Okay i am completely new to linux, like were talkin 3 days here. I need to modify my .emacs file (which i think is the executable right?), so that i can make some customizations. First off how do I find it (is it in my usr/local/bin i.e. i click it and it launches emacs), or is it som e other file. Secondly how do i open it, i tried using gedit but it said its a binary file, does that mean i cant read it. Sorry im just confused as heck, and this is something real simple im sure but i just dont know. Giving me the commands to enter in terminal would be awesome and helpful but ill take anything. Thanks in advance.

-denalitastic

It's probably in your home directory. I don't know if gedit can see hidden files. You can rename it when you use it with gedit:
Now you can open the emacs file when you're finished:
It's a configuration file not an executable.