timed_out_connection.rb

module TimedOutConnection
  # overrides the Net::HTTP object
  # used by ActiveResource::Connection
  def http
    http_obj = super
    http_obj.open_timeout = 2 # seconds
    http_obj.read_timeout = 5 # seconds
    http_obj
  end
end

SITE_ENVS = Hash.new('http://test.example.com')
SITE_ENVS['staging']    = 'http://test.example.com'
SITE_ENVS['production'] = 'http://example.com'

class ExampleResource < ActiveResource::Base
  self.site = SITE_ENVS[RAILS_ENV]
  self.basic_auth 'user', 'password' 

  def connection(*args)
    connection = super
    connection.extend TimedOutConnection
    connection
  end

  class << self
    @@api_key = "key"

    def find(*arguments)
      arguments.last[:params].update({ :key => @@api_key })
      super(*arguments)
    end
  end
end