The rabbit hole so far:

vlc : Depends: vlc-nox (= 2.1.4-0ubuntu14.04.1) but it is not going to be installed
       Recommends: vlc-plugin-notify (= 2.1.4-0ubuntu14.04.1) but it is not going to be installed
       Recommends: vlc-plugin-pulse (= 2.1.4-0ubuntu14.04.1) but it is not going to be installed
E: Unable to correct problems, you have held broken packages.

vlc-nox : Depends: libupnp6 (>= 1.4.3) but it is not going to be installed
           Recommends: libdvdcss2 but it is not installable


(superkuh)-(jobs:0)-(~/app_installs/synergy-1.4.12-Source/bin)
(! 821)-> sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get dist-upgrade
Ign http://us.archive.ubuntu.com trusty InRelease
Ign http://us.archive.ubuntu.com trusty-updates InRelease
Ign http://us.archive.ubuntu.com trusty-backports InRelease
Ign http://archive.canonical.com precise InRelease
Ign http://extras.ubuntu.com trusty InRelease
Ign http://us.archive.ubuntu.com trusty-security InRelease
Ign http://ppa.launchpad.net trusty InRelease
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com trusty Release.gpg
Hit http://biodev.ece.ucsb.edu unstable InRelease
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com trusty-updates Release.gpg
Hit http://archive.canonical.com precise Release.gpg
Hit http://extras.ubuntu.com trusty Release.gpg
Ign http://ppa.launchpad.net trusty InRelease
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com trusty-backports Release.gpg
Hit http://biodev.ece.ucsb.edu unstable/main Sources
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com trusty-security Release.gpg
Hit http://archive.canonical.com precise Release
Hit http://extras.ubuntu.com trusty Release
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com trusty Release
Ign http://ppa.launchpad.net trusty InRelease
Hit http://biodev.ece.ucsb.edu unstable/main amd64 Packages
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com trusty-updates Release
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com trusty-backports Release
Hit http://biodev.ece.ucsb.edu unstable/main i386 Packages
Hit http://archive.canonical.com precise/partner amd64 Packages
Ign http://ppa.launchpad.net trusty InRelease
Hit http://extras.ubuntu.com trusty/main Sources
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com trusty-security Release
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com trusty/main Sources
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com trusty/restricted Sources
Hit http://archive.canonical.com precise/partner i386 Packages
Hit http://extras.ubuntu.com trusty/main amd64 Packages
Hit http://ppa.launchpad.net trusty Release.gpg
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com trusty/universe Sources
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com trusty/multiverse Sources
Hit http://extras.ubuntu.com trusty/main i386 Packages
Hit http://ppa.launchpad.net trusty Release.gpg
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com trusty/main amd64 Packages
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com trusty/restricted amd64 Packages
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com trusty/universe amd64 Packages
Hit http://ppa.launchpad.net trusty Release.gpg
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com trusty/multiverse amd64 Packages
Hit http://ppa.launchpad.net trusty Release.gpg
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com trusty/main i386 Packages
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com trusty/restricted i386 Packages
Hit http://ppa.launchpad.net trusty Release
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com trusty/universe i386 Packages
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com trusty/multiverse i386 Packages
Hit http://ppa.launchpad.net trusty Release
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com trusty/main Translation-en
Ign http://biodev.ece.ucsb.edu unstable/main Translation-en_US
Hit http://ppa.launchpad.net trusty Release
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com trusty/multiverse Translation-en
Ign http://biodev.ece.ucsb.edu unstable/main Translation-en
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com trusty/restricted Translation-en
Hit http://ppa.launchpad.net trusty Release
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com trusty/universe Translation-en
Hit http://ppa.launchpad.net trusty/main Sources
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com trusty-updates/main Sources
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com trusty-updates/restricted Sources
Ign http://archive.canonical.com precise/partner Translation-en_US
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com trusty-updates/universe Sources
