Since I don't like Unity, I switched over my main desktop from Ubuntu to MINT/MATE. Install went fine. No issues with panels or theme rendering as mentioned in previous threads.
UBUNTU-TWEAK
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sudo add-apt-repository ppa:tualatrix/ppa
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install ubuntu-tweak
Removed mate-screensaver and installed xscreensaver, which has a [Preferences -> Disable] option
If you don't get satisfaction, also install caffeine, which sends a keystroke to xscreensaver every 1min. or so.
WIFI
Thinking of dropping Ubuntu, some months ago I installed MINT/MATE 14 on my other box to play with. This also works "the way I like from Ubuntu of yore". It doesn't have built-in wifi. I find the PANDA usb adapter works => Chromcast dongle on TV.
WEBCAM
cheese works. ((I never did get it to work with Ubuntu 12.04 LTS)
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