JavaRanch - a friendly place for Java greenhorns. Includes some of the most active Java forums on the internet. Campfire stories like "Getting in Touch With Your Inner Class" and "How I Taught My Dog Polymorphism". The Rules Roundup Game is a Java certification exam simulator with cows! Book reviews, code samples, programming exercises, recruiter directory and more!
XP is discussed there too.
See also other JavaLinks.