Help me learn how to handle update failure

Mint 13, MATE desktop

Today, the shield at the bottom of the screen said there's update to new version of Update Manager.
It "Failed to fetch http://packages.linuxmint.com/dists/maya/Release.gpg Unable to connect to packages.linuxmint.com:http:".
Followed by several more of the same nature.
I cancelled, then the update window was still active showing anticipated change from 4.4.4 to 4.4.6 on Update Manager.
I cancelled that.
Then I got a warning that I'm about to install software that can't be authenticated.
I cancelled here as well.
Then is started downloading files, I cancelled on file 61 when it just sat there doing nothing probably stuck on some server problems.

Being fairly new to the Linux land, I do need some help about how one handles this sort of thing as it's the first time it happened to me.
I understand no/bad connection can happen, though internet was working fine.

What I don't understand is that Cancel doesn't cancel and, of course, that serious Warning.
How do I know it was a legitimate download issue and not an unAuthenticated bad package?
And what do I do about the Summary at the bottom?

 

It's so broken now
Big red X over the updating icon.
I liked this version of Linux, it's desktop, no crashes on resuming from standby on my P4 box, all devices working (well, Canon Printer doesn't), most everything working really ...
But now it's all messed up. The Update icon is broken. Do I have to reinstall Linux Mint 13? (I didn't have to reinstall Windows XP when update broke twice in 8 years).
Please, if you answer, speak English like to a 5yr old, not acronyms. Thank you.

 

i am having the same problems.

let's wait a day or two and see where this goes.

from here:
http://forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.php?f=47&t=120123&p=661466&hilit=update#p661466

 

Thanks for the link. I read all of it, and indeed it's their problem.
But on that forum I see no discussion of why the Cancel button doesn't work and what we're supposed to do about that red X over the update shield.
So when they fix it, how do I fix what got broken? Will the update notification never again work?

 

it's working now for the most part


just make sure you check for the best server available in Software Sources/LinuxMint Software/Download From/Other/Select Best Server

the Main Server seems to still have problems

 

Today there was no red X after power up. Healed itself.
Then the update to manager ran, followed by a whole bunch of other updates including Opera.

I suppose I don't have to do anything about the packages on the Summary section in my first post, correct?

Thanks for the Best Server tip. Wonderful. Easy to use
Do you run it every time update shield reports there are updates?

 

i run the update shield every day to see if there are new updates and install them.

it's a good habit to keep your system up to date.

yes, it's all good to go now.
it was just a server problem.