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Umm, I think Python is a good language to start with. It's forgiving and low on boilerplate code. I haven't read it but Learn Python the Hard Way by Zed Shaw is supposed to be decent (and it's free online). I didn't like Learning Python published by O'Reilly. I'd just read reviews on Amazon if Learn Python the Hard Way isn't working for you. Whichever you end up with, I recommend typing all examples from the book into the computer by hand. Something about doing this really helps make things stick in your head. You'll also make the occasional typo and have to debug your program which is something we programmers spend more time doing than any of us care to admit.

I think it is important to try to think of something you want to make and have it in mind while you are learning the language. It can be any software but I recommend a video game. They are really good for this because you can just think up a simple concept or implement your own version of an existing game. Having a goal makes it so you are constantly solving the problems you will encounter while trying to reach that goal which is the most important part of programming (more so than learning the syntax of the language). This is actually the highest rated Python book on Amazon and is all about gamedev with Python.

After you've learned Python to the point where you are comfortable (no need to master it), learn other languages to grow as a programmer. Once you've gotten a couple languages under your belt it's actually really easy to learn even more languages (unless it's a very odd language like Haskell, Lisp, or Brainfuck). The problem solving skills you've acquired often work in any language and you learn some new techniques as you learn new languages.

• Accelerated C++ is the go-to these days for C++.
  
• The C Programming Language is often recommended for learning C but it's pricey and there are dozens of good books on C to choose from.
  
• Head First Java gets recommended a lot for learning Java.
  
• C# In Depth is very highly rated and happens to be written by the guy with the largest score on StackOverflow (a kind of Q&A for programmers).
  
• The D Programming Language I really enjoyed.
  
• Programming Ruby 1.9 is often recommended but it felt more like a reference manual to me. There are higher rated books on Amazon.
  
  

This really depends on a lot of things. The kitchen is usually the primary source of indoor air pollution. I have a PM2.5 monitor and cooking bacon and eggs puts it off the chart. It's extremely important to have good ventilation when you cook (which most kitchens don't have). I've also encountered terrible indoor air quality around town in restaurants, etc.

If you live in Salt Lake and don't want to die young a HEPA filter is a sound investment. They are not crazy expensive and I've verified with my particulate counter that they do work very well. I have purchased probably a dozen of this one because its cheap and effective but there are other options that are more quiet. I have two in my home and the rest around the office or given away to friends. They have an updated model that I have not used here. I will sometimes travel with one if its convenient.

While I'm on the subject. This is unrelated to what you said but here is some more pertinent info about Utah air quality:

Car air filters surprisingly do a good job and I read very low pm2.5 concentrations even when driving down i-15 on an inversion day in traffic, but there are also air scrubbers designed to run off the 12v in your car.

If you're going outside for longer than 15 minutes and especially if you are exercising, wear a P100 rated mask such as this one.

During inversion season I take my air quality meter around and test all over the place and post the results to twitter if anyone is interested. The numbers reported by the state are accurate in the sense that they give a baseline by which to measure trends over time, but they are completely inaccurate in terms of what you will actually encounter when you go outside. You can expect to encounter up to DOUBLE what the state reports. A local hero has set up a network of sensors that will give you a better idea of what is going on. You can find the info at purpleair.org you can also host your own sensor.

Thousands of people are dying each year due to our poor air quality. It is taking YEARS off of our lives. So the last thing I'm going to say is please support initiatives to expand public and alternative transportation, promote clean energy, and to eliminate major sources of pollution in the valley. Demand from your candidates that they make air quality a priority. Other cities around the world have made real positive impacts on their air quality just by trying, so it's not impossible.

Hiking the Wasatch has been an indispensable guide for me.

My favorite local hike, step for step, is Mt. Raymond. It's long and meandering rather than straight up, you get to climb on the rocks near the peak, and you don't see a single ski lift. Just nature. In the next couple of weeks, the fall color should be great. I love Mt. Raymond from Butler Fork (Big Cottonwood Canyon) or Bowman Fork (Millcreek Canyon).

Lake Blanch (BCC) and The Pfeifferhorn (Little Cottonwood Canyon) are staggeringly beautiful. Silver Fork up to the ridgeline (BCC) and White Pine Lake (LCC) are pretty impressive, too.

For short hikes, I'd suggest Catherine Pass and Cecret Lake in Albion Basin (LCC); Doughnut Falls in BCC; Silver Lake in American Fork; Stewarts Falls near Sundance; Alexander Basin in Millcreek; and Killyon Canyon in Emigration for a little stroll after class.

