datetime - How do I simulate an SQL `timestamp` in plain old Ruby? -

i enforcing output of datetime zulu-time doing following

object.updated_at.utc.iso8601 # => "2013-05-12t10:47:01z" 

this works fine datetime when object persisting database timestamp instead get

"sun, 12 may 2013 10:47:01 utc +00:00" 

which not zulu time string.

i can fix by

object.updated_at.to_time.utc.iso8601 

but trying unit test fix, , can't reproduce timestamp format test it.

how simulate sql timestamp such .utc.iso8601 returns "sun, 12 may 2013 10:47:01 utc +00:00", without wrapping in whole mess of activerecord etc?

turned out problem me not wearing glasses , misreading own test code. i'd close question except there no 'closing question because forgot glasses' option.