a.external span
{
position: absolute;
left: -5000px;
width: 4000px;
}
a.external:link
{
background: url(images/external_link_icon.gif) no-repeat 100% 0;
padding: 0 20px 0 0; text-decoration: none; font-size:13px;}
a.external:visited
{
color: purple;
background: url(images/external_link_icon.gif) no-repeat 100% -100px;
padding: 0 20px 0 0; text-decoration: none; font-size:13px; }
a.external:hover
{
color: red;
background: url(images/external_link_icon.gif) no-repeat 100% -200px;
padding: 0 20px 0 0; text-decoration: none; font-size:13px; }