FULL PRODUCT VERSION :
java version "1.7.0-ea"
Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.7.0-ea-b55)
Java HotSpot(TM) Client VM (build 15.0-b05, mixed mode, sharing)

ADDITIONAL OS VERSION INFORMATION :
Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]
Linux xxx 2.6.18-92.1.22.el5 #1 SMP Fri Dec 5 09:29:46 EST 2008 i686 i686 i386 GNU/Linux

A DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM :
Logger.getLogger(Test1.class.getName()).log(Level.SEVERE, "Logged ONE") does not, by default, display message on console.

Adding a call to (any) method on the root logger will then cause SEVERE errors to be logged (see "Steps to reproduce" blow).

STEPS TO FOLLOW TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM :
Please run the following program

C:\tmp>type Test1.java
import java.util.logging.Level;
import java.util.logging.LogManager;
import java.util.logging.Logger;

public class Test1
{
  public static void main(String[] args) throws Exception
  {
    Logger.getLogger(Test1.class.getName()).log(Level.SEVERE, "Logged ONE");
    LogManager.getLogManager().getLogger("").getHandlers();
    Logger.getLogger(Test1.class.getName()).log(Level.SEVERE, "Logged TWO");
  }
}


EXPECTED VERSUS ACTUAL BEHAVIOR :
EXPECTED -
Both logs should have been displayed.
ACTUAL -
Only "Logged TWO" is displayed with jdk1.7.0ea

(On 1.6 both lines are correctly output)

REPRODUCIBILITY :
This bug can be reproduced always.

---------- BEGIN SOURCE ----------
import java.util.logging.Level;
import java.util.logging.LogManager;
import java.util.logging.Logger;

public class Test1
{
  public static void main(String[] args) throws Exception
  {
    Logger.getLogger(Test1.class.getName()).log(Level.SEVERE, "Logged ONE");
    LogManager.getLogManager().getLogger("").getHandlers();
    Logger.getLogger(Test1.class.getName()).log(Level.SEVERE, "Logged TWO");
  }
}
---------- END SOURCE ----------

CUSTOMER SUBMITTED WORKAROUND :
Put in the call to LogManager.getLogManager().getLogger("").getHandlers();

Release Regression From : 6u12
The above release value was the last known release where this
bug was not reproducible. Since then there has been a regression.