I started at Paradise, and absolutely recommend it for beginning. Humphrind is right on this.

They have .01/.02, $2-NL tables to learn on. Then you can move to .05/.10, $10-NL tables as a half-way step before the $25NL table. Also, the blinds at the $25 table are HALF of what they are at Empire, so the pots are smaller and your bankroll won't fluctuate so much.

I'm not sure I recommend the $5 and $10 Tournaments for someone with a $50 bankroll. That's where I started, and the Tourneys killed my bankroll quickly. It's good experience for not much money, but requires a whole new set of skills to get ITM (short handed play, accurate reads, some bluffing, keeping track of the blinds, etc). So develop these skills at ring tables playing conservatively until you're comfortable, or have increased your bankroll.

For me, the key to moving my bankroll higher was developing the knowlede/ability to FOLD well. This is a real skill that will save your bankroll. If you're not the one raising, you gotta ask yourself why, and think about getting out of the hand. Not everyone is bluffing (even at the $2-NL tables)!

If another site has $.50 or $1 tourneys, thet'd be a great tool too.

And keep reading FTR. I'm with Johnnyawe on this one!