Is machine language a programming language?

I would suggest starting with Scheme, then switching to C++ after you are done with that. VB will give you some very bad habits if you start with it. Scheme teaches you how to think like a computer scientist.

After dong some prototyping in Scheme, translate what you did to C++. You can use OpenGL in both languages so getting some graphical content shouldn't be that bad if you want to use that. Try MIT's SICP course to get you started thinking about algorithms.

Book is free and so are the lectures at YouTube. Good luck.

C++ has a very steep learning curve. What it gives you in exchange for that is a lot of speed and power, but if you're just starting on programming then you probably don't need that. I would recommend something like Java as a more approachable alternative.

I suspect you'd find Java quite hard enough as it is.

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.