[Xmonad] How to combine xmonad with Ubuntu?

[Kai Grossjohann]

Are any Ubuntu users here?  I just got a new box with Ubuntu on it, and
I wonder how to best combine xmonad with Ubuntu.  Ubuntu seems to have a
lot of useful functionality built into the graphical environment, such
as checking for updates, checking for the network one is in, and perhaps
other things.

I guess if I go my old route of replacing all of Gnome with my custom
~/.xinitrc script, then I'll lose that stuff.

Suggestions?

Kai