DataMapper pattern with Zend Framework

Data mapper is a must haveObject Relational Model pattern in any application.  In simpler terms, it is a translation adapter between your persistent database storage and the objects in your application that you can actually work with.  Although for medium or more complex projects you should avoid writing your own datamappers and rely on more field proven and testing ORMs, such as doctrine, you should have a good understanding of what is really going on before jumping to full ORMs and risking not knowing how to take advantage of them.  And of course for smaller projects something like doctrine can be an overkill and putting together a small set DataMapper classes is perfect.
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ACL dynamic assertions

Assertions allow fine grained access control not only based on module/controller/action combination but on unlimited set of critier, most common one, the author of a certain resource such as a blog comment or a forum thread. See how Zend_Acl helps us accomplish a per-user based set of permissions.
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Better model design and preparation for assertions.

As much as this video is designed to be a preparation for the next one on ACL assertions, anyone can benefit from my techniques described here on separating business logic in models from controller and viewer.  Watch this if you are not clear on how to best utilize your models vs. controller vs.viewer.
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