Well, I wouldn't say you're too old to learn, but it only depends on you.

I've been programming the last 25 years of my life and as I'm reaching 55, and after starting with the Z80 Assembler and Pascal, continued with C for 10 years and for another 12 with Java + SQL, I'm now learning Python :D

I think the real question is: "Do you really want to learn another language?"

Fixed that for you.

There is yet one question to be answered: "what shall we do with the debris?". Lock them down somewhere and hope for the best?

I was about to write the same... someone mod parent up, please ;-)

About indie artists, let me quote Frank Zappa, in a live performance of 'Tities and Beers':
"Don't talk to me about hell. I Know that, I've been there... remember I signed for United Artists for 8 fucking years!"

What indie artists are you talking about? Madonna?

Does it really? Last time I've read something about it, only half of the americans used to vote, so you would only need 25% + 1 of citizens approval to get elected :-S

As a matter of fact, it's similar in other "democratic" countries... so it only takes about 30% of votes to rule a country with a majority in the parliament :(

If your boss is that stupid and you can't ge rid of him, get rid of the job. Anyway, if he persists on that direction, probably, soon there will be no job left... been there, done that ;-)

No, they won't. EC doesn't recognize software patents :D

Under the EPC, and in particular its Article 52, "programs for computer" are not regarded as inventions for the purpose of granting European patents (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software_patents_under_the_European_Patent_Convention).

Is there anything similar to "clean nuclear energy"?

Are you sure?

How can I be sure?

"First, they came for the pornogrphers...
as I was no a pornographer, I didn't speak out..."

I guess you know the rest...