text:
Michael (archangel)
A 13th-century Byzantine icon from Saint Catherine's Monastery
|Venerated in
|Christianity, Islam, Judaism
|November 8 (New Calendar Eastern Orthodox Churches) / November 21 (Old Calendar Eastern Orthodox Churches), September 29 ("Michaelmas"); May 8 (Tridentine Calendar); many other local and historical feasts
|Archangel; Treading on a dragon; carrying a banner, scales, and sword
|Guardian of the Catholic Church;[1] Kiev, Guardian of Vatican City;[2] protector of the Jewish people,[3] police officers,[4][5] military, grocers, mariners, paratroopers, sickness[6]
Catholic cult suppressed
|holy cross
Michael ("who is like God?", Hebrew: מִיכָאֵל (pronounced ), Micha'el or Mîkhā'ēl; Greek: Μιχαήλ, Mikhaḗl; Latin: Michael (in the Vulgate Michahel); Arabic: ميخائيل, Mīkhā'īl) is an archangel in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Roman Catholics, the Eastern Orthodox, Anglicans, and Lutherans refer to him as "Saint Michael the Archangel" and also as "Saint Michael". Orthodox Christians refer to him as the "Taxiarch Archangel Michael" or simply "Archangel Michael".
Michael is mentioned three times in the Book of Daniel, once as a "great prince who stands up for the children of your people". The idea that Michael was the advocate of the Jews became so prevalent that in spite of the rabbinical prohibition against appealing to angels as intermediaries between God and his people, Michael came to occupy a certain place in the Jewish liturgy.
In the New Testament Michael leads God's armies against Satan's forces in the Book of Revelation, where during the war in heaven he defeats Satan. In the Epistle of Jude Michael is specifically referred to as "the archangel Michael". Christian sanctuaries to Michael appeared in the 4th century, when he was first seen as a healing angel, and then over time as a protector and the leader of the army of God against the forces of evil. By the 6th century, devotions to Archangel Michael were widespread both in the Eastern and Western Churches. Over time, teachings on Michael began to vary among Christian denominations.
Scriptural references 1
- Hebrew Bible 1.1
- New Testament 1.2
- Quran 1.3
Religious traditions 2
Judaism 2.1
- Midrash 2.1.1
Christianity 2.2
- Early Christian views and devotions 2.2.1
- Catholicism 2.2.2
- Eastern and Oriental Orthodoxy 2.2.3
- Protestant views 2.2.4
- Jehovah's Witnesses 2.2.5
- Seventh-day Adventists 2.2.6
- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 2.2.7
- Esoteric traditions 2.2.8
- Islam 2.3
- Judaism 2.1
- Feasts 3
- Patronages and orders 4
Legends 5
- Judaism 5.1
- Christianity 5.2
- Islam 5.3
Art and literature 6
- In literature 6.1
- Artistic depictions 6.2
- Major shrines 7
- See also 8
- References 9
- Sources 10
- External links 11
Scriptural references
Hebrew Bible
In the Hebrew Scriptures, and the Old Testament, the prophet Daniel experiences a vision after having undergone a period of fasting. In the vision in Daniel 10:13-21 an angel identifies Michael as the protector of Israel. Daniel refers to Michael as a "prince of the first rank".[7] Later in the vision in Daniel 12:1 Daniel is informed about the role of Michael during the "Time of the End" when there will be "distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations" and that:[8]
At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise.
In view of this, Michael is seen as playing an important role as the protector of Israel, and later of the Christian Church.
Although the three occurrences of Michael in the Book of Daniel 10:13, 10:21 and 12:1 all refer to the same individual, who acts in similar ways in all three cases, the last one is set at the "end times", while the first two refer to a contemporary time in Persia.[9] These are the only three references to Michael in the Hebrew Bible.[10]
New Testament
The Book of Revelation (12:7-9) describes a war in heaven in which Michael, being stronger, defeats Satan:[11]
there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven.
After the conflict, Satan is thrown to earth along with the fallen angels, where he ("that ancient serpent called the devil") still tries to "lead the whole world astray".[11]
Separately, in the Epistle of Jude 1:9, Michael is specifically referred to as an "archangel" when he again confronts Satan:[12]
Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses
A reference to an "archangel" also appears in the First Epistle to the Thessalonians 4:16:
the Lord himself shall descend from heaven, with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first
This version is from the American Standard Version of 1901, a version that uses the definite article, "the archangel", absent in the original Greek and in English translations (such as the English Standard Version of 2001, which has:
the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God.
This archangel who heralds the second coming of Christ is not named,[12] but is probably Michael.[13]
Michael (Arabic: ميخائيل, Mikhail ميكائيل, Mikael ), is one of the two archangels mentioned in the Quran, alongside Jibreel (Gabriel). In the Quran, Michael is mentioned once only, in Sura 2:98: "Whoever is an enemy to God, and His angels and His messengers, and Jibreel and Mikhail! Then, God (Himself) is an enemy to the disbelievers."[14] Some Muslims believe that the reference in Sura 11:69 is Michael, one of the three angels who visited Abraham.[14]
Religious traditions
According to rabbinic Jewish tradition, Michael acted as the advocate of Israel, and sometimes had to fight with the princes of the other nations (cf. Daniel 10:13) and particularly with the angel Samael, Israel's accuser. Michael's enmity with Samael dates from the time when the latter was thrown down from heaven. Samael took hold of the wings of Michael, whom he wished to bring down with him in his fall; but Michael was saved by God.[15][16] Michael is also said to have had a dispute with Samael over the soul of Moses.[17]
The idea that Michael was the advocate of the Jews became so prevalent that in spite of the rabbinical prohibition against appealing to angels as intermediaries between God and his people, Michael came to occupy a certain place in the Jewish liturgy. There were two prayers written beseeching him as the prince of mercy to intercede in favor of Israel: one composed by Eliezer ha-Kalir, and the other by Judah ben Samuel he-Hasid. But appeal to Michael seems to have been more common in ancient times. Thus Jeremiah is said to have addressed a prayer to him.[18] "When a man is in need he must pray directly to God, and neither to Michael nor to Gabriel."[19]
The rabbis declare that Michael entered upon his role of defender at the time of the biblical patriarchs. Thus, according to Rabbi Eliezer ben Jacob, it was Michael who rescued Abraham from the furnace into which he had been thrown by Nimrod (Midrash Genesis Rabbah xliv. 16). It was Michael, the "one that had escaped" (Genesis 14:13), who told Abraham that Lot had been taken captive (Midrash Pirke R. El.), and who protected Sarah from being defiled by Abimelech. He announced to Sarah that she would bear a son and he rescued Lot at the destruction of Sodom.[20]
It is said that Michael prevented Isaac from being sacrificed by his father by substituting a ram in his place, and saved Jacob, while yet in his mother's womb, from being killed by Samael.[21] Later Michael prevented Laban from harming Jacob.(Pirke De-Rabbi Eliezer, xxxvi). It was Michael who wrestled with Jacob and who afterward blessed him.[22]
The midrash Exodus Rabbah holds that Michael exercised his function of advocate of Israel at the time of the Exodus also, when Satan (as an adversary) accused the Israelites of idolatry and declared that they were consequently deserving of death by drowning in the Red Sea. Michael is also said to have destroyed the army of Sennacherib.[23]
Early Christian views and devotions
The early Christians regarded some of the Saint Theodore, as military patrons; but to St Michael they gave the care of their sick and he was first venerated as a healer in Phrygia (modern-day Turkey).[24]
The earliest and most famous sanctuary to Saint Michael in the ancient Near East was also associated with healing waters. It was the Michaelion built in the early 4th century by Emperor Constantine at Chalcedon, on the site of an earlier Temple called Sosthenion.[10]
A painting of the Archangel slaying a serpent became a major art piece at the Michaelion after Constantine defeated Licinius near there in 324, eventually leading to the standard iconography of Archangel Michael as a warrior saint slaying a dragon.[10] The Michaelion was a magnificent church and in time became a model for hundreds of other churches in Eastern Christianity which spread devotions to the Archangel.[25]
In the 4th century, Saint Basil the Great's homily (De Angelis) placed Saint Michael over all the angels. He was called "Archangel" because he is the prince of the other angels.[24] Into the 6th century, the view of Michael as a healer continued in Rome, when after a plague the sick slept at night in the church of Castel Sant'Angelo (dedicated to him for saving Rome), waiting for his manifestation.[26]
In the 6th century the growth of devotions to the saint in the Western Church was manifested by the feasts dedicated to him, as recorded in the Leonine Sacramentary. The 7th century Gelasian Sacramentary included the feast "S. Michaelis Archangeli", as did the 8th century Gregorian Sacramentary. Some of these documents refer to a no longer extant Basilica Archangeli on via Salaria in Rome.[24]
The angelology of Pseudo-Dionysius which was widely read as of the 6th century gave Michael a rank in the celestial hierarchy. Later, in the 13th century, others such as Bonaventure believed that he is the prince of the Seraphim, the first of the nine angelic orders. According to Saint Thomas Aquinas (Summa Ia. 113.3), he is the Prince of the last and lowest choir, the Angels.[24]
Catholics often refer to Michael as "Holy Michael, the Archangel"[27] or "Saint Michael", a title that does not indicate canonisation. He is generally referred to in Christian litanies as "Saint Michael", as in the Litany of the Saints. In the shortened version of this litany used in the Easter Vigil, he alone of the angels and archangels is mentioned by name, omitting Saint Gabriel and Saint Raphael.[28]
In the Roman Catholic teachings Saint Michael has four main roles or offices.[24] His first role is the leader of the Army of God and the leader of heaven's forces in their triumph over the powers of hell.[29] He is viewed as the angelic model for the virtues of the spiritual warrior, with the conflict against evil at times viewed as the battle within.[30]
The second and third roles of Michael in Catholic teachings deal with death. In his second role, Michael is the angel of death, carrying the souls of all the deceased to heaven. In this role, at the hour of death, Michael descends and gives each soul the chance to redeem itself before passing, thus consternating the devil and his minions. Catholic prayers often refer to this role of Michael. In his third role, he weighs souls in his perfectly balanced scales (hence Michael is often depicted holding scales).[31]
