diff --git a/src/Core.js b/src/Core.js
index 1e8478a..0cef04e 100644
--- a/src/Core.js
+++ b/src/Core.js
@@ -36,8 +36,6 @@ html2canvas.Util.backgroundImage = function (src) {
 };
 
 html2canvas.Util.Bounds = function getBounds (el) {
-        
-    window.scroll(0,0);
     var clientRect,
     bounds = {};
         
@@ -109,9 +107,9 @@ html2canvas.Util.getCSS = function (el, attribute) {
         if ( rsLeft ) {
             el.runtimeStyle.left = rsLeft;
         }*/
-    val = $(el).css(attribute);
+    // val = $(el).css(attribute);
     // }
-    return val;
+    return $(el).css(attribute);
     
   
 };
@@ -128,5 +126,12 @@ html2canvas.Util.Extend = function (options, defaults) {
 
 html2canvas.Util.Children = function(el) {
     // $(el).contents() !== el.childNodes, Opera / IE have issues with that
-    return $(el).contents();
+    var children;
+    try {
+      children = $(el).contents();
+    } catch (ex) {
+      html2canvas.log("html2canvas.Util.Children failed with exception: " + ex.message);
+      children = [];
+    }
+    return children;
 }
diff --git a/src/Parse.js b/src/Parse.js
index 63c6831..8dc2f41 100644
--- a/src/Parse.js
+++ b/src/Parse.js
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
  */
 
 html2canvas.Parse = function (element, images, opts) {
- 
+    window.scroll(0,0);
     opts = opts || {};
   
     // select body by default
@@ -175,14 +175,14 @@ html2canvas.Parse = function (element, images, opts) {
         
 
 
-    
-        // TODO add another image
-        img.src = "http://html2canvas.hertzen.com/images/8.jpg";
+        // http://probablyprogramming.com/2009/03/15/the-tiniest-gif-ever (handtinywhite.gif)
+        img.src = "data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIABAP///wAAACwAAAAAAQABAAACAkQBADs=";
         img.width = 1;
         img.height = 1;
     
         img.style.margin = 0;
         img.style.padding = 0;
+        img.style.verticalAlign = "baseline";
 
         span.style.fontFamily = font;
         span.style.fontSize = fontSize;
diff --git a/src/Preload.js b/src/Preload.js
index 878cdf1..03fab51 100644
--- a/src/Preload.js
+++ b/src/Preload.js
@@ -156,7 +156,8 @@ html2canvas.Preload = function(element, opts){
         contentsLen = contents.length,
         background_image,
         src,
-        img;
+        img,
+        elNodeType = false;
         
         for (i = 0;  i < contentsLen; i+=1 ){
             // var ignRe = new RegExp("("+this.ignoreElements+")");
@@ -166,8 +167,14 @@ html2canvas.Preload = function(element, opts){
         }
             
         // }
-          
-        if (el.nodeType === 1 || el.nodeType === undefined){
+        try {
+            elNodeType = el.nodeType;
+        } catch (ex) {
+            elNodeType = false;
+            html2canvas.log("html2canvas: failed to access some element's nodeType - Exception: " + ex.message);
+        }
+
+        if (elNodeType === 1 || elNodeType === undefined){
             
             background_image = html2canvas.Util.getCSS(el, 'backgroundImage');