title: RoR - undefined method `merge'
body: <p>I'm studing Ruby on Rails with the "RoR Bible" by Thimothy Fisher. But one of the examples doesn't work. It's code - <a href="http://pastebin.com/gtjLsdt0" rel="nofollow">http://pastebin.com/gtjLsdt0</a>
  The error is: <code>NoMethodError</code> in <code>Contact#new</code> where line #4 raised:</p>
  
  <pre><code>undefined method `merge' for "first_name":String
  </code></pre>
  
  <p><br>
  that's my contact_controller. I'm just retyping example's code, and there weren't any words about merge <br><br></p>
  
  <pre><code>class ContactController &lt; ApplicationController
    def index
      @contacts = Contact.find(:all);
    end
  
    def show
    end
  
    def new
      @contact = Contact.new;
    end
  
    def create
    end
  
    def update
    end
  
  end
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>What is wrong??</p>