diff --git a/server/constants.php b/server/constants.php
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7d1fc7a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/server/constants.php
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+date_default_timezone_set('America/Los_Angeles');
+
+# set yearly (change if DST starts during SCaLE)
+# before "spring forward"
+
+# after "spring forward"
+# 21x
+$starttime = mktime(0, 0, 0, 3, 14, 2024) / 60;