For backpacking, I've mostly gone to the Uintas. If I were backpacking here, I'd probably do something in the mountains between American Fork & Little Cottonwood. Someday I'll finally do the beloved Timpanogos. Maybe an easy overnight on the mountains between Millcreek & Big Cottonwood Canyon. The meadow atop Neff's Canyon would be a nice camping spot, I think.

The sunny, town-adjacent hikes you dislike are quite nice in the fall and spring. I did Mt. Olympus one October, and it was a great day. The foothills have a haunting beauty during the "dead" months. They also have little surprises. The old cars, the Living Room, Jack's Mountain Mailboxes, the Pencil Peak fort. Explore the hills that are closest to you, and you will find your own secrets.

Can't speak of any great tea experiences in Utah but here's my method of making a good cup of tea.

You'll need:

• loose leaf tea. I prefer Earl Gray but any high quality loose leaf tea will do. I know that Whole Foods used to have a loose leaf tea section, not sure after renaming to Whole Foods but their Earl Gray was good. SanFran Bay Coffee is where I get my tea now.
  
• Get a tea pot that has a built in strainer, ceramic I find is best. Something like this.
  
  Steps:
  
  
• Boil the water. I've switched to an electric kettle but stove-top kettles are fine and even if you don't have a kettle you can still boil the water in any old sauce pan.
  
• Prepare the leaves by loosely putting them in the strainer/pot (some pots have a built in strainer the one above has a separate strainer). If it's a builtin strainer then you put the leaves directly into the pot.
  
• For extra points get the pot warm. If you have a heating plate great, if not get an electric heating pad and put the pot on it.
  
• When the water is full on at a rolling boil immediately pour into the pot directly on the leaves until the pot is filled up.
  
• Wait about 2-5 minutes depending on the strength you're looking for.
  
• Pour and enjoy. For Earl Gray some people like sugar (blah), but I find that a bit of unsweetened soy milk helps with any acid taste and enhances the richness of Earl Gray. Sometimes a dash of lemon. In general now is the time to add in whatever you'll be adding.
  
  Happy tea-ing.

Most of the wasatch front area is watershed so your going to run into problems finding places.

As already mentioned there is five mile pass. Been there a couple of times. It is better for 4wheelers but it is fun in a jeep/suv.


Theres the pony express trail out that way as well.

Dunes and such- try knoll's.

A more serious rock crawling place exists west of utah lake called mini moab.

Theres a number of roads through the Oquirrh mountains that explore old mining areas. Don't know many details.

Have fun, do some more research and be respectful of private property and the wilderness so as to stay outta trouble. People can get real angry these days when you screw around off trail and leave trash etc.

Heres a book I recommend. There are a few near the valley listed in it with trail info and more. http://www.amazon.com/Utah-Byways-Utahs-Backcountry-Drives/dp/0899974244

EDIT: Oh yeah! I almost forgot there are a couple great trails up American fork canyon but they are moderate to technical. Great scenery! Take a friend with a four wheel drive, its necessary. And make sure you read up on them. Like I said they are pretty technical.

a post I made last year:

I have tried

• Respro Sportsta
  
• 3M 8511 Particulate N95 Respirator
  
• 3M 8233 Particulate N100 Respirator
  
• 3M 6391 P100 Reusable Respirator Gas Mask
  
  
  The Respro is okay. Certainly the only stylish one i tried. One common feature of the masks is a moldable metal nose piece, that allows you to shape the mask to your face. The one on the respro is both the most durable, and the worst. Its stiffness makes it tough to form and reform. That said, the seal it forms seems to be fine, but getting a really good fit is hard, because it lacks a strap that goes over the ear. I'm sure you can get this style of mask in n99 or whatever.
  
  The 3M n95 is the cheapest (by far), and the lightest. The fit is good, and the seal is adequate, although the seal is the worst of the four. The filter is more stiff like paper.
  
  The 3M n100 is probably my favorite so far. The filter is more flexible like cotton. I generally don't worry about crushing it in my bag, except for the metal nose piece. The fit and seal are both excellent.
  
  The 3M p100 is certainly the most hardcore. It's cost is the highest, but the replacement filters are cheap enough. I haven't used it much, but it's the one that the bicycle collective sells, which I consider to be a good marker.
  
  
  Also I recently reached out to the American Lung Association about masks. Here is the last, most detailed response.
  
