code: public static boolean isDateInThePast(final Date date)
  	{
  		boolean inPast = false;
  		final Calendar compare = Calendar.getInstance();
  		compare.setTime(date);
  		final Calendar now = Calendar.getInstance();
  		now.setTime(new Date(System.currentTimeMillis()));
  		inPast = now.after(compare);
  		return inPast;
  	}
docs: Checks if the given date object is in the past.
  
  @param date
  The date to check.
  @return Returns true if the given date is in the past otherwise false.