ActiveRecord create_or_update.rb

# wise's mod, from: http://blogwi.se/post/47083009/slightly-pimped-activerecord-create-or-update
# original from Rails Spikes: http://railspikes.com/2008/2/1/loading-seed-data

def self.create_or_update(options = {})
  id = options.delete(:id)
  conditions = options.delete(:conditions)

  record = id ? find_by_id(id) : find(:first, :conditions => conditions) || new

  options.each_pair { |key, value| record[key] = value }  
  record.save!
  record
end

# then do
Venue.create_or_update(:id => 1, :name => "Coffman Union")
Venue.create_or_update(:id => 2, :name => "Alumni Center")