gistfile1.rb

# before the work-around
class Widget
end

# after the work-around
require 'base64'
class Widget
  # override the rails attribute (getter)
  def name
    Base64::decode64(self[:name])
  end

  # override the rails attribute (setter)
  def name=(value)
    self[:name] = Base64::encode64(value)
  end
end