1.
options = User.all(:conditions => "status <> 3", :order => "firstname, lastname").collect{|x| [x.name, x.id.to_s]}
cars = Car.where(:colour => 'black').all (adding .all means it will load the data with no waiting.)
cars = Car.find(1)
cars = Car.find(params[:id])
cars = Car.order('created_at ASC')
oldest_car = cars.first
newest_car = cars.last