Gnome-panel uses 100% CPU after upgrade

[Peter Bonucci <peter.bonucci@verizon.net>]

I just upgraded from Lenny to Squeeze.

The installation when fine except that I had to load the ethernet firmware 
manually.  

I am using Gnome for the desktop.

When I log into the computer, the top menu panel flickers constantly and does 
not display "Applications / Places / System".  This renders the desktop 
useless.  

Running "top" I get the following CPU utilizations:

gnome-panel: 99%
xorg: 68%
metacity: 32%

This worked under Lenny.  What can I do to fix this?