In his fourth role, St Michael, the special patron of the Chosen People in the Old Testament, is also the guardian of the Church; it was thus not unusual for the angel to be revered by the military orders of knights during the Middle Ages. This role also extends to his being the patron saint of a number of cities and countries.[32][33]
Roman Catholicism includes traditions such as the Prayer to Saint Michael which specifically asks for the faithful to be "defended" by the saint.[34][35][36] The Chaplet of Saint Michael consists of nine salutations, one for each choir of angels.[37][38]
Eastern and Oriental Orthodoxy
The Eastern Orthodox accord Michael the title "Archistrategos", or "Supreme Commander of the Heavenly Hosts."[40] The Eastern Orthodox pray to their guardian angels and above all to Michael and Gabriel.[41]
The Eastern Orthodox have always had strong devotions to angels, and the trend continues to date with the term "Bodiless Powers" applied to them.[42] A number of feasts dedicated to Archangel Michael are celebrated by the Eastern Orthodox throughout the year.[42]
Archangel Michael is mentioned in a number of Eastern Orthodox hymns and prayer, and his icons are widely used within Eastern Orthodox churches.[43] In many Eastern Orthodox icons, Christ is accompanied by a number of angels, Michael being a predominant figure among them.[43]
In Russia many monasteries, cathedrals, court and merchant churches are dedicated to the Chief Commander Michael, and most Russian cities have a church or chapel dedicated to the Archangel Michael.[44][45]
The place of Michael in the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria is as a saintly intercessor, where he is seen as the one who presents to God the prayers of the just, who accompanies the souls of the dead to heaven, who defeats the devil. He is celebrated liturgically on the 12th of each month.[46] In Alexandria, a church was dedicated to him in the early fourth century on the 12th of the month of Ba'unah. On the 12th of the month of Hathor is the celebration of Michael's appointment in heaven, where Michael became the chief of the angels.[47]
Protestant views
Many Protestant Christians (excluding Anglicans) do not call upon the intercession of saints.[48] However, an unofficial Anglican prayer of preparation before Mass includes a confession to "Michael the Archangel" as well as other saints such as John the Baptist.[49]
Protestant denominations generally recognize only two archangels, Michael and Gabriel, usually emphasizing Michael, unlike Judaism, Roman Catholicism, and Eastern Orthodoxy which may at times recognize seven (and in rare cases eight) archangels, with Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael generally regarded with an elevated status, e.g. being the only archangels honored by name in Catholicism.[50][51]
Citing Hengstenberg, John A. Lees, in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, states: "The earlier Protestant scholars usually identified Michael with the pre-incarnate Christ, finding support for their view, not only in the juxtaposition of the 'child' and the archangel in Rev 12:1-17, but also in the attributes ascribed to him in Daniel."[13] Charles Haddon Spurgeon,[52][53] a Trinitarian, stated that Jesus is Michael "the only Archangel",[54] and that he is God the Son, and co-equal to the Father.[52] In Spurgeon's view, "archangel" means "head of the angels" rather than "head angel," and is a title similar to "Prince or Leader of the host." (Daniel 8:11)[55][56]
Within Anglicanism, Bishop Robert Clayton proposed that Michael was the Logos and Gabriel the Holy Spirit.[57] Controversy over Clayton's views led the government to order his prosecution, but he died before his scheduled examination.[58][59]
Michael continues to be recognized among Protestants by key churches dedicated to him, e.g., St. Michaelis Church, Hamburg and St. Michael's Church, Hildesheim, each of which is of the Lutheran Church and has appeared in the Bundesländer series of €2 commemorative coins for 2008 and 2014 respectively.
At Bach's time, the annual feast of Michael and all the angels on 29 September was regularly celebrated with a festive service, for which Bach composed several cantatas, for example the chorale cantata Herr Gott, dich loben alle wir, BWV 130 in 1724, Es erhub sich ein Streit, BWV 19, in 1726 and Man singet mit Freuden vom Sieg, BWV 149, in 1728 or 1729.
Jehovah's Witnesses
Jehovah's Witnesses believe Michael to be another name for Jesus Christ in heaven, in his pre-human and post-resurrection existence.[60] They say the definite article at Jude 9—referring to "Michael the archangel"—identifies Michael as the only archangel. They consider Michael to be synonymous with Jesus, described at 1 Thessalonians 4:16 as descending "with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet".[61][62][63]
They believe the prominent roles assigned to Michael at Daniel 12:1 and Revelation 12:7, 19:14, 16, are identical to Jesus' roles, being the one chosen to lead God's people and as the one who "stands up", identifying the two as the same spirit being. Because they identify Michael with Jesus, he is therefore considered the first and greatest of all God's heavenly sons, God's chief messenger, who takes the lead in vindicating God's sovereignty, sanctifying his name, fighting the wicked forces of Satan and protecting God's covenant people on earth.[64] Jehovah's Witnesses also identify Michael with the "Angel of the Lord" who led the Israelites in the wilderness.[65]
Seventh-day Adventists
Seventh-day Adventists believe that Michael is another name for the Heavenly Christ, and another name for the Word-of-God (as in John 1) before he became incarnate as Jesus. "Archangel" (meaning "Chief of the Angels") was the leadership position held by the Word-of-God as Michael while among the angels. According to Adventist theology, Michael was considered the "eternal Word", and not a created being or created angel, and the one by whom all things were created. The Word was then born incarnate as Jesus.[66]
Seventh-day Adventists believe the name "Michael" is significant in showing who it is, just as "Immanuel" (which means "God with us") is about who Jesus is. They believe that name "Michael" signifies "one who is God" and that as the "Archangel" or "chief or head of the angels" he led the angels and thus the statement in Revelation 12:7-9 identifies Jesus as Michael.[67]
Seventh-day Adventists believe that "Michael" is but one of the many titles applied to the Son of God, the second person of the Godhead. According to Adventists, such a view does not in any way conflict with the belief in his full deity and eternal preexistence, nor does it in the least disparage his person and work.[68] In support of the Seventh-day Adventist belief Michael is also the commander of God's army which helped Joshua son of Nun to lead Israel in to conquering Jericho [Joshua 5:14 - "And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the LORD am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my Lord unto his servant?"]
In the Seventh-day Adventist view, the statement in some translations of 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18: "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven, with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God" identifies Jesus as Archangel, which is Michael.[69] (Other translations have "For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God.")[70] And the Seventh-day Adventists believe that John 5:25-29 also confirms that Jesus and Michael are the same.[69]
Seventh-day Adventists believe there is and can only be one archangel and that one Archangel is named Michael and yet in Scripture is shown as doing what also applies to Christ even from the beginning, so is Christ preincarnate. There was a perception that Adventists were relegating Jesus to something less than divine or less than God but that is not valid since Seventh-day Adventism theology teaches and is expressly Trinitarian.[71][72]
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Latter-day Saints (also known informally as Mormons) believe that Michael is Adam, the Ancient of Days (Dan. 7), a prince, and the patriarch of the human family and that Michael assisted Jehovah (the heavenly form of Jesus Christ) in the creation of the world under the direction of God the Father and cast Satan out of heaven.[73][74][75][76]
Esoteric traditions
The French occultist, Eliphas Levi, the German philosopher Franz von Baader, and the Theosophist Louis Claude de St. Martin spoke of 1879 as the year in which Michael overcame the dragon. This is confirmed by the esoteric writer Rudolf Steiner in a lecture in Zurich on November 13, 1917, where he states: "in 1879, in November, a momentous event took place, a battle of the Powers of Darkness against the Powers of Light, ending in the image of Michael overcoming the Dragon".[77]
The Qur'an mentions Michael together with Gabriel in the sura Al-Baqara:
Whoever is an enemy to Allah and His angels and messengers, to Gabriel and Michael,- Lo! Allah is an enemy to those who reject Faith.— Quran, sura 2 (Al-Baqara) ayat 97-98[78]
In Sunni Islam, Michael will be sent to bring a handful of Earth, but the Earth will not want to yield a piece of itself, some of which will burn. This is articulated by Al-Tha'labi whose narrative states that God will tell Earth that some will obey him and others not.[79]
The Ahmadiyya movement believes in Michael along with other angels such as Gabriel. They are called Mala'ikah and are described as spiritual beings who obey Allah's command.[80]
In the General Roman Calendar, the Anglican Calendar of Saints, and the Lutheran Calendar of Saints, the archangel's feast is celebrated on Michaelmas Day, September 29. The day is also considered the feast of Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, Archangels (General Roman Calendar), or the Feast of Saint Michael and All Angels (Church of England).[81]
In the Eastern Orthodox Church, Saint Michael's principal feast day is November 8 (those that use the Julian calendar celebrate it on what in the Gregorian calendar is now November 21), honoring him along with the rest of the "Bodiless Powers of Heaven" (i.e. angels) as their Supreme Commander, and the Miracle at Chonae is commemorated on September 6.[82][83]
In the calendar of the Church of England diocese of Truro, May 8 is the feast of St. Michael, Protector of Cornwall. The archangel St. Michael is one of the three patron saints of Cornwall.[84]
Patronages and orders
In late patron saint of chivalry and is now also considered the patron saint of police officers, paramedics, firefighters and the military.[33][85]
In mid to late 15th century, France was one of only four courts in
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- : MichaelJewish Encyclopedia
External links
- Ball, Ann. 2003 Encyclopedia of Catholic Devotions and Practices ISBN 0-87973-910-X
- Butler, Alban. The Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs, and other Principal Saints. 12 vols. B. Dornin, 1821
- Starr, Mirabai. Saint Michael: The Archangel, Sounds True, 2007 ISBN 1-59179-627-X
- ^ Alban Butler, The Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs, and other Principal Saints. 12 vols. B. Dornin, 1821; p. 117
- ^ "Benedict XVI joins Pope Francis in consecrating Vatican to St Michael Archangel". news.va. Retrieved 2013-07-05.
