diff --git a/language/variables.xml b/language/variables.xml
index 7edff3923b..bf0b1f5dc0 100644
--- a/language/variables.xml
+++ b/language/variables.xml
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 <?xml version="1.0" encoding="iso-8859-1"?>
-<!-- $Revision: 1.49 $ -->
+<!-- $Revision: 1.50 $ -->
  <chapter id="language.variables">
   <title>Variables</title>
   
@@ -459,6 +459,54 @@ function Test()
     </programlisting>
    </informalexample>
 
+   <simpara>
+    Static initializers are evaluated when a function is defined, not
+    when it is executed. Thus you cannot make reference to any other
+    variables or initialize a static variable with the result of a
+    function call. The following example suggests a way around this:
+   </simpara>
+
+   <informalexample>
+    <programlisting role="php">
+<![CDATA[
+function Test()
+{
+    static $magic_quotes_initialized = false;
+    static $magic_quotes;
+    if (!$magic_quotes_initialized) {
+        $magic_quotes = get_magic_quotes_gpc();
+        $magic_quotes_initialized = true;
+    }
+
+    // function body
+}
+]]>
+    </programlisting>
+   </informalexample>
+
+   <simpara>
+    If the function you are calling has predictable return values, for
+    example, if it can never return <literal>null</literal>, this
+    can be further simplified (note the use of the identity operator
+    <literal>===</literal>):
+   </simpara>
+
+   <informalexample>
+    <programlisting role="php">
+<![CDATA[
+function Test()
+{
+    static $magic_quotes = null;
+    if ($magic_quotes === null) {
+        $magic_quotes = get_magic_quotes_gpc();
+    }
+
+    // function body
+}
+]]>
+    </programlisting>
+   </informalexample>
+
    <simpara>
     The Zend Engine 1, driving <literal>PHP4</literal>, implements the
     <literal>static</literal> and <literal>global</literal> modifier for