Since python wasn't there, I thought I'd fill it in with this reference to xkcd python wiki page:http://wiki.xkcd.com/irc/Python Or in my own words, for those who need to prototype and think fast at the speed of running away from velociraptors (or even deadlines and competitors). Agile like a raptor, libraries and frameworks like a T-rex. Simple yet powerful enough to fly with the pterodactyls.
The way to pick a progamming language is to understand that you are joining a community in doing so. So the question is, what are the people in my field, or in my office, using? If you use the same as them, you will have access to experience, code libraries, support, etc. If not, there's nothing wrong with that, so long as you are willing to start from scratch. The language you pick has to be lot better for this trade to be worth it (with the exception of fields in which there isn't already an established technical community).
Lisp would've been nice to see there (http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=859669 - the bipolar lisp programmer)