- ^ "Bible gateway, Daniel 12:1". Biblegateway.com. Retrieved 2010-07-21.
- ^ "St. Michael, Patron Saint of Police Officers". Jcpdes.com. Retrieved 2012-12-27.
- ^ Finley, Mitch (2011). Patron Saints Handbook, The. The Word Among Us Press. p. 72.
- ^ "St. Michael, the Archangel - Saints & Angels - Catholic Online". Catholic.org. Retrieved 2012-12-27.
- ^ Who's who in the Jewish Bible by David Mandel 2007 ISBN 0-8276-0863-2 page 270
- ^ Daniel: Wisdom to the Wise: Commentary on the Book of Daniel by Zdravko Stefanovic 2007 ISBN 0-8163-2212-0 page 391
- ^ Daniel: a reader's guide by William H. Shea 2005 ISBN 0-8163-2077-2 pages 270-271
- ^ a b c d e Richard Freeman Johnson (2005) Saint Michael the Archangel in Medieval English Legend ISBN 1-84383-128-7; pp. 33-34
- ^ a b Revelation 12-22 by John MacArthur 2000 ISBN 0-8024-0774-9 pages 13-14
- ^ a b The encyclopedia of angels by Rosemary Guiley 2004 ISBN 0-8160-5023-6 page 49
- ^ a b "John A. Lees, "Michael" in James Orr (editor), ''The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia''(Eerdmans 1939)". Internationalstandardbible.com. 2007-07-06. Retrieved 2012-12-27.
- ^ a b Qur'an, sura 2 (Al-Baqara), ayat 98 Quran 2:98
- ^ Midrash Pirke R. El. xxvi
- ^ "Jewish Encyclopedia - Michael". Jewish Encyclopedia. Retrieved 2009-02-18.
- ^ Midrash Deut. Rabbah xi. 6
- ^ Baruch Apoc. Ethiopic, ix. 5
- ^ Yer. Ber. ix. 13a
- ^ Talmud B. M. 86b
- ^ Midrash Abkir, in Yalḳ., Gen. 110
- ^ Targum of Pseudo-Jonathan on Genesis 32:25; Pirke De-Rabbi Eliezer, xxxvii
- ^ Midrash Exodus Rabbah xviii. 5
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Holweck, Frederick. "St. Michael the Archangel." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 10. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1911. 29 Dec. 2014
- ^ Anna Jameson (2004) Sacred and Legendary Art ISBN 0-7661-8144-8; p. 92
- ^ a b Alban Butler, The Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs, and other Principal Saints. 12 vols. Dublin: James Duffy, 1866; p. 320
- ^ Catholic Online, Prayers
- ^ Cadwallader, Alan H.; Michael Trainor (2011). Colossae in Space and Time. Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht. p. 323.
- ^ Donna-Marie O'Boyle, Catholic Saints Prayer Book OSV Publishing, 2008 ISBN 1-59276-285-9 page 60
- ^ Starr, Mirabai. Saint Michael: The Archangel, Sounds True, 2007 ISBN 1-59179-627-X page 2
- ^ Starr, p.39.
- ^ Butler 1821, p.117.
- ^ a b Michael McGrath, Patrons and Protectors Published by Liturgy Training, 2001 ISBN 1-56854-109-0
- ^ "Prayer to St Michael".
- ^ Matthew Bunson The Catholic Almanac's Guide to the Church OSV Publishing, 2001 ISBN 0-87973-914-2 page 315
- ^ Amy Welborn, The Words We Pray Loyola Press, 2004 ISBN 0-8294-1956-X, page 101
- ^ Ann Ball, 2003 Encyclopedia of Catholic Devotions and Practices ISBN 0-87973-910-X page 123
- ^ EWTN The Chaplet of St. Michael the Archangel
- ^ a b Eastern Orthodoxy through Western eyes by Donald Fairbairn 2002 ISBN 0-664-22497-0 page 148
- ^ Baun, Jane (2007). Tales from Another Byzantium. Cambridge University Press. p. 391 et passim.
- ^ Eastern Orthodox Theology: A Contemporary Reader by Daniel B. Clendenin 2003 ISBN 0801026512 page 75
- ^ a b The Encyclopedia of Eastern Orthodox Christianity by John Anthony McGuckin 2011 ISBN 1405185392 page 30
- ^ a b The Eastern Orthodox Church: Its Thought and Life by Ernst Benz 2008 ISBN 0202362981 page 16
- ^ A Geography of Russia and Its Neighbors by Mikhail S. Blinnikov 2010 ISBN page 203
- ^ Architectures of Russian Identity, 1500 to the Present by James Cracraft 2003 ISBN 0801488281 page 42
- ^ Two Thousand Years of Coptic Christianity by Otto Friedrich August Meinardus 2010 ISBN 977-424-757-4 pages 27, 117, 147
- ^ Money, Land and Trade: An Economic History of the Muslim Mediterranean by Nelly Hanna 2002 ISBN 1-86064-699-9 page 226
- ^ Phyllis G. Jestice (2004) Holy People of the World: a Cross-Cultural Encyclopedia. ISBN 1-57607-355-6; p. 888
- ^ The Anglican Service Book: a Traditional Language Adaptation of the 1979 Book of Common Prayer Together with the Psalter or Psalms of David & Additional Devotions 1991 ISBN 0-9629955-0-9; pp. 238-239
- ^ J. Rodman Williams (1996) Renewal Theology: Systematic Theology from a Charismatic Perspective. ISBN 0-310-20914-5; p. 183
- ^ Rosemary Guiley (2004) The Encyclopedia of Angels. ISBN 0-8160-5023-6; p, 31
- ^ a b The Baptist Confession of Faith (1689) - With slight revisions by C. H. Spurgeon - spurgeon.org - Phillip R. Johnson - 2001 - Retrieved 12 September 2014.
- ^ Morning and Evening - Charles Haddon Spurgeon - Devotionals by Spurgeon Sermons - Spurgeon Sermons with C.H. Spurgeon - Retrieved 12 September 2014.
- ^ The Angelic Life - Charles Haddon Spurgeon - Sermon No. 842.
- ^ Grace Abounding in a Believer's Life by Charles Haddon Spurgeon, Robert Hall and Lance Wubbels 1996 ISBN 1883002095 page 54
- ^ Weapon The Blood of the Lamb, the Conquering Weapon - Charles Haddon Spurgeon - Sermon No. 2043.
- ^ 1751An Essay on SpiritRobert Clayton,
- ^ : Clayton, RobertDictionary of National Biography
- ^ John Walsh, Colin Haydon & Stephen Taylor, eds. (1993) The Church of England c. 1689 - c. 1833: from Toleration to Tractarianism. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press ISBN 0-521-41732-5; p. 47
- ^ Reasoning from the Scriptures, 1985, Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, p. 218
- ^ Insight on the Scriptures 2. Watch Tower Society. pp. 393–394. Retrieved 2013-05-01.
- ^ Teach? Really What Does the Bible. Watch Tower Society. pp. 218–219. Retrieved 2013-05-01.
- ^ "Angels—How They Affect Mankind". The Watchtower (Watch Tower Society): 21–25. March 15, 2007. Retrieved 2013-05-01.
- ^ What Does The Bible Really Teach?. Watch Tower Society. p. 87.
- ^ "Your Leader Is One, the Christ". The Watchtower: 21. September 15, 2010.
- ^ Seventh Day Adventists: What do they believe? by Val Waldeck Pilgrim Publications (April 5, 2005) page 16
- ^ "The Remnant". Adventist World. Retrieved 2011-12-05.
- ^ Seventh-day Adventists Answer Questions on Doctrine, Review and Herald Publishing Association, Washington, D.C., 1957. Chapter 8 "Christ, and Michael the Archangel".
- ^ a b Bible readings for the home by 7th Day Adventists. London. 1949. p. 266.
- ^ 1 Thessalonians 4:16 (ESV)
- ^ Jerry A. Moon, The Adventist Trinity Debate Part 1: Historical Overview and The Adventist Trinity Debate Part 2: The Role of Ellen G. White. Copyright 2003 Andrews University Press. See also "The Arian or Anti-Trinitarian Views Presented in Seventh-day Adventist Literature and the Ellen G. White Answer" by Erwin Roy Gane
- ^ "The Trinity in Seventh-day Adventist History" by Merlin D. Burt. Ministry February 2009
- ^
- ^
- ^
- ^
- ^ Steiner, Rudolf (1994) [1917]. Christopher Bamford, ed. The Archangel Michael. Hudson, NY: Anthroposophic Press.
- ^ Quran 2:97–98
- ^ The Birth of the Prophet Muḥammad: Devotional Piety in Sunni Islam - Page 21, Marion Holmes Katz - 2007
- ^ Islam and the Ahmadiyya Jamaʻat: History, Belief, Practice - Page 141, Simon Ross Valentine - 2008
- ^ Saint Michael the Archangel in Medieval English Legend by Richard Freeman Johnson 2005 ISBN 1-84383-128-7 page 105
- ^ Icons and saints of the Eastern Orthodox Church by Alfredo Tradigo 2006 ISBN 0-89236-845-4 page 46
- ^ The Blackwell Companion to Eastern Christianity 2010 by Ken Parry ISBN 1-4443-3361-5 page 242
- ^ "The Legend of St Piran", BBC
- ^ Ball, p.586.
- ^ a b The Knights of the Crown: The Monarchical Orders of Knighthood in Later Medieval Europe 1325-1520 by D'Arcy Jonathan Dacre Boulton 2000 ISBN 0-85115-795-5 pages 427-428
- ^ Noted by Johan Huizinga, The Waning of the Middle Ages (1919, 1924:56.
- ^ Angels in the early modern world By Alexandra Walsham, Cambridge University Press, 2006 ISBN 0-521-84332-4 page 2008
- ^ Patron Saints by Michael Freze 1992 ISBN 0-87973-464-7 page 170
- ^ Dronda, Javier (2013). Con Cristo o contra Cristo: Religión y movilización antirrepublicana en Navarra (1931-1936). Tafalla: Txalaparta. pp. 54–55.
