<p>This method compares dates with two comparisons, rather than using the reverse comparison.
So This pattern
<pre>
  if ((date1.equals( date2 )) || (date1.after( date2 )))
</pre>
could become
<pre>
  if (date1.compareTo( date2 ) >= 0)
</pre>
and
<pre>
  if ((date1.equals( date2 )) || (date1.before( date2 )))
</pre>
could become
<pre>
  if (date1.compareTo( date2 ) <= 0)
</pre>
and
<pre>
  if ((date1.before( date2 )) || (date1.after( date2 )))
</pre>
could become
<pre>
  if (!date1.equals( date2 ))
</pre>