fixed read method to use value before type cast

added AR version checks in specs
include AR from vendor if in Rails app

lib/validates_timeliness/attribute_methods.rb

@@ -7,25 +7,34 @@ module ValidatesTimeliness
     
     module ClassMethods
       def define_read_method_for_time_zone_conversion(attr_name)
-        method_body = <<-EOV
+        method_body = <<-EOV          
           def #{attr_name}(reload = false)
             cached = @attributes_cache['#{attr_name}']
             return cached if cached && !reload
-            time = read_attribute('#{attr_name}')
-            unless time.acts_like?(:time)
-              time = time.to_time(:local) rescue nil
+            time = read_attribute_before_type_cast('#{attr_name}')
+            if time && time.acts_like?(:time)
+              # Rails 2.0.x compatibility check
+              time = time.respond_to?(:in_time_zone) ? time.in_time_zone : time
+            elsif time
+              # checks date is valid
+              time.to_date rescue time = nil
+              time = time.to_time(:local) if time              
             end
-            @attributes_cache['#{attr_name}'] = time.acts_like?(:time) ? time.in_time_zone : time
+            @attributes_cache['#{attr_name}'] = time
           end
         EOV
         evaluate_attribute_method attr_name, method_body
       end
       
+      # TODO rails 2.0 time casting better with timezone
       def define_write_method_for_time_zone_conversion(attr_name)
         method_body = <<-EOV
-          def #{attr_name}=(time)
-            if time
-              time = time.in_time_zone if time.acts_like?(:time)              
+          def #{attr_name}=(time)            
+            if time && time.respond_to?(:in_time_zone)
+              time = time.in_time_zone
+            elsif time && time.acts_like?(:time)              
+              # Rails 2.0.x compatibility
+              time = @@default_timezone == :utc ? time.to_time : time.to_time
             end
             write_attribute(:#{attr_name}, time)
           end