kernel_task at 130 cpu usage... Too high, right?

Hello all.

My MBA (Ver A 1.6) just started getting the "sluggish" symptoms. Started noticing that my CPU gets stuck at 90~100% after about 30 min of use, since about a week ago. I keep restarting the computer and after about 30 min, my MBA becomes very sluggish and iStat shows both CPU bars all the way to about 100%.

When this happens, the activity monitor shows the kernel_task at 125~130. This is too high, right? If it is, what's causing this? I can't imagine that any of the programs that I regularly use will cause this.

Here's the screen shot of the activity monitor.



Thanks for your help.