skype using all memory and swap

When using skype after a minute or two memory usage starts climbing and then swap starts climbing, eventually memory gets to about 80% and swap goes to 100%, of course everything comes to a screeching halt and system locks up and sometimes crashes. ubuntu 10.4 with all updates, 3G RAM and 1.6G of swap. My other system with same OS and 2G of RAM and same version of skype (4.1.0.20) never has a problem. I have re installed skype but did not help.

somehow I didn't think this was going to be this tough.

Its time to make a fresh install of 12.04.