*/
  public static double getLocalTimeZone() {
    { double offset = 0.0;

      java.util.Calendar gc = java.util.Calendar.getInstance();
    offset = (gc.get(java.util.Calendar.ZONE_OFFSET) + 
              gc.get(java.util.Calendar.DST_OFFSET)) / (1000.0 * 60.0 * 60.0);
;
      return (offset);
    }
  }