Quick tip: If you've customised Emacs in any way (fonts, colours, etc.), and subsequently found that it takes ages to start up, then exit Emacs and try this:

]# echo "(modify-frame-parameters nil '((wait-for-wm . nil)))" > ~/.emacs.tmp
]# touch ~/.emacs
]# cat ~/.emacs >>~/.emacs.tmp
]# mv -f ~/.emacs.tmp ~/.emacs

Thanks harfooz.