module ActiveRecord::AttributeMethods::Read

def read_attribute(attr_name, &block)

to a date object, like Date.new(2004, 12, 12)).
it has been typecast (for example, "2004-12-12" in a date column is cast
Returns the value of the attribute identified by attr_name after 
def read_attribute(attr_name, &block)
  name = attr_name.to_s
  name = self.class.primary_key if name == ID
  _read_attribute(name, &block)
end