- ^ Netherlandish sculpture 1450-1550 by Paul Williamson 2002 ISBN 0-8109-6602-6 page 42
- ^ All Saints Sisters of the Poor: An Anglican Sisterhood in the Nineteenth Century (Church of England Record Society) by Susan Mumm 200 ISBN 0-85115-728-9 page 48
- ^ Canons Regular of the Order of St Michael the Archangel
- ^ Amélineau, "Contes et Romans de l'Egypte Chrétienne", ii. 142 et seq
- ^ Midrash Genesis Rabbah xliv. 16
- ^ Midrash Esther Rabbah iii. 8
- ^ Targum to Esther, vi. 1
- ^ comp. Josephus, "Ant." xiii. 10, § 3
- ^ Makarios of Simonos Petra, The Synaxarion: the Lives of the Saints of the Orthodox Church, trans. Christopher Hookway (Holy Convent of the Annunciation of Our Lady 1998 ISBN 960-85603-7-3), p. 47.
- ^ Synaxarion, p. 47.
- ^ Synaxarion, p. 48.
- ^ Peers, Glenn (2001). Subtle bodies: representing angels in Byzantium. University of California Press. p. 144.
- ^ a b Saint Michael the Archangel in medieval English legend by Richard Freeman Johnson 2005 ISBN 1-84383-128-7 page 68
- ^ Popular Romances of the West of England by Robert Hunt 2009 ISBN 0-559-12999-8 page 238
- ^ Myths and Legends of Britain and Ireland by Richard Jones 2006 ISBN 1-84537-594-7 page 17
- ^ The Medieval state: essays presented to James Campbell by John Robert Maddicott, David Michael Palliser, James Campbell 2003 ISBN 1-85285-195-3 pages 10-11
- ^ Mont-Saint-Michel: a monk talks about his abbey by Jean-Pierre Mouton, Olivier Mignon 1998 ISBN 2-7082-3351-3 pages 55-56
- ^ Huddleston, Gilbert. "Mont-St-Michel." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 10. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1911. 29 Dec. 2014
- ^ a b Pilgrimage: from the Ganges to Graceland : an encyclopedia, Volume 1 by Linda Kay Davidson, David Martin Gitlitz 2002 ISBN 1-57607-004-2 page 398
- ^ Ball, p.123.
- ^ EWTN The Chaplet of Saint Michael the Archangel
- ^ Michael Freze, 1993, Voices, Visions, and Apparitions, OSV Publishing ISBN 0-87973-454-X page 267
- ^ "Center for Muslim-Jewish Engagement". Usc.edu. Retrieved 2015-01-28.
- ^ John Milton, Paradise Lost 1674 Book VI line 320
- ^ The Ten commandments for Jews, Christians, and others by Roger Van Harn 2007 ISBN 0-8028-2965-1 page 26
- ^ Faith & philosophy of Islam by Shamim Akhter 2009 ISBN 81-7835-719-4 page 286
- ^ The Everything Understanding Islam Book by Christine Huda Dodge 2003 ISBN 1-58062-783-8 page 244
- ^ a b c Saint Michael the Archangel in medieval English legend by Richard Freeman Johnson 2005 ISBN 1-84383-128-7 pages 141-147
- ^ Icons and saints of the Eastern Orthodox Church by Alfredo Tradigo 2006 ISBN 0-89236-845-4 page 188
- ^ Ann Ball, 2003 Encyclopedia of Catholic Devotions and Practices ISBN 0-87973-910-X page 520
- ^ Constantine and the Christian empire by Charles Matson Odahl 2004 ISBN 0-415-17485-6 page 315
- ^ "Vatican website: Sistine Chapel". Vaticanstate.va. Retrieved 2010-07-21.
- ^ Saints in art by Rosa Giorgi, Stefano Zuffi 2003 ISBN 0-89236-717-2 pages 274-276
- Angels in Islam
- Angelus
- Archangel Michael in Christian art
- Biblical cosmology
- Christian angelic hierarchy
- Gabriel
- Guardian Angel of Portugal
- Hierarchy of angels
- Seraph
- Theophory in the Bible
See also
- Sacra di San Michele (Saint Michael's Abbey), near Turin, Italy
- St. Michael and St. Gudula Cathedral, in Brussels, Belgium
- Mont Saint-Michel, Normandy, France - a World Heritage Site
- St. Michael's Cathedral (Toronto), Canada
- St. Michael's Cathedral (Izhevsk), Russia
- St. Michael's Cathedral, Qingdao, China
- Chudov Monastery in the Moscow Kremlin
- Archangel Cathedral in the Moscow Kremlin - a World Heritage Site
- Monte Sant'Angelo sul Gargano, Gargano, Italy - a World Heritage Site
- St Michael's Mount, Cornwall, UK
- St. Michael's Basilica, Miramichi, Canada
- Skellig Michael, off the Irish west coast - a World Heritage Site
- St Michael's Cathedral, Coventry, UK
- St. Michael's Golden-Domed Monastery, Kiev, Ukraine
- Basilica of St. Michael the Archangel, Pensacola, Florida, United States
- St Michael's Church in Vienna, Austria
- Basilica of St Michael the Archangel, Tayabas, Quezon, Philippines
- Saint Michael's church, Berlin, Germany
- St. Michael's Church, Munich
- St. Michael's Cathedral in Belgrade, Serbia
- For a larger gallery (and hence a structured list) of church images, please see: .
Major shrines
Andrei Rublev's standalone depiction c. 1408
Weighing souls on Judgement Day by Hans Memling, 15th century
Michael defeating the fallen angels, by Luca Giordano c. 1660–65
Bronze statue of Archangel Michael, standing on top of the Castel Sant'Angelo, modelled in 1753 by Peter Anton von Verschaffelt (1710–1793).
Michael's icon on the northern deacons' door on the iconostasis of Hajdúdorog. The archangel is often depicted on iconostases' doors as a defender of the sanctuary.
Archangel Michael by Emily Young in the grounds of St Pancras New Church. Plaque inscription: "In memory of the victims of the 7th July 2005 bombings and all victims of violence. 'I will lift up my eyes unto the hills' Psalm 121"
In Byzantine art Michael was often shown as a princely court dignitary, rather than a warrior who battled Satan or with scales for weighing souls on the Day of Judgement.[123]
In other depictions Michael may be holding a pair of scales in which he weighs the souls of the departed and may hold the book of life (as in the Book of Revelation), to show that he takes part in the judgment.[118] However this form of depiction is less common than the slaying of the dragon.[118] Michelangelo depicted this scene on the altar wall of the Sistine Chapel.[122]
Constantine felt that Licinius was an agent of Satan, and associated him with the serpent described in the Book of Revelation (12:9).[121] After the victory, Constantine commissioned a depiction of himself and his sons slaying Licinius represented as a serpent - a symbolism borrowed from the Christian teachings on the Archangel to whom he attributed the victory. A similar painting, this time with the Archangel Michael himself slaying a serpent then became a major art piece at the Michaelion and eventually lead to the standard iconography of Archangel Michael as a warrior saint.[10]
In many depictions Michael is represented as an angelic warrior, fully armed with helmet, sword, and shield.[24] The shield may bears the Latin inscription Quis ut Deus.[120] He may be standing over a serpent, a dragon, or the defeated figure of Satan, whom he sometimes pierces with a lance.[24] The iconography of Michael slaying a serpent goes back to the early 4th century, when Emperor Constantine defeated Licinius at the Battle of Adrianople in 324 AD, not far from the Michaelion a church dedicated to Archangel Michael.[10]
The widely reproduced image of Our Mother of Perpetual Help, an icon of the Cretan school, depicts Michael on the left carrying the lance and sponge of the crucifixion of Jesus, with Gabriel on the right side of Mary and Jesus.[119]
In Christian art, Archangel Michael may be depicted alone or with other angels such as Gabriel. Some depictions with Gabriel date back to the 8th century, e.g. the stone casket at Notre Dame de Mortain church in France.[118]
Most Jewish teachings interpret the Second Commandment as against the use of "graven images" as visual art.[115] Islamic art's focus on calligraphy, rather than painting and sculpture, similarly derives from the association of idolatry with the depiction of human or angelic forms.[116][117]
Artistic depictions
In the English epic poem Paradise Lost by John Milton, Michael commands the army of angels loyal to God against the rebel forces of Satan. Armed with a sword from God's armory, he bests Satan in personal combat, wounding his side.[114]
In literature
Art and literature
In Islam,[113] Mikail (Michael) provides nourishments for bodies and souls. Mikail is often depicted as the archangel of mercy who is responsible for the rewards doled out to good persons in this life.
From 1961 to 1965, four young schoolgirls had reported several apparitions of Archangel Michael in the small village of Garabandal, Spain. At Garabandal, the apparitions of the Archangel Michael were mainly reported as announcing the arrivals of the Virgin Mary. The Catholic Church has neither approved nor condemned the Garabandal apparitions.[112]
A Portuguese Carmelite nun, Antónia d'Astónaco, reported an apparition and private revelation of the Archangel Michael who had told to this devoted Servant of God, in 1751, that he would like to be honored, and God glorified, by the praying of nine special invocations. These nine invocations correspond to invocations to the nine choirs of angels and origins the famous Chaplet of Saint Michael. This private revelation and prayers were approved by Pope Pius IX in 1851.[110][111]
According to Norman legend, Michael is said to have appeared to St Aubert, Bishop of Avranches, in 708, giving instruction to build a church on the rocky islet now known as Mont Saint-Michel.[107][108][109] In 966 the Duke of Normandy commissioned a Benedictine abbey on the mount, and it remains a major pilgrimage site.[109]
According to Roman legends, while a devastating plague persisted in Rome, Archangel Michael appeared with a sword over the mausoleum of Hadrian, in apparent answer to the prayers of Pope St Gregory I the Great (c. 590–604) that the plague should cease. After the plague ended, in honor of the occasion, the pope called the mausoleum "Castel Sant'Angelo" (Castle of the Holy Angel), the name by which it is still known.[26]
The legend of the apparition of the Archangel at around 490 AD at a secluded hilltop cave on Monte Gargano in Italy gained a following among the Lombards in the immediate period thereafter, and by the 8th century pilgrims arrived from as far away as England.[106] The Tridentine Calendar included a feast of the apparition on 8 May, the date of the 663 victory over the Greek Neapolitans that the Lombards of Manfredonia attributed to Saint Michael.[24] The feast remained in the Roman liturgical calendar until removed in the revision of Pope John XXIII. The Sanctuary of Monte Sant'Angelo at Gargano is a major Catholic pilgrimage site.
