This really resonated with my current preferences as well, but I would add Java as a close second to C/C++.<p>And here is the most important quote (note to sigil-happy language designers ;) ):
<i>"I now feel much less strongly about programming languages (and other "religious" issues in general). I value pragmatism more than shiny new features, and I believe that factors outside the language itself, such as availability of high-quality third-party libraries and a vibrant community matter a lot. I also prefer languages and idioms that make code easier to read, rather than easier to write."</i>