The routines and diets suggestion has been made before, trouble is, no diet or routine suits everyone, and getting everyone here to agree what the perfect diet or routine is, is impossible as we all have our own little ideas. I am sure somewhere there may be a consensus though.
The other thing is, if we predict all the possible questions and sticky the answers, we won't have a forum any more, we will have a library.
The articles of importance are already stickied although not enough of mine are up there for my liking
and a simple search using the search function will yeild routines and diets a plenty.
I did a thread which listed my personal favourites, that has helped me perhaps you should do the same.
You are right though the 'How to Get Big' sticky by Big does answer a lot of noob questions, I think alongside this there should be a thread, 'How to Get Lean' as well, which I have toyed with writing for some time.....
SD