One further thought: I wonder if this has anything to do with this problem I am seeing here:
https://launchpad.net/distros/ubuntu/+source/usplash/+bug/67438 -- Progress bar is invisible https://launchpad.net/bugs/67443 -- ubuntu-bugs mailing list ubuntu-bugs@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-bugs
