I needed to figure out how to select the last four rows of a database table without reversing the order of the rows. After a little digging, I got to this point:
SELECT * FROM ( SELECT * FROM table_name WHERE whatever ORDER BY date DESC LIMIT 4 ) AS tbl ORDER BY tbl.date ASC;
So, as long as you have something to order by, you can reverse and re-reverse the order, and it will come out right in the end.
Note: Originally written September 2, 2010