// Prepare the DAOs (manually, no Seam)
ItemDAO itemDAO = lookupLocalBean(ItemDAO.class, "ItemDAOBean");
UserDAO userDAO = lookupLocalBean(UserDAO.class, "UserDAOBean");
// Prepare a user object
User user = userDAO.findById(1l, false);
// Make a new auction item persistent
Calendar startDate = GregorianCalendar.getInstance();
Calendar endDate = GregorianCalendar.getInstance();
endDate.add(Calendar.DAY_OF_YEAR, 3);