<?php
// funciona
echo(strftime("%b %d %Y %X", mktime(20,0,0,12,31,98))."<br />");
//nao funciona
$date='20111019';
$query = "SELECT STR_TO_DATE('$date','%d,%m,%Y')";
$result = mysqli_query($dbc,$query) or die ('Nao deu result do str_to_date<br>' . mysqli_error($dbc));
while ($row = mysqli_fetch_array($result)) {
$date = $row['date'];
} // fecha o while
mysqli_close
?>