access global variable as static class variable
<p>Let's say I have the following class:</p>

<pre><code>class SQLMapper{
    static find_user_by_id($id){
        //sql logic here, using the $_DATABASE global to make a connection
    }
}
</code></pre>

<p>I could simply call:</p>

<pre><code>global $_DATABASE;
</code></pre>

<p>at the top of my function, but I don't want to do that for ALL of my static methods.  Is there a way to get a static variable inside my class to reference the global $_DATABASE array?</p>

<p>EDIT:  I can't assign it in the constructor, since this is all static, and the constructor is never called.</p>