Hit http://ppa.launchpad.net trusty/main amd64 Packages
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com trusty-updates/multiverse Sources
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com trusty-updates/main amd64 Packages
Ign http://archive.canonical.com precise/partner Translation-en
Ign http://extras.ubuntu.com trusty/main Translation-en_US
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com trusty-updates/restricted amd64 Packages
Hit http://ppa.launchpad.net trusty/main i386 Packages
Ign http://extras.ubuntu.com trusty/main Translation-en
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com trusty-updates/universe amd64 Packages
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com trusty-updates/multiverse amd64 Packages
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com trusty-updates/main i386 Packages
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com trusty-updates/restricted i386 Packages
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com trusty-updates/universe i386 Packages
Hit http://ppa.launchpad.net trusty/main amd64 Packages
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com trusty-updates/multiverse i386 Packages
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com trusty-updates/main Translation-en
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com trusty-updates/multiverse Translation-en
Hit http://ppa.launchpad.net trusty/main i386 Packages
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com trusty-updates/restricted Translation-en
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com trusty-updates/universe Translation-en
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com trusty-backports/main Sources
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com trusty-backports/restricted Sources
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com trusty-backports/universe Sources
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com trusty-backports/multiverse Sources
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com trusty-backports/main amd64 Packages
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com trusty-backports/restricted amd64 Packages
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com trusty-backports/universe amd64 Packages
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com trusty-backports/multiverse amd64 Packages
Hit http://ppa.launchpad.net trusty/main amd64 Packages
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com trusty-backports/main i386 Packages
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com trusty-backports/restricted i386 Packages
Hit http://ppa.launchpad.net trusty/main i386 Packages
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com trusty-backports/universe i386 Packages
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com trusty-backports/multiverse i386 Packages
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com trusty-backports/main Translation-en
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com trusty-backports/multiverse Translation-en
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com trusty-backports/restricted Translation-en
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com trusty-backports/universe Translation-en
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com trusty-security/main Sources
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com trusty-security/restricted Sources
Hit http://ppa.launchpad.net trusty/main Sources
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com trusty-security/universe Sources
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com trusty-security/multiverse Sources
Hit http://ppa.launchpad.net trusty/main amd64 Packages
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com trusty-security/main amd64 Packages
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com trusty-security/restricted amd64 Packages
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com trusty-security/universe amd64 Packages
Hit http://ppa.launchpad.net trusty/main i386 Packages
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com trusty-security/multiverse amd64 Packages
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com trusty-security/main i386 Packages
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com trusty-security/restricted i386 Packages
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com trusty-security/universe i386 Packages
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com trusty-security/multiverse i386 Packages
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com trusty-security/main Translation-en
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com trusty-security/multiverse Translation-en
