http://dev.mysql.com/doc/refman/5.0/en/date-and-time-functions.html#function_sysdate reveals that this did infact change with 5.0.12.
"As of MySQL 5.0.12, SYSDATE() returns the time at which it executes. This differs from the behavior for NOW(), which returns a constant time that indicates the time at which the statement began to execute...
In addition, the SET TIMESTAMP statement affects the value returned by NOW() but not by SYSDATE(). This means that timestamp settings in the binary log have no effect on invocations of SYSDATE()."
In versions before this, the SET TIMESTAMP *DOES* affect SYSDATE(), so on the slave the INSERT or UPDATE will ALWAYS show the same time as the Master. Always.
Hence my problem.
So, any creative ways of determining this without using SYSDATE()?
thanks.