code: public static String format(final Date date, final String pattern, final TimeZone timeZone, final Locale locale) {
          final FastDateFormat df = FastDateFormat.getInstance(pattern, timeZone, locale);
          return df.format(date);
      }
docs: <p>Formats a date/time into a specific pattern in a time zone  and locale.</p>
  
  @param date  the date to format, not null
  @param pattern  the pattern to use to format the date, not null, not null
  @param timeZone  the time zone  to use, may be <code>null</code>
  @param locale  the locale to use, may be <code>null</code>
  @return the formatted date