<?php
	$get_pic = "SELECT car_name, LEFT(car_desc, 20), car_image FROM cars";
	$get_pic_res = mysql_query($get_pic) or die(mysql_error());
 
	if (mysql_num_rows($get_pic_res) < 1){
		$display_desc = "<p><em>No products available!</em></p>";
	}	
	else{					
		while ($pics = mysql_fetch_array($get_pic_res)){
$pics_name = strtoupper(stripslashes($pics[car_name]));
$pics_desc = stripslashes($pics[car_desc]);
$pics_price = $pics[car_price];
 
$images = array
	(
	/*array('file' => $pics_name,  // here i tried to pass the variable into the array
	'caption' => $pics_desc),*/ // i'm not sure that can be done though
	array('file' => 'mazda',
	'caption' => 'This is the Mazda 626. A cheap, yet luxurious car.'),
	array('file' => 'buick',
	'caption' => 'This car is all over the country so you may want 
	to think of getting another car.'),
	array('file' => 'hummer',
	'caption' => 'If you have the money fo this car, then you MUST have the money for fuel'),
	array('file' => 'xrc',
	'caption' => 'This is a toy car, plain and simple!')
	);
 
         $i = rand(0, count($images)-1);
	$selectedImage = "../images/{$images[$i]['file']}.jpg";
	$caption = $images[$i]['caption'];
 
	if (file_exists($selectedImage) && is_readable($selectedImage))
	{
		$imageSize = getimagesize($selectedImage);
	}
 
	}
 
}
 
?>

$get_pic = "SELECT car_name, LEFT(car_desc, 20), car_image FROM cars ORDER BY RAND()";

SELECT car_name, LEFT(car_desc, 20) as car_desc, car_image FROM cars ORDER BY RAND()