public boolean afterHours() {
        boolean result;
        final double afterHours = terminate_time;
        cal = new GregorianCalendar();
        
        Double actualTime;
        double d_hour;
        double d_minute = 0.0;
        
        // get the current hour and minute in the hour
        int hour = cal.get(Calendar.HOUR_OF_DAY);
        int minute = cal.get(Calendar.MINUTE);

        // convert to doubles
        d_hour = (double) hour;
        d_minute += (double) minute / 100;

        // compute products
        actualTime = d_hour;
        actualTime += d_minute;
        
        // convert to .2 decimal places
        DecimalFormat df = new DecimalFormat("#.00");
        actualTime = Double.valueOf(df.format(actualTime));

        // if the time is greater than or equal to 17.00 PM (was 17.30 PM)
        if (actualTime >= afterHours) {
            // inform the application to terminate
            result = true;
        } else {
            result = false;
        }

        return result;
    }