some helpful resources i’ve found… i’ll update which one i’m using and how.
http://apiwiki.twitter.com/Libraries#PHP
http://papermashup.com/using-the-twitter-search-api/
http://www.reynoldsftw.com/2009/02/using-jquery-php-ajax-with-the-twitter-api/
http://ryanfaerman.com/twittersearch/
http://woork.blogspot.com/2009/06/simple-php-twitter-search-ready-to-use.html
http://www.the-art-of-web.com/php/twitter/?nohilite
http://woork.blogspot.com/2009/07/twitter-api-how-to-create-stream-of.html

twitter rss api
http://apiwiki.twitter.com/Libraries#PHP
http://papermashup.com/using-the-twitter-search-api/
http://www.reynoldsftw.com/2009/02/using-jquery-php-ajax-with-the-twitter-api/
http://ryanfaerman.com/twittersearch/
http://woork.blogspot.com/2009/06/simple-php-twitter-search-ready-to-use.html
http://www.the-art-of-web.com/php/twitter/?nohilite
http://woork.blogspot.com/2009/07/twitter-api-how-to-create-stream-of.html