1. One blunt solution - use this as your google homepage:
http://www.google.com/firefox
2. Use firefox (seems to work right off the bat, otherwise install this script:
http://userscripts.org/scripts/show/63436)
3. Google sort their fucking homepage out. I bet there are less than 1% of web professionals who have fade effects on in windows or any other applications, it wastes time and is irritating.
WTF are they thinking?