Strange, I just did a fresh install again on the macbook. Here's the process I used (you may wish to skip to "after installation" section:
1. make EFI-bootable USB stick using special file (bootX64.iso) and Linux Mint 14 (Nadia) 64-bit version .iso file (renamed to boot.iso for purposes of this method). Place both files on USB key in folder /efi/boot/
this gives a total of 1 USB key with 2 folders (one inside the other) first folder is named "efi" and then inside of that folder is "boot" folder. Inside the boot folder are the two .iso files.
2. Install rEFIt and reboot Macbook at least twice to ensure that it works. It should come up every time the Macbook boots even without holding the "option" key.
3. Choose the option that says something like "launch the 'bootX64.iso' from USBKEY". Wait for the Ubuntu EFI USB Launcher (i think thats what its called) to load Linux and the RAMdisk. Linux Mint Live should pop up no problem.
4. Install Linux Mint 14 from the live session onto a pre-partitioned drive (I partitioned my 500GB drive in Mac OS X Mountain Lion before hand, I gave Mint 90GB).
- It is important note here that I did an advanced install when Mint Installation asked me. I manually selected an ext4 and defined the root folder and then chose a swap and boot partition.
AFTER INSTALLATION
5. After installation, I removed the USB key and restarted the computer and was greeted by rEFIt and I chose the Linux partition. It booted fine and I plugged it into an ethernet cable. (Im using that internet now to write this). I ran the mintupdate, it did its thing.
6. After mint update I went to terminal and typed "sudo apt-get update" and "sudo apt-get upgrade" and then when it finished I did "sudo apt-get dist-upgrade" then to be sure I did them all again in the same order.
7. Then I opened Synaptic and searched "b43". After that I downloaded the two packages you mentioned earlier. I closed synaptic and restarted the computer.
The computer still does not know that it is capable of wireless