field 5 returned by localtime() in list context is the year. In order to get back the date one needs to write $year + 1900. 
   ($sec,$min,$hour,$mday,$mon,$year,$wday,$yday,$isdst) = localtime(time);

Does anyone know why did Larry make it that way?

Update

Title corrected thanks to Re: Why does localtime() return 1900-$YEAR?

In reply to Why does localtime() return $YEAR-1900? by szabgab

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