I don’t think so. The expression is In for a penny, in for a pound. The penny is of inferior value to the pound, and to translate the phrase correctly, the coal must come first. Unless wombats prefer coal to diamonds, that is.
since the original phrase was ‘in for a penny, in for a pound’, I think she got it right in the comic. Unless you’re suggesting that coal is worth more than a diamond. In which case, this planet is a pretty backwards place to be living in, economically.
“Unless you’re suggesting that coal is worth more than a diamond. In which case, this planet is a pretty backwards place to be living in, economically.”
Ursula’s wombats probably wouldn’t have any need for diamonds. They don’t seem like they’d have any care for personal adornment, and I doubt their technology includes diamond drill bits.
Diamonds are. nonetheless, an important thing for geologists – you just need a diamond tool, not a drill bit specifically, and it is one of the only things that can be used to cut really hard rocks. Besides, any geologist worth her halite deposits would revere the hardest mineral on the planet.
While the phrase Digger uses is correct value-wise, I think it misses the point of the original. “In for a penny, in for a pound” refers to having made a bet or put in an investment that’s turning out to cost more than you’d expected at first. Diamonds are more valuable and rare than coal, but it’s perfectly fitting with wombat practicality for a mining effort in search of diamonds to settle for mining coal instead if coal is what’s there, so I agree that they should be switched.
Perhaps coal and diamonds are simply used as currency by Wombats. Or are the names for certain denominations of currency, i.e. coal = penny, diamond = pound.
Diamonds and gold both have practical value that, while inferior to their monetary value is significant. Gold is a wonderful engineer material, pre-electrical because it doesn’t tarnish and is easily worked, thus it can be used as a very nice coating or protective layer. Post electrical because of the above and it’s high conductivity. There’s a reason why high end, low maintenance electronics are gold plate. Diamond is similar. It’s usefulness as a cutting edge or abrasive is unmatched. For polishing high end optics only diamond or sapphire is really practical, and diamond cutting tools will outlast anything else.
I know of very few engineers who wouldn’t love to see either of these materials become readily available for practical use.
@Dan D – common misconception there. Gold is actually inferior to copper as a conductor (it’s roughly on par with aluminum, IIRC, so it’s still pretty decent, just not spectacular). The main value of gold-plated connectors is the same as gold-plated anything else, corrosion resistance. Corroded copper is a terrible conductor.
Double post, poooop. Forgot to say, the saying probably makes sense as is, even if you’re looking at it from the perspective of mining. If you dig up a bunch of coal, okay, you cart it out, break it into suitable sized pieces, coke it, burn it, sell it, whatever. If you find diamonds, you now have to make sure no one’s stealing (probably very easy with Wombats, but still), have to dig the surrounding coal out much more slowly and carefully to avoid damaging them, have to keep them under guard when transporting ’em, have to employ a gemcutter, etc.
But the much better profit does mean no one’s going to say “uh oh, diamonds, too much danger and extra work, I’m out.” So if you’re in for coal, you really ARE in for diamonds, too.
Oh, thanks Statue, that’s such a comforting thought.
Shouldn’t it be “in for diamonds, in for coal”?
I don’t think so. The expression is In for a penny, in for a pound. The penny is of inferior value to the pound, and to translate the phrase correctly, the coal must come first. Unless wombats prefer coal to diamonds, that is.
since the original phrase was ‘in for a penny, in for a pound’, I think she got it right in the comic. Unless you’re suggesting that coal is worth more than a diamond. In which case, this planet is a pretty backwards place to be living in, economically.
“Unless you’re suggesting that coal is worth more than a diamond. In which case, this planet is a pretty backwards place to be living in, economically.”
Ursula’s wombats probably wouldn’t have any need for diamonds. They don’t seem like they’d have any care for personal adornment, and I doubt their technology includes diamond drill bits.
Diamonds are. nonetheless, an important thing for geologists – you just need a diamond tool, not a drill bit specifically, and it is one of the only things that can be used to cut really hard rocks. Besides, any geologist worth her halite deposits would revere the hardest mineral on the planet.
There’s also trade to consider – even were it limited, it would still affect compact, high-yeild stores of value like diamonds and other rare gems.
I’m fairly certain there was mention of diamond-tipped something-or-other earlier on.
There was. I can’t remember when or what tool though.
I believe it was a diamond-tipped drill, but as to when….sometime before the second visit to Ed, and I’m relatively sure it was before the village.
While the phrase Digger uses is correct value-wise, I think it misses the point of the original. “In for a penny, in for a pound” refers to having made a bet or put in an investment that’s turning out to cost more than you’d expected at first. Diamonds are more valuable and rare than coal, but it’s perfectly fitting with wombat practicality for a mining effort in search of diamonds to settle for mining coal instead if coal is what’s there, so I agree that they should be switched.
Perhaps coal and diamonds are simply used as currency by Wombats. Or are the names for certain denominations of currency, i.e. coal = penny, diamond = pound.
Diamonds and gold both have practical value that, while inferior to their monetary value is significant. Gold is a wonderful engineer material, pre-electrical because it doesn’t tarnish and is easily worked, thus it can be used as a very nice coating or protective layer. Post electrical because of the above and it’s high conductivity. There’s a reason why high end, low maintenance electronics are gold plate. Diamond is similar. It’s usefulness as a cutting edge or abrasive is unmatched. For polishing high end optics only diamond or sapphire is really practical, and diamond cutting tools will outlast anything else.
I know of very few engineers who wouldn’t love to see either of these materials become readily available for practical use.
Diamond-tipped drill was used by Digger in reference to the quality of Librarian Vo’s mind.
Also, to a Wombat it would be a natual progression. Coal is a diamond before it’s been put under pressure. Just ask Richard Pryor in “Superman II”.
If the original meaning of an expensive but unplanned enterprise is to be preserved, “in for a shaft, in for a mine” might fit better.
Dammit Jim, I need a prayer, not a postcard!
Had to say it..
My prediction: He-Is is trying to use this tunnel to get back to the surface world.
Nice illustration of the difference between Belief and Faith there.
@Dan D – common misconception there. Gold is actually inferior to copper as a conductor (it’s roughly on par with aluminum, IIRC, so it’s still pretty decent, just not spectacular). The main value of gold-plated connectors is the same as gold-plated anything else, corrosion resistance. Corroded copper is a terrible conductor.
Double post, poooop. Forgot to say, the saying probably makes sense as is, even if you’re looking at it from the perspective of mining. If you dig up a bunch of coal, okay, you cart it out, break it into suitable sized pieces, coke it, burn it, sell it, whatever. If you find diamonds, you now have to make sure no one’s stealing (probably very easy with Wombats, but still), have to dig the surrounding coal out much more slowly and carefully to avoid damaging them, have to keep them under guard when transporting ’em, have to employ a gemcutter, etc.
But the much better profit does mean no one’s going to say “uh oh, diamonds, too much danger and extra work, I’m out.” So if you’re in for coal, you really ARE in for diamonds, too.
Reading these comment threads are like living in Dwarf Fortress.