Help and FAQ etc

(1) I can't find any Help or FAQ page to assist newcomers in navigating and getting the best from this site. Is there any? If so, could some tab or pointer to it be placed in the site heading?

(2) Is there any guidance as to the meaning of the various icons (closed envelope, envelope with arrow, envelope on left, envelope on right, etc) shown in the lists of threads?

(3) Please could higher-contrast (not orange on red!) smileys be used ?

What I would like to see is what I might call "The Newbie FAQ"
I just joined, what are my limitations?

How long does initial moderation last?
When can I post a link?
When can I upload a file?
What happened to all my links?
Can I use photobucket?
Why did all of my links appear at once?
How do I know I'm being moderated?
What should I do if I post in the wrong forum?

Note: Forum members are encouraged to use the "Report post (The Yield sign)" for spamming etc.

Good questions. I'll see what I can do

The most frequently asked question in chat is "How do I start a thread".