I see an X in the center of the screen. It does not show up in a screen shot. I assume it is a xorg thing. I don't know how to get rid of it. it does not move with the mouse.
try to change this in the /etc/X11/xorg.conf
In Device section:
Option "HWCursor" "False"
Thanks. I accidentally added hwcursor = false. it wouldn't boot right away, but I got it on the next go after about 20 minutes of thinking what I could have updated that screwed it up.