Try actually removing that section. Or, if you want to have it remain, but be hidden in the code, I find it's easiest to do this:

<?php if (0) { ?>
<!-- Stuff you want to hide goes here -->
<?php } ?>

I'd also look for the "simple things." Did you save the file, upload it correctly, etc? Does it look alright on your local machine? (Assuming that you have php and some sort of web server installed, of course.) Try changing the phrase "Skin the site" to "Monkey" to see if you're actually editing the correct file. That could really be it, I know I've fallen for that once or twice! ;)

Isaac

Yes, what I did was take out this whole section:

<div class="bSideItem">
    <h3>Choose skin</h3>
		<ul>
			<?php // ---------------------------------- START OF SKIN LIST ----------------------------------
			for( skin_list_start(); skin_list_next(); ) { ?>
				<li><a href="<?php skin_change_url() ?>"><?php skin_list_iteminfo( 'name', 'htmlbody' ) ?></a></li>
			<?php } // --------------------------------- END OF SKIN LIST --------------------------------- ?>
		</ul>
	</div>

And changed it to my links area. It worked out pretty good for me, without any errors. :)

This is the way Fran?ois does it.
It is the best way :

<?php if( ! $Blog->get('force_skin') )
{	// Skin switching is allowed for this blog: ?>
	<div class="bSideItem">
		<h3><?php echo T_('Choose skin') ?></h3>
		<ul>
			<?php // ------------------------------- START OF SKIN LIST -------------------------------
			for( skin_list_start(); skin_list_next(); ) { ?>
				<li><a href="<?php skin_change_url() ?>"><?php skin_list_iteminfo( 'name', 'htmlbody' ) ?></a></li>
			<?php } // ------------------------------ END OF SKIN LIST ------------------------------ ?>
		</ul>
	</div>
<?php } ?>