How to remove the background image from google - a few options:

Install Greasemonkey for FireFox (Chrome has it built in) and add the following script:

//----------------------------------------------------

// ==UserScript==
// @name           Kill g backgound image
// @namespace      solvd
// @include        http://www.google.*/
// ==/UserScript==

window.addEventListener(
    'load',
    function() {
    var pic = document.getElementById('fpdi');
if (pic) {
    pic.parentNode.removeChild(pic);
}
   
    },
    true);
    //-----------------------------------------------------

Or Install ablock plus for FireFox and block /images/background/*

if you can't do that just use the SSL version of google in IE or any othe browser

Grrr...