diff --git a/pom.xml b/pom.xml
index 300e60fe..08bb6d26 100644
--- a/pom.xml
+++ b/pom.xml
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@
     <dependency>
       <groupId>org.apache.logging.log4j</groupId>
       <artifactId>log4j-api</artifactId>
-      <version>2.0-rc1</version>
+      <version>2.0-rc2</version>
       <scope>compile</scope>
       <optional>true</optional>
     </dependency>
@@ -112,21 +112,26 @@
         <directory>${basedir}/src/main/resources</directory>
       </resource>
     </resources>
+
     <plugins>
       <plugin>
         <groupId>org.apache.maven.plugins</groupId>
         <artifactId>maven-compiler-plugin</artifactId>
-        <version>2.3.2</version>
+        <version>3.1</version>
         <configuration>
-          <source>1.5</source>
-          <target>1.5</target>
+          <source>1.6</source>
+          <target>1.6</target>
           <fork>true</fork>
           <showDeprecation>true</showDeprecation>
           <showWarnings>true</showWarnings>
-          <!-- yes, those quoted spaces are a workaround sanctioned by the Maven idiocracy -->
-          <compilerArgument>-Xlint" "-Xlint:-serial" "-Xlint:-path</compilerArgument>
+          <compilerArgs>
+            <arg>-Xlint</arg>
+            <arg>-Xlint:-serial</arg>
+            <arg>-Xlint:-path</arg>
+          </compilerArgs>
         </configuration>
       </plugin>
+
       <plugin>
         <groupId>org.apache.maven.plugins</groupId>
         <artifactId>maven-resources-plugin</artifactId>
@@ -135,6 +140,7 @@
           <encoding>UTF-8</encoding>
         </configuration>
       </plugin>
+
       <plugin>
         <groupId>org.apache.maven.plugins</groupId>
         <artifactId>maven-surefire-plugin</artifactId>
@@ -155,6 +161,7 @@
           </additionalClasspathElements>
         </configuration>
       </plugin>
+
       <plugin>
         <groupId>org.apache.maven.plugins</groupId>
         <artifactId>maven-javadoc-plugin</artifactId>
@@ -168,21 +175,25 @@
           </links>
         </configuration>
       </plugin>
+
       <plugin>
         <groupId>org.apache.maven.plugins</groupId>
         <artifactId>maven-jar-plugin</artifactId>
         <version>2.3.1</version>
       </plugin>
+
       <plugin>
         <groupId>org.apache.maven.plugins</groupId>
         <artifactId>maven-install-plugin</artifactId>
         <version>2.3.1</version>
       </plugin>
+
       <plugin>
         <groupId>org.apache.maven.plugins</groupId>
         <artifactId>maven-deploy-plugin</artifactId>
         <version>2.5</version>
       </plugin>
+
       <plugin>
         <groupId>org.sonatype.plugins</groupId>
         <artifactId>nexus-staging-maven-plugin</artifactId>