Hal Fulton writes:

# I keep trying to think of some kind of pun
<...>
# Maybe we could
# just use the slogan, "Ruby is the jewel in the lotus." Then if we could
# get the company Lotus to sponsor Ruby development... ;)

Here is some other potential raw material to work with: didn't fine 
mechanical wrist watches of the mid-20th century use tiny machined rubies 
as precision bearings to help increase their accuracy, durability, and 
reliability? 

Conrad Schneiker
(This note is unofficial and subject to improvement without notice.)