diff -ruN abi.orig/src/af/util/unix/ut_unixTimer.cpp abi/src/af/util/unix/ut_unixTimer.cpp
--- abi.orig/src/af/util/unix/ut_unixTimer.cpp	Tue Mar 27 10:35:45 2001
+++ abi/src/af/util/unix/ut_unixTimer.cpp	Wed Aug 29 12:13:27 2001
@@ -75,6 +75,7 @@
 	*/
 	stop();
 
+	m_bDoAsFastAsPossible = false;
 	m_iGtkTimerId = gtk_timeout_add(iMilliseconds, _Timer_Proc, this);
 
 	if (getIdentifier() == 0)
@@ -87,6 +88,31 @@
 	return 0;
 }
 
+UT_sint32 UT_UNIXTimer::setAsFastAsPossible()
+{
+  /*
+    The goal here is to put a function in an idle queue.  This method
+    should not block.  It should call some OS routine which provides
+    idle facilities, or use another timing mechanism.  It is assumed
+    that this routine requires a C callback.  That callback, when it
+    is called, must look up the UT_Timer object which corresponds to
+    it, and call its fire() method.  See ut_unixTimer.cpp for an
+    example of how it's done with GTK.  We're hoping that something
+    similar will work for other platforms.
+  */
+  stop();
+
+  m_bDoAsFastAsPossible = true;
+  m_iGtkTimerId = gtk_idle_add(_Timer_Proc, this);
+
+  if (getIdentifier() == 0)
+    setIdentifier(m_iGtkTimerId);
+
+  m_iMilliseconds = 0;
+
+  return 0;
+}
+
 void UT_UNIXTimer::stop()
 {
 	// stop the delivery of timer events.
@@ -94,15 +120,24 @@
 	if (m_iGtkTimerId != 0)
 	{
 //		UT_DEBUGMSG(("ut_unixTimer.cpp: timer [%d] (with id [%d]) stopped\n", getIdentifier(), m_iGtkTimerId));
-		gtk_timeout_remove(m_iGtkTimerId);
+		if (m_bDoAsFastAsPossible)
+		  gtk_idle_remove(m_iGtkTimerId);
+		else
+		  gtk_timeout_remove(m_iGtkTimerId);
 		m_iGtkTimerId = 0;
 	}
 }
 
 void UT_UNIXTimer::start()
 {
-	// resume the delivery of events.
-	UT_ASSERT(m_iMilliseconds > 0);
-	set(m_iMilliseconds);
+  if (m_bDoAsFastAsPossible)
+    {
+      setAsFastAsPossible();
+    }
+  else
+    {
+      UT_ASSERT(m_iMilliseconds > 0);
+      set(m_iMilliseconds);
+    }
 }
 
diff -ruN abi.orig/src/af/util/unix/ut_unixTimer.h abi/src/af/util/unix/ut_unixTimer.h
--- abi.orig/src/af/util/unix/ut_unixTimer.h	Fri Jul 27 15:47:11 2001
+++ abi/src/af/util/unix/ut_unixTimer.h	Wed Aug 29 11:42:09 2001
@@ -31,12 +31,14 @@
 	virtual ~UT_UNIXTimer();
 
 	virtual UT_sint32 set(UT_uint32 iMilliseconds);
+	virtual UT_sint32 setAsFastAsPossible();
 	virtual void stop();
 	virtual void start();
 	
 private:
 	UT_sint32 m_iMilliseconds;
 	UT_uint32 m_iGtkTimerId;
+	bool m_bDoAsFastAsPossible;
 };
 
 #endif /* UT_UNIXTIMER_H */
diff -ruN abi.orig/src/af/util/win/ut_Win32Timer.cpp abi/src/af/util/win/ut_Win32Timer.cpp
--- abi.orig/src/af/util/win/ut_Win32Timer.cpp	Fri Jul 27 23:34:02 2001
+++ abi/src/af/util/win/ut_Win32Timer.cpp	Wed Aug 29 11:42:09 2001
@@ -24,6 +24,8 @@
 #include "ut_assert.h"
 #include "gr_Win32Graphics.h"
 
+#define DEFAULT_MSECS 100
+
 /*****************************************************************/
 	
 UT_Timer* UT_Timer::static_constructor(UT_TimerCallback pCallback, void* pData, GR_Graphics * pG)
@@ -90,6 +92,16 @@
 	m_bStarted = true;
 	setIdentifier(idTimer);
 	return 0;
+}
+
+UT_sint32 UT_Win32Timer::setAsFastAsPossible()
+{
+  // Just a placeholder until someone implements an idle-queue
+  // mechanism. See ut_unixTimer.cpp for more information.
+  m_iMilliseconds = DEFAULT_MSECS;
+	
+  if (!m_bStarted)
+    set(m_iMilliseconds);
 }
 
 void UT_Win32Timer::stop(void)
diff -ruN abi.orig/src/af/util/win/ut_Win32Timer.h abi/src/af/util/win/ut_Win32Timer.h
--- abi.orig/src/af/util/win/ut_Win32Timer.h	Tue Feb  6 23:54:10 2001
+++ abi/src/af/util/win/ut_Win32Timer.h	Wed Aug 29 11:42:09 2001
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@
 	~UT_Win32Timer();
 
 	virtual UT_sint32 set(UT_uint32 iMilliseconds);
+	virtual UT_sint32 setAsFastAsPossible();
 	virtual void stop(void);
 	virtual void start(void);
 
diff -ruN abi.orig/src/af/util/xp/ut_timer.h abi/src/af/util/xp/ut_timer.h
--- abi.orig/src/af/util/xp/ut_timer.h	Thu Jul 26 22:59:27 2001
+++ abi/src/af/util/xp/ut_timer.h	Wed Aug 29 11:42:09 2001
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@
 	void* getInstanceData();
 	
 	virtual UT_sint32 set(UT_uint32 iMilliseconds) = 0;	/* set freq and start */
+	virtual UT_sint32 setAsFastAsPossible() = 0;	/* set idle and start */
 	virtual void stop(void) = 0;		/* suspend events */
 	virtual void start(void) = 0;		/* resume events */
 	void fire();
--- abi.orig/src/text/fmt/xp/fl_DocLayout.cpp	Wed Aug 29 09:10:18 2001
+++ abi/src/text/fmt/xp/fl_DocLayout.cpp	Wed Aug 29 11:53:28 2001
@@ -897,12 +897,13 @@
 		}
 	}
 
-	if (i != 0 && pDocLayout->m_bStopSpellChecking == false)
+	if (i == 0) //&& pDocLayout->m_bStopSpellChecking == false)
 	{
-		// restart timer unless it's not needed any more
-		//pDocLayout->m_pBackgroundCheckTimer->start();
+		// stop timer if it's not needed any more
+		pDocLayout->m_pBackgroundCheckTimer->stop();
 	}
 	pDocLayout->m_bImSpellCheckingNow = false;
+	return;
 }
 
 void FL_DocLayout::queueBlockForBackgroundCheck(UT_uint32 reason, fl_BlockLayout *pBlock, bool bHead)
@@ -916,7 +917,8 @@
 	{
 		m_pBackgroundCheckTimer = UT_Timer::static_constructor(_backgroundCheck, this, m_pG);
 		if (m_pBackgroundCheckTimer)
-			m_pBackgroundCheckTimer->set(BACKGROUND_CHECK_MSECS);
+			//m_pBackgroundCheckTimer->set(BACKGROUND_CHECK_MSECS);
+			m_pBackgroundCheckTimer->setAsFastAsPossible();
 	}
 	else
 	{