gistfile1.rb

# This is what I wanted to do...

class MyObject < SomeSuperClass
    @@data_source_id = '123456'
    @@data = nil
    
    def initialize(name)
        @name = name
    end
    
    def name
        data_source[:prefix] + @name
    end
    
    def some_other_attr
        { :some => data_source[:some], :other => 'other', :attr => 'attribute' }
    end
    
    private

    def data_source
       self.class.get_data
    end

    def self.get_data
       @@data ||= get_data(@@data_source_id)
    end
end