These are VERY hackish instructions on how to update 16.04 Remix with Debian 10 packages.
This *should* also work with the stock mate 16.04 or lubuntu 16.04 as well.

Install instructions:
Download and install Ubuntu 16.04 Remix if you haven't already done so.
Hold 'c' key to boot from cd
Enter your yaboot params if needed. For Radeon gfx cards usually all you need is this:
Boot: live radeon.agpmode=-1 nosplash
STAY OFFLINE while installing. Letting the installer install updates will break the installer.
Update the packages after installation is finished and you've rebooted.

Post Install intructions:
Run (sudo apt update), then apply the remaining updates from Ubuntu (sudo apt upgrade).
This will allow you to recieve future ubuntu security updates and kernels until April 2021.
Sound is muted by default. Open lxterminal and type: alsamixer and adjust PCM to 60 and hit esc key.
Now copy the included sources.list to /etc/apt 
You'll need Fienix's keyring for it's repository. Do so like this:
Open terminal and type: sudo apt-key adv --keyserver hkp://keyserver.ubuntu.com:80 --recv 0x548D45C5
Debians keyrings constantly change so we bypass them using [trusted=yes] in sources.list

IMPORTANT!!!!!!!
Leave /etc/apt/sources.list alone unless you know what you are doing.
I've used and included the Fienix repo and Debian Sid repos.
You can uncomment them AFTER installing all of Ubuntu's updates.
BE CAREFULL! THIS COULD BREAK OR UNINSTALL PREINSTALLED SOFTWARE
And just like with Debian Sid, some packages are missing deps, but most install/update.
USE THIS FEATURE AT YOUR OWN RISK!!! YOU'VE BEEN WARNED.
NEVER USE "APT UPGRAGE" when you have those repos enabled!!!
You will hose your system. Just use APT INSTALL "package-name" to install or update 
preinstalled software. Dont go hog wild. Just install what you need.
As soon as you are done pulling in new software, disable the fienix and debian repos.
Then apt update with just the ubuntu repos enabled for safety and security updates.

NOTE: In my experience, DO NOT update xorg or any xorg firmware. Bad things happen.

Adjust a few files to make neofetch/screenfetch display Ubuntu 18.10:
Copy the files in this archives /etc folder to /etc as root user. (or edit them by hand youself)

YOUTUBE:
Install greasemonkey in any or all of the web browsers (get it from addons.palemoon.org)
Then go to greasyfork.org and download the viewtube script.
Adjust viewtube's settings to be embedded, use SD playback, and choose either mp4 or VLC for the player.

AD BLOCKING:
Open a terminal and type: sudo cp /path/to/extracted/hosts.deny /etc/hosts
Now type: sudo nano /etc/hosts and add 127.0.0.1 yourhostname below 127.0.0.1 localhost and save.
This will block ads system wide. It also bypasses loading up your browsers with adblock extensions.

This is just a hackish way to get updated packages on Ubuntu 16.04 and make it a fake 18.10.
Ubuntu is based on Debian, so this works fairly well if you're careful.

Happy hacking!

Cheers --wicknix