Bug#285952: unresponsive logout option when GNOME first installed

[inkwire@thegoldenear.org, 285952@bugs.debian.org]

package: gnome
version: 2.8.1
kernel: default 2.6
system: IBM ThinkPad T22 and R40e; possibly HP Kayak XM600

with a fresh installation (using d-i RC1 and RC2), using tasksel's
'desktop system', when I login as the user created during the
installation, choose Actions -> Log out, nothing happens. I can still use
GNOME but no logout dialog appeared. I can choose 'Log out' multiple time=
s
and nothing happens. I find if I right-click on the panel, choose 'about
GNOME' suddenly a logout dialog appears, with others appearing respective
to the number of times I chose logout, when I choose 'cancel'

I've seen this on multiple systems I've installed over the last couple of
months. It soon goes away after a couple of logins/reboots/something and
I'm able to logout in a timely conventional manner

ctrl+alt+del should bring me back to the login dialog but instead I get a
blank black screen with a blinking cursor in the top left hand portion of
the screen