gistfile1.rb

# Hmmm, not sure I like it
# not much of an improvement

class Thing < AR::Base
  StateMap = Hash.new {|h,k| h[k] = @@states[3]}.update({
    'disabled' => @@states[0..1],
    'active'   => @@states[2],
    'all'      => nil
  })
  
  def self.find_by_f(f)
    find(:all, state_predicate(f.to_s))
  end
   
  private

  def state_predicate(f, opts={})  
    StateMap[f] ? { :conditions => { :state => StateMap[f] } : {}
  end
end