title: How to initialize static variables
body: <p>I have this code:</p>
  
  <pre><code>private static $dates = array(
    'start' =&gt; mktime( 0,  0,  0,  7, 30, 2009),  // Start date
    'end'   =&gt; mktime( 0,  0,  0,  8,  2, 2009),  // End date
    'close' =&gt; mktime(23, 59, 59,  7, 20, 2009),  // Date when registration closes
    'early' =&gt; mktime( 0,  0,  0,  3, 19, 2009),  // Date when early bird discount ends
  );
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>Which gives me the following error:</p>
  
  <blockquote>
    <p>Parse error: syntax error, unexpected '(', expecting ')' in /home/user/Sites/site/registration/inc/registration.class.inc on line 19</p>
  </blockquote>
  
  <p>So, I guess I am doing something wrong... but how can I do this if not like that? If I change the mktime stuff with regular strings, it works. So I know that I can do it <em>sort of</em> like that..</p>
  
  <p>Anyone have some pointers?</p>