Dan Pereda – Yeah! You found me.

Total Beginner- Android Programming. Part 3

So I have been diving thru all the java books and online videos I can find. The one thing I seem to find it that alot of books focus on getting you to start writing code and alot of the code you just don’t understand fully (Well at least I didn’t). They really don’t explain what and how things are working. I started looking more at Java text books and that really spent too much time on theory and high level coding ideas. I watched some great Videos on line, but they started with test driven development, but I really needed the basics in simple to understand english.

What I needed is a ground up java class in a book. What I stumbled upon was Head First Java, 2nd Edition. After just a few days I am about half way thru this book. It is the first programming book that you can actually read. You don’t have to read it next to a computer.

The book teaches you the basics and the meaning behind them, it challenges you with different learning styles. The code that is in the book is easy to read and are fun relevant things you might want to try. No boring hello world, how about creating a battleship game? I will be working on Android code soon at this rate.

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Improveing my Poker Game.Part two-Goals and getting started.

After loosing some money in some low/micro stakes cash games and a few MTTs I was getting a little upset. I didn’t really think that these guys were better than me. I did some more searching, reading and trial and error and figured out some of my issues.

GOALS
First, I think you have to establish your goals. What do you want out of poker? When I started I don’t think I could have answered that question.
Do you just want to play for fun and entertainment? If so, that is fine. Learn the basics and then go gambling. Treat it just like any casino game, over the long run you are going loose. Just remember you are just having fun.
Do you want to learn the game and gain experience with the least risk?
Do you want to become a Poker pro and do this for a living?

My goal right now is to learn and improve my game while staying break even and not risking too much. The best way to gain experience is to play.
Multi-Table Tournaments (MTTs) give you the most hands for the lowest amount of money. $1 MTT can get you 200 hands of play or more. The problem with MTTs is that as a beginner, it is going to be tough to finish in the money (Cash). Your gonna have alot of losses before you win most likely.
Sit n’ gos are like mini tournaments. Typically they have 9 to 90 players compared to a MTT that has thousands of players. In an SNG you are more likely to make the money, but you will not see as many hands as a MTT for the same buy-in. The other thing about SNGs is that they require a different style of play. In the beginning you play really tight, later on you switch gears and are really aggressive and some times pushing your whole stack in every hand.
Cash Games are the most expensive to play. Each hand is going to cost you money. I don’t play cash very much any more because of this.

I found that I play a mix of MTTs and SNGs. My ego can’t handle the long droughts between MTTs wins so it helps me to play both. I really only play Cash games in AC now.

If you want to become a poker Pro, your gonna have to learn someone else. You have to truly dedicated and commit a ton of time. Good players are playing 20 hours a day online playing up to 16 tables at a time. Poker is still fun for me, I don’t want to turn it in to a job….Yet.

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Improveing my poker game. Part One

I took a serious interest in poker a few months ago. This does not mean I just found out about poker. I can remember playing poker with my grandmother when I was 5. It was 5 and 7 card Poker. My family would have monthly Poker games and get togethers, but after my grandmother past away we never seemed to get together anymore and the games were lost.

On a recent trip to Atlantic City (AC), my brother in law really wanted to play poker in a casino. It was a little to imitating to just sit down without an understanding of hold’em in a casino worked. When I got home that night I statred reading about Poker in a casino.

A month later and I was back in AC for some fun and my buddy had played in a casino before. I soon found my self at a $1/$2 NL table in Harra’s. I would have loved to tell you that I kicked everyone but, I sat down with $100 dollars and 3.5 hours later stood up broke, but with a new feel for the game. I had few good hands and won a couple of pots, but there were some super aggressive players at the table that I really didn’t know how to handle. I also was not sure of my bet sizing, but looking back they were to small.

I came home and started reading up more on how to play poker, Hold’em, Cash games, and Tournaments. I soon opened an online poker account on Full Tilt and began testing what I had learned.

More to Come

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Total Beginner- Android Programming. BreaK

I took a detour on my way to learning Android and Java. I have been busy working on permanent employment things and other nagging issues. I have also been working on my Poker game.

More Android antics to come soon.

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Total Beginner- Android Programming. Part 2

In continuing my Android Programming saga.

On 6/10/2009
I started doing some of the samples on the Android Dev site. At first it was pretty easy, but soon the instructions starting using terms that I didn’t understand. It was now time go back to where I should have started and learn Java. I was soon following some beginner tutorial videos, but found the Videos really skipped the Meaning of certain terms and ideas. I needed a book. Tho I am generally not a fan of the For Dummies books, the Java for Dummies (4th ed) really helped clear up some confusion I was having. I was now able to read some of the more complex examples.

I am still working at learning Java. I am working thur the book and online videos. I am also reading an Android book, but all the concepts don’t make sense yet.

I am getting there, it is a piece of cake……mmmmmmm I want some cake now,

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Total Beginner- Android Programming. Part 1

In continuing my Android Programming saga.

On 6/9/2009
On my main machine, now running Windows 7 RC I installed the following:
Java JDK
The Eclipse IDE
The Android SDK
The Android plug-in for Eclipse.

I set up the Virtual device and got the hello World running on the Android emulator.

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Windows 7 RC

I have to say that Microsoft’s polish of Vista to turn it in to Windows 7 was remarkable. I love Windows 7. After years of playing with Linux and other OS, I can say that my main machine will be Windows 7. It is fast and easy and I just don’t have the time to mess with a Linux setup. When Windows 7 releases this fall I can say that I will be buying more than one copy.

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Total Beginner- Android Programming. Intro

Goal: To Develop a few android programs that I really want and enter them in to Google’s ADC2.

The Problem: Other than a few programming classes in college and some basic Html, php and MySql. I am a total newbie at programming complete applications.

The biggest key idea is that if you want to program in android you must learn Java first. ( If your an expert C developer, then you might be ok too).

My Plan:

Learn the Eclipse IDE
Learn Java
Learn Android
Write Android Apps
Win ADC2

Simple enough, Lets get started.

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Windows 7 RC- Now Installed

OK, now I have upgraded to Windows 7 RC,  All seems going well.  I will let you know more in a few days.

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T-mobile G1 Loosing connection – Solved – Sorta

Well the issue just got worse and worse, even after a new sim card.  FinallY i Call T-mo and they knew of this issues and sent me a new phone.  Probally the best customer service call ever.

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