[MUG]

How about...

<?php
$getstars = $DB_site->query("SELECT * FROM thread ".
"WHERE votenum >= 2 AND dateline > ".(time() - (60 * 60 * 24 * 50)). // 50 days
" ORDER BY votetotal LIMIT 3");

for($i = 1; $i < 4; $i++) {
${"star$i"} = $DB_site->fetch_array($getstars);
}

$DB_site->free_result($getstars);

eval("\$startees = \"".gettemplate("forumhome_starthreads")."\";") ;
?>

I haven't tested this though.