def readLines(fname):
    """
    Reads lines from file fname, ignoring lines commented by #, and returns 
    as a list
    """
    with open(fname, 'r') as f:
        
        flist = []
        for line in f:
            
            line = line.strip()
            if line[0] != '#':
                
                flist.append(line)
                
    return flist