Why not go by one of the rules that are actually stated in the JLS, such
as the following?

"Note that this sort of optimization is only allowed if references are
on the stack, not stored in the heap."

Changing lineup from local variable to instance field should cure the
problem.

http://java.sun.com/docs/books/jls/third_edition/html/execution.html#12.6.1

Patricia

Sure.  Just trying to figure out what that rules might be, and how to
prevent against them, I've found the following:

    ...
    while (true) {
        try {
            Thread.sleep(5000);
        } catch (InterruptedException ie) {
            if (ie.equals(lineup)) {
                throw new AssertionError();
            }
        }
    }

Do you think Tom, it is possible to optimize the above fragment in the
way that a lineup local is removed form a locals stack (i.e. becomes
unreachable) before a loop ends?

Anyway, Paul, consider also using another object to make a lineup
non-local for a "moment":

    ...
    new Object() {
        Object lineup_ = lineup;  /* lineup must be final */
        void loop() {
            while (true) {
                try {
                    Thread.sleep(5000);
                } catch (InterruptedException ie) {
                    /* ignore */
                }
            }
        }
    }.loop();

piotr