has_associated_data.rb

# vendor/plugins/has_associated_data

def ModelFoo < ActiveRecord::Base
  has_associated_data do |a|
    a.building :through => [:animal_location]
    a.method_i_want_exposed :through => [:association, :chain, :to, :get, :there], :attr => :if_different_than_exposed_method
  end

  def building
  end

  def building=
  end

  named_scope :sorted_by_building_{asc/desc}
  named_scope :sorted_by_{column}_{asc/desc}

end

## what does it look like in the controller

class FooController < ActionController::Base
  def index
    @collection_i_want_listed = FooModel.sorted_by_params(params)
  end
end