[COLUG] Ubuntu delay on opening applications

[Mark Erbaugh]

Have you noticed that Ubuntu (I'm using Dapper with Gnome and Nautilus)
seems to open applications relatively quickly, but then the cursor turns
to the wait cursor (rotating circle) for several seconds. At the same
time, I've noticed an icon in the bottom panel that says (Opening xxx).
While the cursor is in this state, you can still do things in the
application you just opened. When the bottom panel icon goes away, the
cursor returns to normal.  I've tried to restore this bottom panel icon
to see if I could see what it is doing, but it doesn't restore.

Does anyone know what is going on?  Is this a Gnome thing?  An Ubuntu
thing?  Is Ubuntu phoning home to tell Big Brother what applications I'm
running?

Thanks,
Mark