attributes
sudo chflags nouchg ~/dir-to-fix

# Recursively clear all entended attributes
sudo xattr -rc ~/dir-to-fix 
 
# The reset to rational owner & perms
sudo chown -R username:staff ~/dir-to-fix
sudo chmod -R 0700 ~/dir-to-fix