# Via: http://almosteffortless.com/2007/12/04/random-records-in-rails/
# REFACTORED TO USE MAX(ID) INSTEAD OF RETURNING ALL IDS

class Widget < ActiveRecord::Base
 
  # ...
 
  def self.random
    # just get the max id, and use that as the seed for rand()
    max_id = connection.select_value("select max(id) from wigets")
    rand_id = rand(max_id)
    # find the first widget with an id equal to or greater than rand_id
    first(:conditions => "id >= #{rand_id}") || last
  end
 
end

# and then...

class SomeController < ApplicationController
 
 
  def some_action
    @widget = Widget.random
  end
 
end