Serial comunication can be annoying (custom cable connections, RS232 to TTL voltage levels, baud rates, etc). Use a feedback loop (connect serial port's 'out' pin with the 'in' pin) and hyperterminal (free prog that comes with windows) to test your computer's serial output before you try to connect to external electronics (like the PIC).
PicBasic Pro Compiler Sample Code - usart.pbp PicBasic Pro program to demonstrate reading and writing the hardware serial port without HSERIN and HSEROUT. Defaults to 2400 bps.
Yeah, I guess I'm self taught, I started with BasicStamps and worked up to PICs when the basic stamp wasn't good enough for my projects. The PIC code is just in PICBasic, not assembly language. It would be really long and messy if it was in assembly. They do have assembly language interupt code examples in the PICBasic manual though.