# File lib/timeliness/helpers.rb, line 41
    def offset_in_seconds(offset)
      sign = offset =~ /^-/ ? -1 : 1
      parts = offset.scan(/\d\d/).map {|p| p.to_f }
      parts[1] = parts[1].to_f / 60
      (parts[0] + parts[1]) * sign * 3600
    end