> Thanks for your bugreport.
>
> Could you please try to run update-notifier with the "--force" option ?
> There might be a bug in the 8.04 and 8.10 version that its not honored.
> If that is the case, please let me know.

Tried it.  While the notifier icon appeared the terminal seems to hang. 
If it is safe to leave a terminal in this condition I could use this
option.  I reported the results beneath the bug report.  This email is
just to let you know I responded.  [I still do not think this is a real
bug, had I known of the Questions area that's where I would have posted my
question.]

Thanks for the interest.
>
> ** Changed in: update-notifier (Ubuntu)
>    Importance: Undecided => Wishlist
>        Status: New => Triaged
>
> ** Changed in: update-notifier (Ubuntu)
>      Assignee: (unassigned) => Michael Vogt (mvo)
>
> --
> notifier icon (unprivileged users) not appearing
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/288099
> You received this bug notification because you are a direct subscriber
> of the bug.
>
> Status in “update-notifier” source package in Ubuntu: Triaged
>
> Bug description:
> This is really not a bug: it's a design issue and I understand the logic
> for the current choice.
>
> However, under the desktop 6.06 it was possible to have an unprivileged
> user see the icon, which I know can irritate some users: Bug #47253
>
> But the option was available to hide the icon from such users (which makes
> great sense on a corporate desktop).  I think the option should be
> available under 8.04 to allow a select set to be aware when updates are
> required.
>
> I happen to like the Ubuntu security model where any user is not by
> default assigned permanent administrative rights.  I wrote about it in:
> http://bst-softwaredevs.com/apps/articles/ubuntu-8-04-sudo-user.html and
> described a method I thought would allow the update-notifier to be running
> on a unprivileged user's desktop.  However, I discovered the sudo users
> account had to be active, which potentially negates the security
> advantages of having a sudo user identity.  I have experimented and so far
> I have not found a way to give visibility to the notifier without giving
> that user administrative rights.
>
> If such an option does not exist, I suggest that it be consider as an
> addition (i.e. a non-default allowing selected non-sudo right users to see
> the notifier icon).  Unlike the user reporting the bug #4725, I want to
> keep the sudo account closed unless I am doing administrative work on my
> machine.  As the Ubuntu unprivileged user I spend time doing webmaster
> functions on my site.  Hence, if during that exposure access to this
> account is obtained I would prefer not to give an easy escalation to my
> root level account.  I do take precautions, e.g. my sudo account has a
> much more complex password.  But my preference is to stay within a low
> rights account and change users to perform administrative tasks only when
> needed.
>
> I apologize for being so verbose, however, I am attempted to make clear
> that I am only seeking what was available previously as a non-default
> option.  I think others even in some business environments would
> appreciate the same functionality.
>
> TIA, TxtEdMacs
>