sigh. it works a lot better when you hit the right URL

settings.py

@@ -586,7 +586,7 @@ PAYPAL_CGI_URL = 'https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr'
 PAYPAL_CGI_AUTH = {'USER':'', 'PASSWORD':'', 'SIGNATURE':''}
 
 PAYPAL_USE_EMBEDDED = True
-PAYPAL_PAY_URL = 'https://paypal.com/adaptivepayments/pay'
+PAYPAL_PAY_URL = 'https://svcs.paypal.com/AdaptivePayments/Pay'
 PAYPAL_FLOW_URL = 'https://paypal.com/webapps/adaptivepayment/flow/pay'
 PAYPAL_JS_URL = 'https://www.paypalobjects.com/js/external/dg.js'
 PAYPAL_EMBEDDED_AUTH = {'USER':'', 'PASSWORD':'', 'SIGNATURE':''}