I point to the following *not* as a license for more experienced folks to become inordinately rude or terse with those who don't stick closely to the guidelines presented, but in the hope that some of the newer folks may have been ignorant of some of these "net common courtesies".
My goal is that we'll see "better" questions than some of what we've had.
It starts here
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html#asking
and goes through here
Don't ask people to reply by private e-mail
There is more of interest and there are postings on the web that are shorter and more focused on the "do your homework and reports pertinent data", but I'm getting the feeling that a general reminder is in order.
HTH and no offense targeted at/to anybody.
Bill