pixel_trans.gif doesn't display on IE, also my shipping doesn't go to PayPal

[[email protected]]

a couple of finicky details that i need to finish my site:

 

function tep_draw_separator uses /images/pixel_blank.gif which doesn't display properly in some browsers on some platforms (specifically Safari for mac and IE for windows). unfortunately, tep_draw_separator is a function that is used all over the site. what can i do to make it so that these two widely used browsers don't get a face-full of broken graphics on an otherwise perfect site?

 

also, i am using PayPal as a payment method, which appears to work fine except for the fact that when it switches over to paypal servers, it loses the shipping which my site has nicely figured out for you. if i have to write and remind people to add shipping every time, i'm not going to sell very much, and i don't even know where to start with this one.

 

any clues?