There is a late 5th century legend in Cornwall, UK that the Archangel appeared to fishermen on St Michael's Mount.[103] According to author Richard Freeman Johnson this legend is likely a nationalistic twist to a myth.[103] Cornish legends also hold that the mount itself was constructed by giants[104] and that King Arthur battled a giant there.[105]
The Orthodox Church celebrates the Miracle at Chonae on September 6.[99] The pious legend surrounding the event states that Saint John the Apostle, when preaching nearby, foretold the appearance of Michael at Cheretopa near Lake Salda, where a healing spring appeared soon after the Apostle left; in gratitude for the healing of his daughter, one pilgrim built a church on the site.[100] Local pagans, who are described as jealous of the healing power of the spring and the church, attempt to drown the church by redirecting the river, but the Archangel, "in the likeness of a column of fire", split the bedrock to open up a new bed for the stream, directing the flow away from the church.[101] The legend is supposed to have predated the actual events, but the 5th–7th century texts that refer to the miracle at Chonae formed the basis of specific paradigms for "properly approaching" angelic intermediaries for more effective prayers within the Christian culture.[102]
There is a legend which seems to be of Jewish origin, and which was adopted by the Copts, to the effect that Michael was first sent by God to bring Nebuchadnezzar (c. 600 BC) against Jerusalem, and that Michael was afterward very active in freeing his nation from Babylonian captivity.[94] According to midrash Genesis Rabbah, Michael saved Hananiah and his companions from the Fiery furnace.[95] Michael was active in the time of Esther: "The more Haman accused Israel on earth, the more Michael defended Israel in heaven".[96] It was Michael who reminded Ahasuerus that he was Mordecai's debtor;[97] and there is a legend that Michael appeared to the high priest Hyrcanus, promising him assistance.[98]
An Anglican sisterhood dedicated to Saint Michael under the title of the Community of St Michael and All Angels was founded in 1851.[92] The Congregation of Saint Michael the Archangel (CSMA), also known as the Michaelite Fathers, is a religious order of the Roman Catholic Church founded in 1897. The Canons Regular of the Order of St Michael the Archangel (OSM) are an Order of professed religious within the Anglican Church in North America, the North American component of the Anglican realignment movement.[93]
He has been the patron saint of Brussels since the Middle Ages.[91] The city of Arkhangelsk in Russia is named for the Archangel. Ukraine and its capital Kiev also consider Michael their patron saint and protector.[39]
Since the victorious Battle of Lechfeld against the Hungarians in 955, Michael was the patron saint of the Holy Roman Empire and still is the patron saint of modern Germany and other German speaking regions formerly covered by the realm.
Similarly, the Sanctuary of St. Michel (San Migel Aralarkoa), the oldest Christian building in Navarre (Spain), lies at the top of a hill on the Aralar Range, and harbours Carolingian remains. St. Michel is an ancient devotion of Navarre and eastern Gipuzkoa, revered by the Basques, shrouded in legend, and held as a champion against paganism and heresy. It came to symbolize the defense of Catholicism, as well as Basque tradition and values during the early 20th century.[90]
Apart from his being a patron of warriors, the sick and the suffering also consider Archangel Michael their patron saint.[89] Based on the legend of his 8th century apparition at Mont-Saint-Michel, France, the Archangel is the patron of mariners in this famous sanctuary.[24] After the evangelisation of Germany, where mountains were often dedicated to pagan gods, Christians placed many mountains under the patronage of the Archangel, and numerous mountain chapels of St. Michael appeared all over Germany.[24]
is Romania's highest military decoration. Order of Michael the Brave The [88]


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John and September Higham took their two kids on a 52-week round-the-world trip. John's memoir, "360 Degrees Longitude," tells the story; we've got his hardest-won wisdom.
Ease kids into travel
Start with an English-speaking country and slowly introduce your kids to different cultures. Our big trip started in Europe, and then we went to Turkey and Africa.
Let the kids help set the agenda
Katrina, who was 11 when we set off, chose the Serengeti. Jordan, who was 8, picked the Great Wall of China. The are-we-there-yets disappeared because the kids had become part of the team. Now we always take turns deciding where to spend vacations.
Pack with your kids' interests in mind, but don't bring anything you can't tolerate losing
Jordan loves reading comic books. We brought paper and pencils so he could create his own. Katrina wanted to show the world to her stuffed animal, Tiger. Unfortunately, Tiger got lost somewhere in China.
Plan one big thing per day. Cultivate serendipity
Kids don't care if they see every museum or church. We found it best to have one set destination and leave the rest of the day free. That's when you make the best discoveries. While hiking in Zermatt, Switzerland, we stumbled upon a playground above the tree line.
Have a policy for souvenirs
For every continent, our kids could use their normal allowance to buy one thing, which we shipped home. In each country, they also could keep one of every coin.
Don't forget about your spouse
Staying in tents and in small hotel rooms with your kids does pose a challenge for consenting adults. My wife and I had to be creative.
Copyright © 2012 Newsweek Budget Travel, Inc.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
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text:
Egypt expects to reach a loan agreement with the IMF by mid-December after talks this month focusing on limiting the budget deficit and a minimum level for its foreign reserves, the finance minister said.
He also said the cabinet had on Wednesday approved a new 10 percent tax on major transactions on the Egyptian stock exchange, including initial public offerings (IPOs). The president said in August there would be no new taxes.
Mumtaz al-Said said that the new tax was still being drafted and would have to be approved by the president or by parliament if one is elected in time. Parliament was dissolved this year after the voting method was challenged, Reuters reports.
"Taxes will be imposed on gains achieved on each IPO for the first time and a tax on acquisitions if the deal exceeds 33 percent of the company's capital or shareholder rights," the finance minister said. He did not give a timeframe for the new tax.
An International Monetary Fund technical team has been in Cairo since October 31 to negotiate a $4.8 billion loan that Egypt asked for to shore up finances hammered by last year's popular uprising. The talks are expected to last two weeks.
"The talks with the IMF technical team have been extremely positive," the finance minister told reporters.
Speaking after a cabinet meeting, he said he expected the technical team to present the results of the negotiations to the IMF's board in mid-November for final approval by mid-December.
The talks have focused on putting a limit on the budget deficit for this fiscal year that began July 1, after the shortfall climbed to 11 percent of gross domestic product in 2011/12, he said.
Talks also covered reducing public debt to about 65 to 70 percent of GDP by 2016/17 and setting a limit for reserves that stand at $15.5 billion, he added. Egypt has spent more than $20 billion supporting the currency since Hosni Mubarak was ousted.
Analysts say placing a minimum level on reserves could be an indirect way of forcing Egypt to allow its currency to weaken.
The Egyptian pound has fallen by less than 5 percent since January 2011 even though political turmoil chased away tourists and investors, two key foreign exchange sources. The currency has been propped up by central bank intervention.
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Investors would see an IMF deal as a seal of approval and proof the government is serious about reining in subsidies, particularly on fuel, and other steps. But some worry the government may be swayed not to act by popular pressure.
"It is now a political question of does President Mursi have the guts and power to take the unpopular decisions to announce the cut in subsidies … (and) will the Central Bank of Egypt allow or let the pound float more freely," said Osama Mourad of Arab Finance Brokerage.


text:
NikSoft Systems Corporation
B-407195,B-407195.2: Nov 27, 2012
Additional Materials:
- Full Report:
(202) 512-8278
Kenneth E. Patton
(202) 512-8205
Office of Public Affairs
(202) 512-4800
NikSoft Systems Corporation protests the award of a contract to Delmock Technologies, Inc. (DTI), by the Department of the Treasury, Internal Revenue Service (IRS), pursuant to request for proposals (RFP) No. TIRNO-12-R-0004 to perform middleware information technology (IT) services for the IRS's Middleware Support Services Section. NikSoft protests that the agency improperly evaluated NikSoft's proposed approach to performing the fixed-price portion of the contract requirements, and improperly evaluated NikSoft's proposal under the past performance and past experience evaluation factors.
We deny the protest.
The decision issued on the date below was subject to a GAO Protective Order. This redacted version has been approved for public release.
Matter of: NikSoft Systems Corporation
File: B-407195; B-407195.2
Date: November 27, 2012
Gerard F. Doyle, Esq., and Ron R. Hutichinson, Esq., Doyle & Bachman LLP, for the protester.
Ira E. Hoffman, Esq., Offit Kurman, for Delmock Technologies, Inc., the intervenor.
Richard L. Hatfield, Esq., Department of the Treasury, for the agency.
Glenn G. Wolcott, Esq., and Sharon L. Larkin, Esq., Office of the General Counsel, GAO, participated in the preparation of the decision.
1. Agency reasonably concluded that protesters responses to agencys discussions questions introduced risk regarding the level of resources that protester was committing to perform the fixed-price portion of the solicitation requirements.
2. Agency reasonably evaluated protesters past performance as very good, rather than excellent, where protesters references rated the quality of protesters prior performance between very good and excellent, and the record indicates that protesters prior contracts were more relevant to the less significant of the solicitations two basic requirements.
NikSoft Systems Corporation protests the award of a contract to Delmock Technologies, Inc. (DTI), by the Department of the Treasury, Internal Revenue Service (IRS), pursuant to request for proposals (RFP) No. TIRNO-12-R-0004 to perform middleware information technology (IT) services for the IRSs Middleware Support Services Section. NikSoft protests that the agency improperly evaluated NikSofts proposed approach to performing the fixed-price portion of the contract requirements, and improperly evaluated NikSofts proposal under the past performance and past experience evaluation factors.
