Creating humans

I am not talking heads, I am getting ok at those, my question is, what is the best way about starting the rest of the person? Do I create that seperatly from the head and connect them later? any advice is apreciated.

http://wiki.blender.org/index.php/BSoD/Introduction_to_Character_Animation
…or for the lazy (or in a hurry)
http://www.dedalo-3d.com/

I think it’s a matter of each individual’s preference but for me, modeling from top to bottom starting from pointy parts (i.e. nose, finger, ears, etc.) is easier than the other way around. Proportion is the last thing (and usually it took most of the time) in my to do list.