Date Comparison not working

[kjtocool]

I am trying to compare two dates like so:

 

<?php
if ($todays_date < $prediction_deadline) {
  echo "do this";
}
else {
  echo "do that";
}
?>

 

I have echoed out both variables at before the comparison, and have done so at various different times.  Below is some of the times I've echoed the variable out, and the comparison's result:

 

Today's Date: 2008-01-11 03:17:46 vs Prediction Deadline: 2008-01-11 05:01:00

- Comparison prints "do that"

 

Today's Date: 2008-01-11 01:22:14 vs Prediction Deadline: 2008-01-11 04:01:00

- Comparison prints "do that"

 

Today's Date: 2008-01-11 12:23:56 vs Prediction Deadline: 2008-01-11 10:01:00

- Comparison prints "do that"

 

Today's Date: 2008-01-11 12:24:54 vs Prediction Deadline: 2008-01-11 12:29:00

- Comparison prints "do this"

 

Today's Date: 2008-01-11 12:26:17 vs Prediction Deadline: 2008-01-11 14:29:00

- Comparison prints "do this"

 

I don't understand why the first two comparisons are coming up faulty?  Could it be because of the 0 before the hour?

[Ken2k7]

if ($todays_date < $prediction deadline)

 

Why is there a gap between $prediction and dealine? I think that's why.

[kjtocool]

Nah, this is just code I wrote to simplify and explain the issue, the real code is much more complicated, but working. 

 

As I said, some comparisons work correctly, others do not.

 

It should also be noted that the time is stored in a mysql databae by the following:

 

<?php
// Gives the date
$prediction_end = $_POST['prediction_end'];
// Adds the time
$prediction_end .= " 04:01:00";
?>