We deny the protest.
The solicitation was issued in December 2011,[1] seeking proposals to perform two types of IT services: (1) operation and maintenance (O&M), to be performed on a fixed price basis;[2] and (2) software development, to be performed at fixed billing rates in accordance with indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) procedures.[3] RFP at 3. The solicitation provided that award would be made on a best value basis[4] and established the following evaluation factors, listed in descending order of importance: management solution,[5] quality assurance plan (QASP), past performance, past experience, and price. RFP at 81.
With regard to the most important evaluation factor, management solution, the solicitation directed each offeror to propose its overall plan for managing and staffing all phases of this effort, elaborating that each proposal shall include detailed information concerning the offerors ability to adequately staff the operation and perform the [required] services.[6] RFP at 75. With regard to past performance and past experience, the solicitation provided that the agency would assess both the relevance and quality of performance under the offerors prior contracts.[7] More specifically, under both the past performance and past experience evaluation factors, the solicitation provided that the agency would assess the extent to which an offeror had performed prior contracts that were similar in size, scope and complexity to the RFP requirements, and placed offerors on notice that greater similarity of prior contracts would warrant higher evaluation ratings under both factors. RFP at 79-80.
On or before the January 24, 2012 closing date, initial proposals were submitted by nine offerors, including NikSoft and DTI. Of relevance to this protest, NikSofts initial proposal offered to provide [deleted] key personnel, specifically identifying [deleted] of those as SMEs (subject matter experts).[8] AR, Tab D.2, NikSoft Initial Proposal, Key Personnel, Table 5-1, at 139-41. Following review of the initial proposals, the agency established a competitive range consisting of DTI, NikSoft, and a third offeror, and opened discussions with those offerors.
Based on its review of the offerors initially proposed staffing, the agency determined that each proposal in the competitive range adequately addressed staffing for the software development portion of the RFP.[9] In contrast, the agency found it difficult to determine the particular staffing that each offeror had proposed to perform the fixed-price O&M portion of the RFP requirements. Contracting Officers Statement, Oct. 24, 2012, at 2. Accordingly, on May 9, the agency asked each of the offerors in the competitive range to respond to the following:
Please provide the number of Personnel, Key Personnel, labor categories (skill mix) and experience level that you are proposing to support the Middleware O&M part of the RFP. Please note any changes from your initial staffing proposal . . . .
Agencys Discussions with NikSoft, May 9, 2012, Question 1.
On May 14, NikSoft responded to this question stating:
The NikSoft initially proposed team of [deleted] resources are for O&M support. All are key personnel, with extensive qualifications and experience directly relevant to the Middleware program. All personnel as originally proposed will be assigned to the O&M responsibilities as shown in Table 1.[[10]]
NikSofts Response to Agencys Discussions, May 14, 2012, at 1.
Additionally, NikSofts May 14 response to the agencys question regarding O&M staffing varied from its initial proposal by removing the designation of SME for [deleted] of the [deleted] key personnel it had initially identified as SMEs. Specifically, NikSofts May 14 submission designated [deleted] of the previously-identified SMEs as applications engineers, and identified [deleted] previously-identified SMEs as database analyst/programmer and systems software engineer [deleted].[11] Id. at 2-5. Accordingly, the agency was concerned regarding the breadth of expertise that NikSoft was committing to provide for performance of the fixed-price O&M requirements.[12]
Based on its concern over NikSofts May 14 response, the agency gave NikSoft another opportunity to address its proposed O&M staffing, providing another set of discussions questions to NikSoft. Specifically, on May 22, the agency sent a final communication to NikSoft which began with the following summary of NikSofts May 14 submission:
NikSoft responded to Question 1 [the agencys May 9 discussion question quoted above] with [deleted] Total personnel (Key and Non-Key), including [deleted] SMEs. The response however, did not offset concern that weaknesses have been introduced for [specified RFP sections regarding O&M requirements]. The proposed team of [deleted] people to support Middleware O&M is not consistent with a deep understanding of the Middleware O&M RFP.
Agencys Written Discussions with NikSoft, May 22, 2012, at 2.
In addition to the agencys specific reference to NikSofts proposal of only [deleted] SMEs, the agencys May 22 communication went on to provide a summary of O&M support activities the contractor will be expected to perform, specifically discussing required system restoration team (SRT) activities, and making several references to the importance of SMEs in successfully resolving SRT events. Id.
Among other things, the agency advised NikSoft that:
Throughout the recent weeks, multiple SRTs have been called . . . concurrently throughout the week and into the weekend with an average of 12 hours of support required per/SME/day. It is necessary to provide 24x7x365 Middleware O&M support throughout these events. The number of personnel, key personnel, skill-mix and experience levels proposed should demonstrate multiple tiers of SME support for each critical component . . . as well as a mix of seasoned technical experts . . . for other components. . . . The inability to provide the required support coverage will introduce unacceptable risk in Middleware Production S&M support and weaknesses in the proposal would be identified.
The agencys May 22 discussions with NikSoft concluded with the following additional questions:
1. Redundancy is important in critical middleware component support. How would you describe your support team in terms of redundancy, for critical middleware component support?
2. How many concurrent System Restoration Team (SRT) events can your team service at the same time?
3. How would you manage multiple concurrent SRT events being serviced throughout the night or over multiple 12 hour/days and into the weekend?
4. Based on your depth of knowledge of the Middleware O&M requirements, have you proposed enough personnel, key personnel, skill-mix and experience level to support the middleware O&M part of the RFP, without introducing an unacceptable level of risk?
Id. at 2-3.
On May 29, NikSoft responded to the agencys May 22 questions, maintaining generally that it understood the solicitations O&M requirements. In response to the question regarding the number of concurrent SRT events it believed it could service, NikSoft asserted, we can comfortably support [deleted] concurrent non-similar SRTs. NikSofts Response to Agencys Discussions, May 29, at 5. In response to the agencys question regarding the number of personnel, key personnel, skill-mix and experience level it was committing to perform the O&M requirements, NikSoft added [deleted] support staff for the service desk and [deleted] software developers. Id. at 4, 7. Although its May 29 response referred to [deleted] key personnel (SMEs) in its initial proposal, id. at 7, NikSoft did not otherwise revise its May 14 submission--which had expressly reduced the number of designated SMEs from [deleted] to [deleted]. Further, NikSoft did not specifically address the concern identified in the agencys May 22 communication that NikSoft had committed only [deleted] SMEs to perform the fixed-price O&M portion of the contract.
Thereafter, the agency completed its final evaluation of the proposals in the competitive range, as summarized below:
Third Offeror
Mgmt. Solution
Very Good
Very Good
Very Good
Very Good
Past Performance
Very Good
Very Good
Past Experience
Overall Non-Price
Very Good
Source Selection Decision, Aug. 6, 2012, at 12, 15.
In summarizing its evaluation of NikSofts proposal, the agency characterized its proposed management solution as merely acceptable, due to various risks presented--specifically including NikSofts asserted capability to handle [deleted] concurrent SRT events with only [deleted] SMEs. Among other things, the agency stated:
Based on the information provided in Niksofts proposal, Niksoft demonstrates the minimum level [of] understanding of the services required to meet contract requirements. Niksofts estimate of the number of concurrent SRTs they could service is unrealistic. Niksofts estimate comfortably supporting [deleted] concurrent non-similar SRTs displays a minimal level of understanding of the requirements outlined in the RFP. Niksofts proposed plan to have [each of] [deleted] SMEs covering [deleted] SRTs introduces risks as this is unrealistic.
Id. at 14.
In performing the cost/technical tradeoff between NikSofts and DTIs proposal, the agency noted that although NikSoft proposed a lower cost/price, [t]he risks associated with Niksofts proposal increase the potential for disruption of schedule, [and] increase in cost or degradation of performance. Therefore, the agency concluded, award to Niksoft, Inc. is not recommended. Id. at 18.
Thereafter, the agency selected DTI for award. This protest followed.
NikSoft protests that the agency improperly evaluated NikSofts proposed approach to performing the fixed-price O&M requirements, and that the agency improperly evaluated NikSofts proposal under the past performance and past experience evaluation factors.[13] As discussed below, we find no merit in NikSofts allegations.[14]
Evaluation of O&M Requirements
NikSoft first protests that the agency unreasonably concluded that NikSoft was committing only [deleted] SMEs to perform the O&M contract requirements. Specifically, NikSoft asserts, [t]o the contrary, NikSoft . . . proposed [deleted] SMEs plus the Program Manager and the Security Specialist.[15] Supplemental Protest, Oct. 5, 2012, at 5. Specifically, NikSoft asserts that it clearly explained its intent to provide [deleted] of its proposed key personnel in the capacity of SMEs, and it maintains that, because of the agencys contrary determination, the agencys criticism regarding NikSofts capability to support [deleted] concurrent SRT events is also unreasonable. Supp. Comments, Oct. 31, 2012, at 6. In short, NikSoft asserts that the agencys evaluation of its proposed approach to performing the O&M requirements was flawed. We disagree.
It is an offerors obligation to submit an adequately written proposal, United Def. LP, B-286925.3 et al., Apr. 9, 2001, 2001 CPD ¶ 75 at 19, and, in evaluating proposals, it is generally reasonable for an agency to rely on information the offeror provides in its proposal. Able Bus. Techs., Inc., B-299383, Apr. 19, 2007, 2007 CPD ¶ 75 at 5; NCR Govt Sys. LLC, B-297959, B-297959.2, May 12, 2006, 2006 CPD ¶ 82 at 8-9. In reviewing protests that allege improper proposal evaluations, it is not our role to reevaluate proposals. Rather, we will examine the record to determine whether the agencys evaluation was reasonable and in accord with the stated evaluation criteria and applicable procurement laws and regulations. See Abt Assocs. Inc., B-237060.2, Feb. 26, 1990, 90-1 CPD ¶ 223 at 4. A protesters mere disagreement with the agencys evaluation is insufficient to render the evaluation unreasonable. Ben-Mar Enters., Inc., B-295781, Apr. 7, 2005, 2005 CPD ¶ 68 at 7.
