Hey guys and gals, 

Running Intrepid Ibex, on a Dell Inspiron 6400 (It's better than the Macbook I traded to my wife...), with 2gig ram, and Compiz.

I am having the exact same problem as Paul Whipp. Suspend is a hit or miss with this thing and I had to shutdown this morning because it just would not suspend (a different bug). When I turned it back on, everything was ugly as hell. I did not receive any error messages until I went to System->Preferences->Appearance, then I got: "Unable to start the settings manager 'gnome-settings-daemon'. Without the GNOME settings manager running, some preferences may not take effect. This could indicate a problem with Bonobo, or a non-GNOME (e.g. KDE) settings manager may already be active and conflicting with the GNOME settings manager." error message. So, I did have Amarok installed, and figured that might be the problem and since I didn't like it anyways, I removed it (as well as every KDE lib I could find). This, however, did not solve the problem. The gnome-settings-daemon is in my session startup.

Restarting the X Server, restarting Linux, starting gnome-settings-daemon, also does not solve the problem. However, when I start the gnome-settings-manager, everything appears normal, I mean the theme loads and looks purdy, but a couple seconds later, it turns back to ugly.

Here is the log output:
[00:01:37 demizer]$ gnome-settings-daemon --debug --no-daemon
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: Successfully connected to D-Bus
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: Starting settings manager
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: Loading settings plugins from dir: /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-2.0/
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: Loading plugin: /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-2.0/sound.gnome-settings-plugin
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: GnomeSettingsPluginInfo: name='Sound' file='/usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-2.0/sound.gnome-settings-plugin' location='sound'
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: Monitoring dir /apps/gnome_settings_daemon/plugins/sound for changes
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: Loading plugin: /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-2.0/a11y-keyboard.gnome-settings-plugin
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: GnomeSettingsPluginInfo: name='Accessibility Keyboard' file='/usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-2.0/a11y-keyboard.gnome-settings-plugin' location='a11y-keyboard'
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: Monitoring dir /apps/gnome_settings_daemon/plugins/a11y-keyboard for changes
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: Loading plugin: /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-2.0/xrandr.gnome-settings-plugin
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: GnomeSettingsPluginInfo: name='XRandR' file='/usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-2.0/xrandr.gnome-settings-plugin' location='xrandr'
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: Monitoring dir /apps/gnome_settings_daemon/plugins/xrandr for changes
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: Loading plugin: /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-2.0/dummy.gnome-settings-plugin
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: GnomeSettingsPluginInfo: name='Dummy' file='/usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-2.0/dummy.gnome-settings-plugin' location='dummy'
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: Monitoring dir /apps/gnome_settings_daemon/plugins/dummy for changes
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: Loading plugin: /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-2.0/keyboard.gnome-settings-plugin
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: GnomeSettingsPluginInfo: name='Keyboard' file='/usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-2.0/keyboard.gnome-settings-plugin' location='keyboard'
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: Monitoring dir /apps/gnome_settings_daemon/plugins/keyboard for changes
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: Loading plugin: /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-2.0/xrdb.gnome-settings-plugin
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: GnomeSettingsPluginInfo: name='X Resource Database' file='/usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-2.0/xrdb.gnome-settings-plugin' location='xrdb'
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: Monitoring dir /apps/gnome_settings_daemon/plugins/xrdb for changes
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: Loading plugin: /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-2.0/mouse.gnome-settings-plugin
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: GnomeSettingsPluginInfo: name='Mouse' file='/usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-2.0/mouse.gnome-settings-plugin' location='mouse'
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: Monitoring dir /apps/gnome_settings_daemon/plugins/mouse for changes
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: Loading plugin: /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-2.0/media-keys.gnome-settings-plugin
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: GnomeSettingsPluginInfo: name='Media keys' file='/usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-2.0/media-keys.gnome-settings-plugin' location='media-keys'
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: Monitoring dir /apps/gnome_settings_daemon/plugins/media-keys for changes
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: Loading plugin: /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-2.0/housekeeping.gnome-settings-plugin
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: GnomeSettingsPluginInfo: name='Housekeeping' file='/usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-2.0/housekeeping.gnome-settings-plugin' location='housekeeping'
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: Monitoring dir /apps/gnome_settings_daemon/plugins/housekeeping for changes
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: Loading plugin: /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-2.0/xsettings.gnome-settings-plugin
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: GnomeSettingsPluginInfo: name='X Settings' file='/usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-2.0/xsettings.gnome-settings-plugin' location='xsettings'
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: Monitoring dir /apps/gnome_settings_daemon/plugins/xsettings for changes
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: Loading plugin: /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-2.0/screensaver.gnome-settings-plugin
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: GnomeSettingsPluginInfo: name='Screensaver' file='/usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-2.0/screensaver.gnome-settings-plugin' location='screensaver'
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: Monitoring dir /apps/gnome_settings_daemon/plugins/screensaver for changes
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: Loading plugin: /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-2.0/clipboard.gnome-settings-plugin
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: GnomeSettingsPluginInfo: name='Clipboard' file='/usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-2.0/clipboard.gnome-settings-plugin' location='clipboard'
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: Monitoring dir /apps/gnome_settings_daemon/plugins/clipboard for changes
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: Loading plugin: /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-2.0/typing-break.gnome-settings-plugin
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: GnomeSettingsPluginInfo: name='Typing Break' file='/usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-2.0/typing-break.gnome-settings-plugin' location='typing-break'
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: Monitoring dir /apps/gnome_settings_daemon/plugins/typing-break for changes
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: Loading plugin: /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-2.0/background.gnome-settings-plugin
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: GnomeSettingsPluginInfo: name='Background' file='/usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-2.0/background.gnome-settings-plugin' location='background'
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: Monitoring dir /apps/gnome_settings_daemon/plugins/background for changes
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: Loading plugin: /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-2.0/keybindings.gnome-settings-plugin
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: GnomeSettingsPluginInfo: name='Keybindings' file='/usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-2.0/keybindings.gnome-settings-plugin' location='keybindings'
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: Monitoring dir /apps/gnome_settings_daemon/plugins/keybindings for changes
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: Loading plugin: /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-2.0/font.gnome-settings-plugin
