From: Mage [mailto:mage / mage.hu] :
# irb(main):006:0> require 'open-uri'
# => true
# irb(main):007:0> begin
# irb(main):008:1* open('http://www.url.with.timeout.problem.com).read
# irb(main):009:1> rescue

             rescue Exception

# irb(main):010:1> puts 'timeout'
# irb(main):011:1> end

kind regards -botp