  > USEPA sets a PM 2.5 annual air quality standard at 15ug/m3
  This is a rolling 12 month average. There is also a 24 hour limit of 35ug/m3
  These numbers are established for air quality in the air shed and not necessarily in the breathing zone – which is the most item relevant to your question.
  These numbers are not extractable to breathing zone concentrations.
  A healthy person should not have a need for any respirators, the respirator is recommended for those with impaired systems.
  In addition, lung cancer is complex and there are other factors, which include air quality (type of pollutant), genetic disposition, and duration of exposure.
  
  
  > Saying all this, it’s hard to make a recommendation on when to use the N95 disposable respirator to prevent lung cancer (knowing that the three factors above play a large role in the equation and outcome). If in doubt, or if you feel there is a need, wear the respirator (with proper fit) when there are air quality concern days).

Welcome to the coffee world! It can be fun acquiring a taste for it and exploring what you like. Since this is important for your diet I recommend gaining a better understanding of coffee to the point where you can enjoy it vs. starting out with crappy coffee.

Visit some local shops and taste variety of drip coffees. They'll range from $2-3 for a 12oz cup. If you don't know what you're ordering there's no shame in asking the baristas about coffee. If they're good they'll be thrilled to talk coffee with you. I'm also happy to tell you my favorite shops across the valley.

There are many different brew methods that influence the flavor and amount of coffee you can make. Since you're new I recommend using an auto drip machine to keep things easy. I began this way, moved to french press and now use the Aeropress and love it. Start simple and get more complex as you go if you would like.

Here are some items you'll need to start:

- Coffee machine

- Coffee grinder

- Bag of beans

Check amazon and read reviews for your coffee machine. There are quite a few out there. As for your grinder I recommend getting what's called a burr grinder. It gives your beans a better grind which will affect the taste/flavor. There are hand grinders, auto grinders, etc. I use this one from Amazon because I wanted one I could camp/travel with.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B013R3Q7B2/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Beans are going to vary. I recommend buying whole bean and grinding yourself just before brewing so they stay fresh longer. Store them in an airtight container. You can buy beans locally, online, from the grocery store, coffee shops, etc. I'm fussy and don't recommend purchasing generic beans from Starbucks, folgers, grocery stores, etc. Harmons Grocery sells great local beans sometimes at a discount. My favorite local roaster is La Barba Coffee. They cost a bit more but the flavor is great. They also have a bag punch card you can pick up from their Downtown SLC or Draper store. Daily Rise is a little cheaper and also local.

Watch youtube videos on grinding and brewing and go from there. If you dislike black coffee you can always add milk, flavored creamer, sugar, honey, etc.

As a diagnosed OCD sufferer who has learned over five years to "tune it out," let me provide you with some resources to help while you're locating a therapist. I'd recommend mine, but he's in Orem.

This book brought me a great deal of relief, and I review it off and on when I need a refresher in managing my OCD. It covers most of the major themes people experience: https://www.amazon.com/Mindfulness-Workbook-OCD-Overcoming-Compulsions/dp/1608828786/ref=sr_1_3?crid=2FJ9LNLQMV2IT&keywords=ocd+mindfulness+workbook&qid=1564633924&s=gateway&sprefix=OCD+mindfulne%2Caps%2C190&sr=8-3

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For general depression, I recommend this. I'm not being hyperbolic when I say that it saved my life: https://www.amazon.com/Happiness-Trap-Struggling-Start-Living/dp/1590305841/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?keywords=the+happiness+trap&qid=1564633982&s=gateway&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEyWEVXMFNMWVFMWVZFJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwNzg4OTU0MTdNRFBBNTBaUzNNOCZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwNzE2MDU5M0c1ODdLTkxONUZaMyZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX2F0ZiZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=

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I have a few copies of each of these books, and if money is tight, I would be more than happy to give them to you, just shoot me a PM.

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Hang in there! Easier said than done, I know, but in time, you'll learn to observe your thoughts and ride that wave!

The Hiking the Wasatch book has a companion map that is pretty good for the area. I usually go to the State Map Store on N Temple just before Redwood Road. An awesome resource for all the surrounding states. They have a huge selection of 7.5 minute quads if you really want details. Good luck.

Awesome. Thank you so much for the recommendation. Ive been considering a $200 model by Honeywell, that has a pre carbon fllter and then a double HEPA filter, this one. But i will check out yours, thank you again.

I linked this in another comment, but this snow scraper/brush has been great for me the past 3 years. It has soft material on the wide end so it won't scratch your paint as you push the snow off the top, and has a telescoping handle.

https://www.amazon.com/AMES-Companies-ABTT5212-Telescoping-Scratch-Free/dp/B06X1CQHGN