I recommend you to start programming in Java because it is architecture independent and sometimes it is difficult to understand why in native programing environments a variable limit can be different in one computer of another.
There are many applications, jobs, tutorials, books, and specially documentation about java, without considering that is the defacto programming language because it is easy ( doesn't deal with specifying memory variables like C++) and many things are handled automatically by it.
It is easy to learn, and when you are done you can jump to learn C++, C ANSI and C# in a month all the 3. This is because once you learn the concepts and what it does who, it is minor the differences between the 4 languages (Java, C++, C #, C ANSI) most of them are only syntactic differences.
The most powerful language is C++, but only if you go deeper in it. It is mora manual than Java but it runs incredible most faster than any other language. Many will try to tell you that is an old programming language but the reality is that is the best programming language but it is more hard to learn (In my consideration it is a slight difference on hardness).
C++ is implemented on XBOX 360 consoles, PSP3, Linux kernel is C++, android internal components are C++, and so the list continues.
Actually the mac ( and iphone) is programmed in a variation of C++ called objective C but basically its the same concept.
For starting on java I recommend you to read the book:
JAVA The complete reference 7 edition
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_27?url=search-alias=aps&field-keywords=java+the+complete+reference&sprefix=java+the+complete+reference It is made by one of the considered the top programmer in the world. And he is the best programming author, and the world record best seller author in programing books.
Herbert Schildt is an American musician and computer science author. His books, particularly on C programming, have been best-sellers in three decades; McGraw-Hill, which published many of his books, calls him "the world's leading programming author"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herbert_Schildt I recommend you to learn these languages in this order:
*Java
*C++
*C#
*PHP
*Python
*SQL databases (mySQL, ORACLE, DB2, SQL Server)
knowing these you can specialice you in many matters like web designning, Digital system desinning, Database manager, Telecomunications, Robotics, etc.
If you want to do web pages i recommend you:
* HTML5
* Ajax
* Javascript
* CSS
If you want to study OS programming learn:
* Linux
* Unix
* Windows (programming not to use it as a regular user)
If you want to do handheld programas study:
* Android (the future of the table and phone)
* iOS 4
* Windows Mobile 7
If you want to learn to make chips, digital system and robotics study:
* archictecture of the computer
* VHDL in FPGAs
Also study many things of networks, mainly of cisco that is the top company in networks.
PD. Visual Basic is a ancient programming language that will be out of the market soon. The new windows enviroment is the .NET framework and the C# language. Just as a fact, the Xbox 360 is programmed in C# as primary language, and some dificult and expensive rpocessing made up in C++.