rails_model_with_custom_log_example.rb

class Article < ActiveRecord::Base
  
  LOGFILE = File.join(RAILS_ROOT, '/log/', "article_#{RAILS_ENV}.log")
  
  def validate
    log "was validated!"
  end 
  
  def log(*args)
    args.size == 1 ? (message = args; severity = :info) : (severity, message = args)
    Article.logger severity, "Article##{self.id}: #{message}"
  end
  
  def self.logger(severity = nil, message = nil)
    @article_logger ||= Article.open_log
    if !severity.nil? && !message.nil? && @article_logger.respond_to?(severity)
      @article_logger.send severity, "[#{Time.now.to_s(:db)}] [#{severity.to_s.capitalize}] #{message}\n"
    end
    message or @article_logger
  end
  
  def self.open_log
    ActiveSupport::BufferedLogger.new(LOGFILE)
  end
  
end