For those wondering how to get rid of the background (I sure was) - just 1. Sign in to Google. 2. Click the white "Change Background Image" link in the lower

For those wondering how to get rid of the background (I sure was) - just 1. Sign in to Google. 2. Click the white "Change Background Image" link in the lower left-hand corner. 3. Select "Editor's Picks." 4. Scroll all the way to the bottom, where a plain white background is available. (Oddly enough, after being alarmed and even angered by the weird image, I actually found myself really liking a plain grey background.)