Here, as discussed above, in responding to the agencys May 9 question regarding the specific staffing that NikSoft was proposing for performance of the fixed-price O&M solicitation requirements, NikSoft effectively acknowledged that [deleted] of the [deleted] personnel it had initially designated as SMEs did not properly qualify as such with regard to the O&M contract requirements.[16] Specifically, NikSoft changed the designated labor categories for these [deleted] individuals to categories that reflected more limited O&M expertise. Consistent with NikSofts acknowledgment that these [deleted] personnel did not possess the broader expertise required for SMEs, NikSoft expressly advised the agency that its proposed personnel had primary responsibility for [deleted] of the O&M requirements only with regard to their respective area of expertise. NikSoft Response to Agencys Discussions, May 14, 2012, at 1.
Finally, although the agencys communication of May 22 advised NikSoft that, in the agencys view, NikSoft was offering only [deleted] SMEs, see Agencys Written Discussions with NikSoft, May 22, 2012, at 2, NikSofts May 29 response did not specifically address this concern. That is, although NikSofts response referred to [deleted] key personnel (SMEs) in its initial proposal, NikSoft did not otherwise revise its May 14 submission--which had specifically reduced the number of designated SMEs from [deleted] to [deleted]. Similarly, although NikSofts May 29 submission did include a copy of a table it had included in its initial proposal--which identified the experience of its proposed personnel--that table did not designate any labor category for any of the personnel.[17] NikSoft Response to Agencys Discussions, May 29, 2012, at 16-18.
In sum, based on our review of NikSofts initial proposal, its May 14 submission, and its May 29 submission, we do not question the reasonableness of the agencys evaluation of the O&M requirements. Accordingly, NikSofts protest challenging that portion of the evaluation is denied.
Evaluation of Past Performance
Next, NikSoft protests that the agencys rating of very good, rather than excellent, with regard to NikSofts past performance was unreasonable. In this regard, NikSoft complains that IRSs conclusions leading to less than the maximum available rating for NikSoft under [the past performance evaluation factor] are without merit. Protest, Aug. 20, 2012, at 29.
The agency responds that assignment of the second-highest rating (very good), rather than the highest rating (excellent) was appropriately based on the agencys review of the past performance questionnaires submitted by NikSofts prior customers, along with the agencys assessment of the extent to which NikSofts prior contracts were similar in size, scope and complexity to the competed requirements. First, the agency notes that, in rating NikSofts prior performance, NikSofts customers rated the performance as very good, but not excellent, in approximately [deleted] of the performance areas.[18] Contracting Officers Statement, Sept. 25, 2012, at 13. Additionally, the agency states that it reviewed NikSofts description of its prior contracts within its own proposal, and found that NikSofts description of those efforts overwhelmingly focused on software development activities rather than O&M activities.[19] Noting that the O&M requirements under the competed contract are more significant than the software development requirements, both in terms of size and complexity, along with consideration of the substance of NikSofts customer performance questionnaires, the agency maintains that it properly rated NikSofts past performance as very good rather than excellent.
The evaluation of an offerors past performance is a matter of agency discretion and, by its very nature, is a subjective judgment. We will not question an agencys judgment, nor substitute our own, unless the agencys judgment is clearly unreasonable or inconsistent with the solicitations evaluation criteria. Concepts & Strategies, Inc., B-405930, Jan. 12, 2012, 2012 CPD ¶ 47 at 7; FN Mfg., LLC, B-402059.4, B-402059.5, Mar. 22, 2010, 2010 CPD ¶ 104 at 7. Further, an offeror is not entitled to the highest possible evaluation rating simply because its proposal does not reflect flaws or weaknesses. See, e.g., Archer Western Contractors, Ltd., B-403227, B-403227.2, Oct. 1, 2010, 2010 CPD ¶ 262 at 5 n.5; Pannesma Co. Ltd., B-251688, Apr. 19, 1993, 93-1 CPD ¶ 333 at 4.
Here, we have reviewed the record and find no basis to question the reasonableness of the agencys assignment of a very good rating for NikSoft under the past performance evaluation factor. As noted above, NikSofts past performance questionnaires reflected prior assessments of both very good and excellent. Further, the solicitation expressly advised offerors that, in evaluating past performance, the agency would assess the extent to which an offerors prior contracts were similar in size, scope, and complexity to the RFP requirements at issue--and that greater similarity would be a basis for assigning higher evaluation ratings. RFP at 79-80. Although NikSoft disagrees with the agencys assessments, asserting that its prior contracts and the performance thereof warranted assessments of the highest levels of similarity and performance quality, NikSoft has not meaningfully challenged the data on which the agency relied in making its determinations. Accordingly, its arguments reflect mere disagreement with the agencys judgments and, as such, provide no basis for sustaining its protest.[20]
The protest is denied.
Lynn H. Gibson
General Counsel
[1] The procurement was set aside for small business concerns under the Small Business Administrations 8(a) program, and contemplated performance of a 1-year base period and four 1-year option periods. RFP at 3, 37, 60. DTI is the incumbent contractor.
[2] For the O&M portion, offerors were required to propose fixed prices for the base period and each option period, which included after-hours support as necessary. RFP at 3-8.
[3] For the software development portion of the contract, the solicitation identified various labor categories, along with the minimum and maximum number of hours that could be required for each category, and provided that task orders would be issued on an as-needed basis. Offerors were required to propose fixed billing rates for the various labor categories. Id.
[4] Offerors were advised that the Government is more concerned with obtaining superior technical performance or reduced risk than in making an award at the lowest price. RFP at 78.
[5] Under the management solution factor, the solicitation identified the following equally-weighted subfactors: technical approach, management approach, and transition plan. RFP at 81.
[6] In evaluating proposals under the management solutions factor, the solicitation provided that the agency would assign adjectival ratings of excellent, very good, acceptable, poor, and unacceptable. RFP at 78-79.
[7] The solicitation provided that in evaluating past performance the agency would assign adjectival ratings of: excellent/low risk; very good/low to moderate risk; marginal/moderate risk; and unacceptable/high risk. RFP at 79-80. In evaluating past experience, the solicitation provided that the agency would assign ratings of excellent, good, satisfactory, and unsatisfactory. Id. at 80.
[8] Section C.6 of the solicitation, titled Staffing Skill Requirements, listed and defined 10 labor categories, including Subject Matter Expert, Security Specialist, and Program Manager; the solicitation elsewhere identified those 3 categories as key personnel. RFP at 27-30, 75. In addition to proposing [deleted] individuals under the SME labor category, NikSofts [deleted] key personnel were proposed under the labor categories of program manager and security specialist, respectively.
[9] Section B of the RFP listed the required labor categories for the IDIQ software development requirements, and each of the competitive range offerors staffing plans corresponded to the number of personnel, skill mix, and experience designated therein.
[10] Table 1 of NikSofts response listed various sections of the solicitations O&M requirements and identified [a]ll team members as having [p]rimary [r]esponsibility for [deleted] of the listed requirements. However, that table also expressly limited the responsibility of each team member to his or her area of expertise. NikSofts Response to Agency Discussions, May 14, 2012, at 1, n1.
[11] The solicitation listed 10 labor categories--including SME, applications engineer, database analyst/programmer, and systems software engineer--and provided definitions for each category. In this regard, the definition for SME broadly provided that individuals proposed for this category must have extensive in[-]depth knowledge of PWS component(s). RFP at 28-29. In contrast, the definitions applicable to the labor categories under which NikSofts May 14 submission placed [deleted] of its initially-proposed personnel were more limited. Specifically, the definition for applications engineer required the more limited ability to create/update/support information related to applications/systems; the definition for database analyst/programmer required the more limited ability to create/update/support information related to Infrastructure databases/systems; and the definition for systems software engineer required the more limited ability to create/update/support information related to Infrastructure systems support. Id.
[12] By comparison, DTI responded to the agencys question by committing to provide [deleted] SMEs and [deleted] other technical experts.
[13] NikSofts initial protest asserted that it was improper for the agency to assign any rating other than excellent to NikSofts proposal under the management solution evaluation factor. However, the protest failed to identify any portion of its proposal that properly constituted a strength--even though the solicitation expressly advised offerors that an excellent rating would be assigned where [t]he proposal contains several strengths; most [of which] are significant. RFP at 79. Accordingly, we dismissed that portion of NikSofts initial protest for failure to adequately state a basis for protest. NikSoft Systems Corp., Sept. 18, 2012. Upon receipt of the agency report responding to the remaining portions of NikSofts initial protest, NikSoft timely filed a supplemental protest challenging the agencys evaluation under the management solution factor, as discussed below.
[14] In its various protest submissions, NikSoft has raised arguments in addition to, or that are variations of, those discussed below. For example, NikSoft notes that DTIs final proposed cost/price reflected a reduction from the cost/price DTI initially proposed, and asserts that the agency failed to properly consider, investigate, and/or otherwise evaluate the basis for this reduction. We have considered NikSofts various arguments in this regard, noted that NikSofts own proposed cost/price was more than $3 million lower than DTIs, and find no basis to question the agencys evaluation of DTIs cost/price. In summary, we have considered all of NikSofts various arguments and allegations and find no basis to sustain its protest.
[15] NikSoft asserts that the program manager and security specialist were functional SMEs, Supp. Protest, Oct. 5, 2012, at 5; however, NikSoft does not identify any portion of the solicitation that contemplated functional SMEs. Rather, as discussed above, the solicitation established, and defined, 10 separate labor categories--including SME, program manager, and security specialist. RFP at 27.
[16] The agency notes that individuals properly designated as SMEs with regard to the software development portion of the contract may not necessarily be SMEs for the O&M portion of the contract. Supp. Agency Report, Oct. 24, 2012, at 4.
