Thunderbird issues

[Jeffrey Ross]

I use Thunderbird (1.5.0.9 - current version installed by yum) on a FC6 
machine (x86_64) and I have 2 issues that maybe somebody has a solution 
to these

1) I can't set a custom sound to play upon receiving mail, the default 
"ding" works fine, and the wave file I want to use plays file with the 
"play" command.  When playing the sound I just get screeching from the 
speakers.

2) resizing the fields in the inbox also resized the fields in the sent 
mailbox.  The issue is the I want to see the sender of the message in 
the Inbox but I want to see the recipient in the sent mailbox.  Right 
now I either have to resize every time I go into mailbox or leave both 
fields expanded.

Suggestions?

TIA
Jeff