Out of curiosity, where did folks pick up their home improvement skills? DIY trial and error? Learning from a parent/job? Books/Internet?
My grandfather way back got the Time/Life books on carpentry, plumbing, etc. and quite literally built his house from the ground up. Drafted a plan, dug a big hole, poured a foundation and worked it up from there. How do folks learn trade skills like that these days?
I can do very minor things like replace a switch or install a ceiling fan, but about half the stuff Slate posted I have no clue how to do.