# connect to the database
ActiveRecord::Base.establish_connection(
      :adapter  => "mysql", :database => "mydb",
      :host   => "localhost", :username => "mydb_user",
      :password => "foo" )

# create a model object
class Contact < ActiveRecord::Base
end

# persist!
Contact.create "name" => "Charles Nutter", "title" => "JRuby Developer"
Contact.create "name" => "Thomas Enebo", "title" => "JRuby Developer"

# query
Contact.find(:all).each {|c| puts c.name}
nutter = Contact.find_by_name("Charles Nutter")

# update
nutter.title = "Dark Overlord of the Universe"
nutter.save