When I try this code with perl -w and use strict I get a lot more problems than that line you point out. For example, where does the $ua come from? Is LOG a subroutine? Is LOTUSPRIPATH a scalar?

It's hard to give you advice in this case if we don't know more of the surrounding code and the purpose of the piece of code you're posting.

Jouke Visser, Perl 'Adept'