code: public static <E> boolean checkEq(E obj1, E obj2) {
  	if(obj1 == null) return obj2 == null;
  	// make sure we do this short-circuit, just in case it's not done by equals
  	if(obj1 == obj2) return true;
  	return obj1.equals(obj2);
      }
docs: Checks equality of two objects; deals with the case when
  <code>obj1</code> is null, and next invokes
  <code>equals</code>.