JQuery is waiting for images to load before executing document.ready
Update: This bug has been confirmed by at least two others. Even if you dont read my full post - if you're reading this and using JQuery 1.3.1 then stop using it if you're relying on any handlers that you want to execute when the DOM is complete but before the page's images have loaded. Update2 : Thanks to Tom (user id 20!) for posting the link to the ticket on the jQuery bug tracker. Update3 - 2009/01/28: The issue has been properly resolved (for those for whom reverting to 1.2.6 is not an option). For anyone currently using 1.3.1 and needing an immediate fix you can read the accepted answer