register commands: 

point-to-register: C-x r SPC  
register-to-point: C-x j <register id>
copy-to-register:  C-x r x
insert-register:   C-x r g
view-register: -

.emacs file:

; this is for shells that set either delete or backspace
; as ctrl h use M-x help to get to help instead
(global-set-key "\C-h" 'backward-delete-char)
; set the tab width slightly smaller
(setq default-tab-width 4)
;; do not display a splash screen on startup for emacs 22
(setq inhibit-splash-screen t)

;; turn off menu bar in terminal
(if (not window-system)
(menu-bar-mode -1))

- to make the elisp debugger window go away hit 'q' in the buffer

tramp: allows you to edit files remotely through ssh as well as other methods. you can just open a file using the normal scp path syntax.