OK, Rocky, here is how much smarter I am now that I have made all the mistakes:
1. Firefox 3.5 only comes in a development version for Linux Mint, and therefore I still do not have it, but all add-ons I need are working for me in version 3.0.14.
2. Here is the solution to "gzip magic numbers not working" (I am quoting from the response I received on linux forum):
Once booted into the Live CD, mount the partition where Mint is installed, e.g.,

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mount /dev/sda1 /mnt/



Depending on your hardware setup it might be another device; if necessary fdisk can be used to find the partition.

Once the partition is mounted it is then possible to change the apparent root directory to that of your Mint install:

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chroot /mnt



This should allow update-initramfs to work on your Mint installation. See this for chroot and fdisk to locate the installation partition. I'll update when I test unless anything else happens beforehand, should be within the next 24 hrs anyway, probably less.

[Edit] OK, I tried this and it works fine on my computer, at least, update-initramfs does its job on the appropriate kernels (got two installed) and didn't break anything. The OP will want to ensure that they chroot into the correct partition (not the Fedora one - although I'm thinking it wouldn't necessarily break it), and know that when they chroot into the mounted partition they will already be root, therefore no need for "sudo" in front of the update-initramfs command.

3. There are all kinds of add-ons for firefox, such as "read it later" and "febe" and "cleo", that solve some of the problems that firefox and I have had with each other. (Sorry for the personification of firefox in that sentence. While I do not see firefox as a live entity to be reckoned with, I must admit that some of my problems with it came from me and not from the software.)

here is how much smarter I am now

When I first started using Linux. I was a Babe in the Woods with computers in general. Now I have control over my Operating System after learning the ropes over the years. You will find it gets easier as time goes by.

Sounds like you are having more fun with it now as you feel more comfortable with how you can tweak the system to your needs. Linux operating systems are as personal and individualisstic as the people who run them. What you use to make you happy and comfortable may not be my cup of tea (and vise-versa also). But what is nice. The choice is there to be had and used. I run Linux Chrome Browser and Opera 10 as well as Firefox 3.5.3. Like I said. Every body marches to their own different drummer.