fair enough to ask questions... could have spent time researching.
The part about using a lathe to create a FLAT pick was a bit weird, as the purpose of a lathe is to make something spin, and make it round in some shape or form.
to answer your questions:
hacksaw blades make the best starter picks, unless you wish to buy them.
reading a book will not magicly make you pick locks just by reading, but will help if you practice lots.
the 'upside down' locks are known as EURO-CYLINDERS, and follow the same rules as all others.
It sounds like you need to read and practice more.
picking a lock bottom- to-front, or front-to-bottom, is done because of the way they are constructed... it is called the binding defect, and if you had read the MIT guide fully you would know that it is as a result that the holles are drilled slightly off-axis.
DO NOT USE A LATHE - you want hacksaw blades, and either a dremel or a set of needle files.
If you have time read the ENTIRE forum, and you'll have ALL you need to know 
i'm now going to go jump off of a bridge. brb.