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com trusty-security/restricted Translation-en
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com trusty-security/universe Translation-en
Ign http://us.archive.ubuntu.com trusty/main Translation-en_US
Ign http://us.archive.ubuntu.com trusty/multiverse Translation-en_US
Ign http://us.archive.ubuntu.com trusty/restricted Translation-en_US
Ign http://us.archive.ubuntu.com trusty/universe Translation-en_US
Ign http://ppa.launchpad.net trusty/main Translation-en_US
Ign http://ppa.launchpad.net trusty/main Translation-en
Ign http://ppa.launchpad.net trusty/main Translation-en_US
Ign http://ppa.launchpad.net trusty/main Translation-en
Ign http://ppa.launchpad.net trusty/main Translation-en_US
Ign http://ppa.launchpad.net trusty/main Translation-en
Ign http://ppa.launchpad.net trusty/main Translation-en_US
Ign http://ppa.launchpad.net trusty/main Translation-en
Reading package lists... Done
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
Calculating upgrade... Done
The following packages were automatically installed and are no longer required:
  aglfn libboost-python1.46.1 libboost-system1.46.1
Use 'apt-get autoremove' to remove them.
The following packages will be REMOVED:
  libupnp-dev libupnp3-dev
The following NEW packages will be installed:
  aglfn libboost-python1.55.0 libboost-system1.55.0
The following packages have been kept back:
  festival gnuplot-nox gnuplot-x11
The following packages will be upgraded:
  libtorrent-rasterbar7 python-libtorrent
2 upgraded, 3 newly installed, 2 to remove and 3 not upgraded.
Need to get 1,377 kB/1,406 kB of archives.
After this operation, 1,236 kB disk space will be freed.
Do you want to continue? [Y/n] Y
Get:1 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ trusty/universe libboost-python1.55.0 amd64 1.55.0-1 [129 kB]
Get:2 http://ppa.launchpad.net/deluge-team/ppa/ubuntu/ trusty/main python-libtorrent amd64 0.16.17-1ubuntu3~ppa1~trusty [267 kB]
Get:3 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ trusty/universe libboost-system1.55.0 amd64 1.55.0-1 [10.6 kB]
Get:4 http://ppa.launchpad.net/deluge-team/ppa/ubuntu/ trusty/main libtorrent-rasterbar7 amd64 0.16.17-1ubuntu3~ppa1~trusty [970 kB]
Fetched 1,377 kB in 2s (671 kB/s)
(Reading database ... 326824 files and directories currently installed.)
Removing libupnp-dev (1:1.6.6-5.1ubuntu0.12.04.1) ...
Removing libupnp3-dev (1:1.6.6-5.1ubuntu0.12.04.1) ...
Processing triggers for doc-base (0.10.5) ...
Processing 1 removed doc-base file...
Registering documents with scrollkeeper...
Selecting previously unselected package libboost-python1.55.0.
(Reading database ... 326536 files and directories currently installed.)
Preparing to unpack .../libboost-python1.55.0_1.55.0-1_amd64.deb ...
Unpacking libboost-python1.55.0 (1.55.0-1) ...
Selecting previously unselected package libboost-system1.55.0:amd64.
Preparing to unpack .../libboost-system1.55.0_1.55.0-1_amd64.deb ...
Unpacking libboost-system1.55.0:amd64 (1.55.0-1) ...
Preparing to unpack .../python-libtorrent_0.16.17-1ubuntu3~ppa1~trusty_amd64.deb ...
Unpacking python-libtorrent (0.16.17-1ubuntu3~ppa1~trusty) over (0.16.17-1ubuntu3~ppa1~precise) ...
Preparing to unpack .../libtorrent-rasterbar7_0.16.17-1ubuntu3~ppa1~trusty_amd64.deb ...
Unpacking libtorrent-rasterbar7 (0.16.17-1ubuntu3~ppa1~trusty) over (0.16.17-1ubuntu3~ppa1~precise) ...
Selecting previously unselected package aglfn.
Preparing to unpack .../archives/aglfn_1.7-3_all.deb ...
Unpacking aglfn (1.7-3) ...
Setting up libboost-python1.55.0 (1.55.0-1) ...
Setting up libboost-system1.55.0:amd64 (1.55.0-1) ...
Setting up libtorrent-rasterbar7 (0.16.17-1ubuntu3~ppa1~trusty) ...
Setting up python-libtorrent (0.16.17-1ubuntu3~ppa1~trusty) ...
Setting up aglfn (1.7-3) ...
Processing triggers for libc-bin (2.19-0ubuntu6.3) ...

(superkuh)-(jobs:0)-(~/app_installs/synergy-1.4.12-Source/bin)
(! 822)-> sudo apt-get install vlc browser-plugin-vlc
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
Some packages could not be installed. This may mean that you have
requested an impossible situation or if you are using the unstable
distribution that some required packages have not yet been created
or been moved out of Incoming.
The following information may help to resolve the situation:

The following packages have unmet dependencies:
 vlc : Depends: vlc-nox (= 2.1.4-0ubuntu14.04.1) but it is not going to be installed
       Recommends: vlc-plugin-notify (= 2.1.4-0ubuntu14.04.1) but it is not going to be installed
       Recommends: vlc-plugin-pulse (= 2.1.4-0ubuntu14.04.1) but it is not going to be installed
E: Unable to correct problems, you have held broken packages.