>> You could create a symbolic link in /usr/bin:
>>
>> sudo ln -s /usr/local/mysql/ruby /usr/bin/ruby
>>
>> Then whereis would work as you expect it to.
>
> Most cool, so let me make sure i have this correct..
>
> i go to my /usr/bin dir
> #>cd /usr/bin
>
> then i execute the command
> #>sudo ln -s /usr/local/bin
> or is it
> #>sudo ln -s /usr/bin /usr/local/bin
>
> So that if /user/bin is searched it might find my ruby1.8 in 
> /usr/local/bin
>
> I've screwed up enuf to make sure first!

Don't try to change the location of /usr/bin!

Just do

sudo ln -s /wereeveryourrubyis/ruby /usr/bin/ruby

That is, create a symbolic link from wherever ruby is into /usr/bin/ruby

Scott