Mysql2::Error: Illegal mix of collations (latin1_swedish_ci,IMPLICIT) and (utf8_general_ci,COERCIBLE) for operation '=': SELECT COUNT(*) FROM `fishes` WHERE (taxonomy_id = 13540333 AND scientific_name = 'Abyssocottus korotneffi' AND name = 'малоглазая широколобка' )
If you get this kind of error message, calm down it’s “normal” and there’s a solution
Since Rails 3 although 100% UTF8 still uses by default the mysql gem which is NOT UTF8, you head to a big headache… the solution is simple enough though:
1) use the “mysql2″ gem
2) execute the migration script below