Would find it convenient to do this:

$filehandle=fopen("file","r");
foreach ($filehandle as $line) {
    # process line (line ends stripped off)
}
fclose ($filehandle);

...and even this...

$filehandle=fopen("file","r");
foreach ($filehandle as $line[]) {
    # $line[0] = whole line sans ends
    # $line[1] = first word (exploded out gawk-like)
    # $line[2] = second word, etc
}
fclose ($filehandle);

...just a thought.