GET variables and mySQL functions inside an Image header.

I am currently in Afghanistan and don't have much access to look these questions up. I consider them basic and regret having to post them here. When passing variables using GET as in: index.php?first=value?second=value My script is reading the first value, however through an included file and another function, it can't read the second. What scope do these variables have? Or what other reasons for not being able to read the variables might there be? Second: When dynamcially creating an image: I am drawing an image based on data retreived from a mySQL resource. However, my DB code is in the same file as the php image file and I get the non-descriptive error of "Error in the image 'url'" Are you allowed to do any other functions inside an image header other than image functions? (Functions being; open a connection to mySQL and do queries) Thank you for your help, -Kristopher Kane