hash = Hash.new { |h, k| h[k] = "key #{k} was added at #{Time.now}" } hash[777] # => 'key 777 was added at Sun Apr 03 13:49:57 -0700 2011' hash[555] # => 'key 555 was added at Sun Apr 03 13:50:01 -0700 2011' hash[777] # => 'key 777 was added at Sun Apr 03 13:49:57 -0700 2011'