[17] NikSofts May 29 submission also referred generally to NikSofts asserted capability to reach back to other staffing resources. See NikSoft Response to Agencys Discussions, May 29, 2012, at 2, 5, 6, 9, 12. However, NikSoft provided virtually no details, or specific commitments, with regard to that asserted capability.
[18] The agency notes that DTIs customers rated DTIs prior performance as excellent in 100 percent of the performance areas. Accordingly, although NikSofts performance was rated excellent with regard to the remaining [deleted] of the performance areas, the quality of DTIs past performance was properly rated higher than NikSofts. Agency Report, Sept. 25, 2012, at 10-11.
[19] Specifically, the agency notes that it considered the amount of proposal text that NikSoft devoted to describing its prior software development activities, and the agency compared that to the amount of proposal text NikSoft devoted to describing its prior O&M activities. The agency found that the discussion of NikSofts prior software development activities was approximately three times greater than the corresponding discussion of NikSofts prior O&M activities. Contracting Officers Statement, Sept. 25, 2012, at 12.
[20] With regard to the past experience factor, NikSoft makes arguments that are virtually identical to those discussed above, complaining that assignment of the second highest rating (good), rather than the highest rating (excellent) was unreasonable. The agency responded that it properly concluded that NikSofts prior contracts reflected better than adequate, but not extensive experience managing contracts similar in size scope and complexity to the competed contract. Supp. Contracting Officers Statement, Oct. 24, 2012, at 8-9. As offerors were advised in the solicitation [b]etter than adequate experience regarding similar contracts warranted a rating of good; [e]xtensive experience managing similar contracts warranted a rating of excellent. See RFP at 80. For the reasons discussed above regarding NikSofts past performance evaluation, NikSofts protest challenging the past experience evaluation is without merit.
Sep 17, 2020
Sep 16, 2020
Sumaria Systems, Inc.
We deny the protest.
We deny the protest.
Sep 15, 2020
CenturyLink QGS
We deny the protest.
Patronus Systems, Inc.
We sustain the protest.
Sep 11, 2020
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text:
CARY, N.C. – Midfielder Martin Nuñez scored the game's only goal early on to help the Carolina RailHawks capture a 1-0 victory over the Portland Timbers at WakeMed Soccer Park on Friday night.
Nuñez found his second goal of the season in the fourth minute and goalkeeper Chris McClellan recorded five saves in his fourth shutout on the year to help the RailHawks (4-4-5, 17 pts) snap a five-game winless streak in league matches.
Coming off a 12-day break since their last match, the Timbers (4-5-6, 18pts) had their chances taking 10 shots on the night and had the advantage in corner kick opportunities 6-4, but suffered their third straight loss on the road and seventh shutout of the season.
Portland played without midfielder Tom Poltl and defender Scot Thompson due to league-imposed suspensions for their red cards issued on June 12 against the Atlanta Silverbacks. Midfielder Andrew Gregor did not play against Carolina due to injury.
Carolina took advantage of an early goal by Nuñez in the fourth minute. RailHawks forward Caleb Norkus played the ball to Nuñez with space in the box about 10 yards out. He fired a shot to the right of Timbers goalkeeper Ray Burse and into the back of the net. He now shares the team lead in scoring at five points and Norkus was awarded his first assist of the season.
In the sixth minute, Timbers forward Takayuki Suzuki had a chance to find the equalizer as he brought the ball down the right edge of the area but couldn't find space to pull the trigger as the ball was cleared away from danger by a RailHawks defender.
A Portland free kick sparked a flurry of activity inside the RailHawks box in the 36th minute as defender Tim Karalexis was able to head the ball back across the goal mouth providing shot opportunities for Chris Brown and Neil Dombrowski but in the end, McClellan was able to secure the ball.
The Timbers play their second match in as many days as they take on the Atlanta Silverbacks on Saturday at RE/MAX Greater Atlanta Stadium at 4:55 p.m. (Pacific). A live broadcast of the match will be available through www.portlandtimbers.com; with a live video webcast available through USL Live at www.usllive.com.
Notes: Forward Bryan Jordan rejoined the Timbers on loan from the Los Angeles Galaxy of Major League Soccer on Friday. He entered the match as a sub in the 54th minute … Portland was dealt four yellow cards against Carolina … Midfielder Lawrence Olum made his first appearance since May 26, missing the last five league games due to injury … The Timbers are 1-3-3 on the road this season.
POR: GK Burse, D J. Thompson, D Knowles, D Griffin, D Karalexis, M Guante, M Higgins, M Dombrowski, M Brown, F Suzuki (Olum, 72), F Bagley (Jordan, 54)
CAR: GK McClellan, D Curfman, D Stokes, D Segovia, D Low, M Fusiller (Dombrowski, 83), M Solle, M Watson, M Nuñez (Long, 67), F Norkus (Edozien, 60), F Antoniuk (Walker, 76)
Scoring Summary:
CAR: Nuñez (Norkus), 4


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Advisors worried about inflation risk may prefer protecting portfolios with CPI swaps rather than Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS), says J.P. Morgan Asset Management's Jim Cavanaugh in a recent client research note.
CPI swaps, a derivative pegged to the consumer price index, offer a more efficient hedge relative to TIPS because they are a higher-yielding and shorter-duration alternative, and they don't have the real interest rate exposure that exists in a typical institutionally managed TIPS portfolio with durations of approximately five to eight years, Cavanaugh wrote in the note.
"CPI swaps offer pure inflation exposure, effectively isolating inflation risk from real interest rate," Cavanaugh wrote. "CPI swaps provide investors a higher correlation to inflation, due to the direct exposure to CPI inflation."
To address what it considers as risky all-TIPS strategies, J.P. Morgan Asset Management has developed an alternative inflation-protected investment strategy. The Inflation Managed Bond Fund (JIMAX) combines short- to intermediate-term investment-grade fixed income securities with CPI swaps, and it may also buy other investments including TIPS.
Cavanaugh (left), a client portfolio manager in the U.S. Fixed Income Group at J.P. Morgan Asset Management, acknowledged that rampant inflation is not yet in the offing, but he said that due to their exposure to real interest rates, TIPs returns and actual inflation rates have a correlation of only .30.
On Thursday, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that CPI, the government's key inflation measure, was unchanged in January for the second month in a row. However, economists expect both food and gasoline prices to rise in coming months, and prices are now 1.6% higher than they were a year ago.
According to a PIMCO note on inflation-linked bonds, inflation has been low for many years around the world, and U.S. inflation from 2001 through 2011 has averaged 2.5% annually, based on year-over-year changes in the CPI. But even at this relatively low annual rate, inflation diminishes purchasing power, so that goods and services that cost $100 a decade ago would cost $128 today, according to the note.
"While rates can certainly drop lower in the near term, they cannot be expected to stay at these low levels forever," Cavanaugh wrote. "An increase in real interest rates decreases the effectiveness of TIPS as an inflation hedge. It will be important for investors to understand that there are a number of ways, other than purchasing TIPS, they can protect their portfolios and generate attractive returns in a rising inflation and interest rate environment."
Read PIMCO's Bill Gross QE4 Warning: Here Be Inflationary Dragons at AdvisorOne.


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16:20 is a brand of clothing that makes hip hop style clothes in Liberty City in Grand Theft Auto IV.
It is featured in the in-game website www.peepthatshit.com under the "Hip Hop" shopping section. Its name (16:20 is 4:20 PM in military time) is more than likely a reference to the 4:20 cultural movement started by The Waldos in 1971 at San Rafael High School in California. After gaining popularity, it has turned into an automatic association with marijuana, resulting in faux holidays such as "National Weed Day" on April 20th.


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Back in February we did a story on Omnitrans coach operators Larry and Marianne Rose who have been married for more than 16 years. The post was later picked up by The Press-Enterprise and published on Valentine's Day.
In response to the article, the Roses received a letter from Senator Bill Emmerson, congratulating them on their service with Omnitrans and their love and devotion to each other through so many years of marriage.
"We were very surprised to receive the letter," said Marianne. "It felt amazing to be recognized in that way. Our little story has reached so many people and the feedback has been incredible."
In the article, the Roses had talked about Marianne's battle with uterine cancer and how she was paying it forward by talking with other cancer patients at Loma Linda University Medical Center.
"My doctor saw the article and started sharing it with his other cancer patients. I told him I'd be happy to talk to anyone who might want support from someone who had been through the process," said Marianne. "That's been the best part of this for me–being able to help make a difference to others. I've even had passengers come up to me and tell me about their own battles with cancer. I'm glad to be able to be there for them."
Marianne wanted us to assure everyone that the PET scan she had to undergo on Valentine's day came back fine and that she is doing well. "It's all because of Him," she smiled, pointing upward. "And I feel very lucky to be able to keep paying it forward by helping others."
– Juno Kughler Carlson
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Policy for Development of the Navy Policy for Development of the Navy
In crisis or wartime, the NDF has the principal responsibility for defending Namibia's navy domain and coastline against attack. To ensure that the NDF would be able to undertake this task when required, a professional military navy force was created. This force trains and operates routinely as part of an offshore protection force.
It is a fundamental principle that, in designing and establishing a maritime patrol capability, consideration is given to its utility in crisis and war, since the means acquired for peacetime operations will inevitably have a war role. The MOD recognises that the defence role should be but one of the tasks of a national offshore protection force.
In peacetime, the Navy has a role of augmenting civil offshore patrol forces, particularly providing the means and the expertise to execute enforcement action effectively. Specific tasks include: assisting civil forces to combat illegal immigration, smuggling (arms, drugs etc.) and threats to the environment; conducting maritime surveillance, search and rescue and assisting the Ministry of Fisheries with enforcing a fisheries protection regime. A longer term peacetime task is the protection of offshore oil, gas, diamonds, and other installations.
A navy aerial surveillance component is a necessary part of the defence system. Arrangements for the transfer of vessels owned by other ministries and commercially owned vessels to the NDF during crisis or war will also need to be made. Joint training, co-ordination and planning with any other ministries involved is essential.