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: GnomeSettingsPluginInfo: name='Font' file='/usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-2.0/font.gnome-settings-plugin' location='font'
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: Monitoring dir /apps/gnome_settings_daemon/plugins/font for changes
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: GnomeSettingsModule 0x9606ac8 initialising
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: Loading /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-2.0/libxrandr.so
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: Registering GsdXrandrPlugin
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: Creating object of type GsdXrandrPlugin
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: GsdXrandrPlugin initializing
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: Activating xrandr plugin
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: Starting xrandr manager
desired is = /home/demizer/.config/monitors.xml.desired
reading configuration...
done
error MATCHES** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: GnomeSettingsManager: emitting plugin-activated xrandr
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: Plugin xrandr: active
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: GnomeSettingsModule 0x9606b18 initialising
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: Loading /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-2.0/libxsettings.so
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: Registering GnomeXSettingsPlugin
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: Creating object of type GnomeXSettingsPlugin
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: GnomeXSettingsPlugin initializing
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: Activating xsettings plugin
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: Starting xsettings manager
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: GnomeSettingsManager: emitting plugin-activated xsettings
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: Plugin xsettings: active
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: GnomeSettingsModule 0x9638ef0 initialising
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: Loading /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-2.0/libsound.so
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: Registering GsdSoundPlugin
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: Creating object of type GsdSoundPlugin
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: GsdSoundPlugin initializing
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: Activating sound plugin
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: Starting sound manager
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: GnomeSettingsManager: emitting plugin-activated sound
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: Plugin sound: active
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: GnomeSettingsModule 0x9639000 initialising
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: Loading /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-2.0/libfont.so
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: Registering GsdFontPlugin
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: Creating object of type GsdFontPlugin
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: GsdFontPlugin initializing
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: Activating font plugin
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: Starting font manager
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: GnomeSettingsManager: emitting plugin-activated font
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: Plugin font: active
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: GnomeSettingsModule 0x9639050 initialising
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: Loading /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-2.0/libbackground.so
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: Registering GsdBackgroundPlugin
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: Creating object of type GsdBackgroundPlugin
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: GsdBackgroundPlugin initializing
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: Activating background plugin
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: Starting background manager
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: GnomeSettingsManager: emitting plugin-activated background
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: Plugin background: active
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: GnomeSettingsModule 0x9638fb8 initialising
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: Loading /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-2.0/libkeyboard.so
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: Registering GsdKeyboardPlugin
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: Creating object of type GsdKeyboardPlugin
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: GsdKeyboardPlugin initializing
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: Activating keyboard plugin
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: Starting keyboard manager
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: GnomeSettingsManager: emitting plugin-activated keyboard
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: Plugin keyboard: active
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: GnomeSettingsModule 0x9638f68 initialising
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: Loading /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-2.0/libmouse.so
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: Registering GsdMousePlugin
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: Creating object of type GsdMousePlugin
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: GsdMousePlugin initializing
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: Activating mouse plugin
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: Starting mouse manager
Shutdown failed or nothing to shut down.
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: GnomeSettingsManager: emitting plugin-activated mouse
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: Plugin mouse: active
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: GnomeSettingsModule 0x9638ea0 initialising
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: Loading /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-2.0/liba11y-keyboard.so
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: Registering GsdA11yKeyboardPlugin
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: Creating object of type GsdA11yKeyboardPlugin
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: GsdA11yKeyboardPlugin initializing
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: Activating a11y_keyboard plugin
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: Starting a11y_keyboard manager
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: GnomeSettingsManager: emitting plugin-activated a11y-keyboard
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: Plugin a11y-keyboard: active
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: GnomeSettingsModule 0x9661118 initialising
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: Loading /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-2.0/libkeybindings.so
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: Registering GsdKeybindingsPlugin
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: Creating object of type GsdKeybindingsPlugin
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: GsdKeybindingsPlugin initializing
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: Activating keybindings plugin
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: Starting keybindings manager
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: GnomeSettingsManager: emitting plugin-activated keybindings
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: Plugin keybindings: active
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: GnomeSettingsModule 0x96610c8 initialising
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: Loading /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-2.0/libmedia-keys.so
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: Registering GsdMediaKeysPlugin
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: Creating object of type GsdMediaKeysPlugin
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: GsdMediaKeysPlugin initializing
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: Activating media_keys plugin
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: Starting media_keys manager
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: Not a valid shortcut: ''
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: Not a valid shortcut: ''
** (gnome-settings-daemon:15568): DEBUG: Not a valid shortcut: ''
[1237532501,000,xklavier.c:xkl_engine_start_listen/] 	The backend does not require manual layout management - but it is provided by the applicationCould not initialize GStreamer: Error re-scanning registry , child terminated by signal

Thanks for the great work, I love ubuntu, and especially the developers!
-Jesus