title: How can I validate dates in Perl?
body: <p>How can I validate date strings in Perl?  I'd like to account for leap years and also time zones.  Someone may enter dates in the following formats:</p>
  
  <pre>
  11/17/2008
  11/17/2008 3pm
  11/17/2008 12:01am
  11/17/2008 12:01am EST
  11/17/2008 12:01am CST
  </pre>