What is the essence of C++? Why did it succeed despite its well-understood flaws? What lessons - if any - can be applied to newer languages?

Themes: Social and technical factors. Resource management. Generic programming. The importance of being inefficient. The importance of syntax. How (not) to specify a language. Standardization and compatibility. And no, I don't plan to condemn C++ - it is still the best language around for a lot of things, and getting better. It just isn't anywhere near perfect (even of its kind) or the best at everything - and was never claimed to be.