diff --git a/doc/release_new_version b/doc/release_new_version
index 2e28a61f..939abe9a 100644
--- a/doc/release_new_version
+++ b/doc/release_new_version
@@ -171,9 +171,9 @@ cc:Sandro Cazzaniga <kharec@mandriva.org>,
    Ryoichiro Suzuki <ryoichiro.suzuki@gmail.com>,
    Jesse Alama <jesse.alama@gmail.com>
 
-Subject: GNU Parallel 20120322 ('#518696') released
+Subject: GNU Parallel 20120422 ('') released
 
-GNU Parallel 20120322 ('#518696') has been released. It is
+GNU Parallel 20120422 ('') has been released. It is
 available for download at: http://ftp.gnu.org/gnu/parallel/
 
 This is a bugfix release with no new features. Probably a good release
@@ -181,14 +181,8 @@ for stable long-term use.
 
 New in this release:
 
-* Parallel Process Database Dumps.
-  http://blog.mattoates.co.uk/2012/02/parallel-process-database-dumps.html
-
-* Using GNU Parallel to process images from Mars.
-  http://lunokhod.org/?p=468
-
-* Using GNU Parallel with bzgrep.
-  http://filip.rembialkowski.net/did-you-know-gnu-parallel/
+* Blog post: GNU parallel - the best thing since sliced bread.
+  https://arrayal.wordpress.com/2012/03/27/gnu-parallel-the-best-thing-since-sliced-bread/
 
 * Bug fixes and man page updates.
 
diff --git a/src/parallel b/src/parallel
index 7675c57e..16ac0552 100755
--- a/src/parallel
+++ b/src/parallel
@@ -2222,6 +2222,7 @@ sub loadavg {
     my $update_loadavg_file = 0;
     if(-r $self->{'loadavg_file'}) {
         open(UPTIME,"<".$self->{'loadavg_file'}) || ::die_bug("loadavg_file-r");
+	local $/ = undef;
         my $uptime_out = <UPTIME>;
         close UPTIME;
         # load average: 0.76, 1.53, 1.45
@@ -2249,9 +2250,9 @@ sub loadavg {
         -e $ENV{'HOME'}."/.parallel/tmp" or mkdir $ENV{'HOME'}."/.parallel/tmp";
         my $uptime;
         if($self->{'string'} eq ":") {
-            $uptime = "uptime";
+            $uptime = "LANG=C uptime";
         } else {
-            $uptime = $self->sshcommand() . " " . $self->serverlogin() . " uptime";
+            $uptime = $self->sshcommand() . " " . $self->serverlogin() . " LANG=C uptime";
         }
         # Run uptime.
         # As the command can take long to run if run remote