diff --git a/themes/default/default.css b/themes/default/default.css
index 9f49250c..9e3df8ca 100755
--- a/themes/default/default.css
+++ b/themes/default/default.css
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ a:hover { color:#0000FF; text-decoration:underline }
 a:active { color:#0000FF; text-decoration:underline }
 a:focus { color:#0000FF; text-decoration:underline }
 
+/* standard table cell */
 td {
   color:black;
   font-family:sans-serif; 
@@ -131,16 +132,23 @@ td {
 
 /* odd and even lines in message listing */
 
-.list1 {
+/* link colors and decorations for message listings */
+
+.list1, .list1 a {
   background-color:#DDEEBB;
   text-align:center;
+  color:black;
 }
 
-.list2 {
+.list2, .list2 a {
   background-color:#FFFFB0;
   text-align:center;
+  color:black;
 }
 
+.list1 a:visited { color:black; } /* bug for IE */
+.list2 a:visited { color:black; } /* bug for IE */
+
 /* attachment line */
 
 .attachment {
@@ -149,16 +157,28 @@ td {
 }
 
 /* threaded listing */
-.thread {
+.thread, .thread a {
   background-color:#DDEEBB;
   text-align:left;
 }
 
-.threadreply {
+.threadreply, .threadreply a {
   background-color:#FFFFB0;
   text-align:left;
 }
 
+.thread a:link { color:black; text-decoration:none }
+.thread a:visited { color:black; text-decoration:none }
+.thread a:hover { color:#0000FF; text-decoration:underline }
+.thread a:active { color:black; text-decoration:underline }
+.thread a:focus { color:#0000FF; text-decoration:underline }
+
+.threadreply a:link { color:black; text-decoration:none }
+.threadreply a:visited { color:black; text-decoration:none }
+.threadreply a:hover { color:#0000FF; text-decoration:underline }
+.threadreply a:active { color:black; text-decoration:underline }
+.threadreply a:focus { color:#0000FF; text-decoration:underline }
+
 /* attribute names and values on single message page */
 .attribname {
   background-color:#CCCCFF;