UBB.threads PHP Forum Software Community Forums General Suggestions and Feedback Forums are running slow : Shout problems

I just figured out that teh shout box REALLY slows done the forum. I still have my 6.5 install up (and live) and Threads 7 running on the same server, but only I can access it. When I have the Shout Box on, the site just seems to hang forever when I click from the Portal Page to the Forums page. As soon as I turn off the shout box (hide it), viola, the site runs 10 times faster. What is it about the shout box that causes the pages to load so much slower? (I'm using IE6).

Basil