diff --git a/IPython/parallel/client/client.py b/IPython/parallel/client/client.py
index e7fd57d..cb8e55a 100644
--- a/IPython/parallel/client/client.py
+++ b/IPython/parallel/client/client.py
@@ -1308,7 +1308,11 @@ class Client(HasTraits):
         verbose : bool
                 Whether to return lengths only, or lists of ids for each element
         """
-        engine_ids = self._build_targets(targets)[1]
+        if targets == 'all':
+            # allow 'all' to be evaluated on the engine
+            engine_ids = None
+        else:
+            engine_ids = self._build_targets(targets)[1]
         content = dict(targets=engine_ids, verbose=verbose)
         self.session.send(self._query_socket, "queue_request", content=content)
         idents,msg = self.session.recv(self._query_socket, 0)
diff --git a/IPython/parallel/controller/hub.py b/IPython/parallel/controller/hub.py
index f557214..eea28ed 100644
--- a/IPython/parallel/controller/hub.py
+++ b/IPython/parallel/controller/hub.py
@@ -430,7 +430,7 @@ class Hub(SessionFactory):
         """turn any valid targets argument into a list of integer ids"""
         if targets is None:
             # default to all
-            targets = self.ids
+            return self.ids
 
         if isinstance(targets, (int,str,unicode)):
             # only one target specified
@@ -457,7 +457,7 @@ class Hub(SessionFactory):
     def dispatch_monitor_traffic(self, msg):
         """all ME and Task queue messages come through here, as well as
         IOPub traffic."""
-        self.log.debug("monitor traffic: %r", msg[:2])
+        self.log.debug("monitor traffic: %r", msg[0])
         switch = msg[0]
         try:
             idents, msg = self.session.feed_identities(msg[1:])
@@ -1271,17 +1271,17 @@ class Hub(SessionFactory):
                 buffer_lens = [] if 'buffers' in keys else None
                 result_buffer_lens = [] if 'result_buffers' in keys else None
             else:
-                buffer_lens = []
-                result_buffer_lens = []
+                buffer_lens = None
+                result_buffer_lens = None
 
             for rec in records:
                 # buffers may be None, so double check
+                b = rec.pop('buffers', empty) or empty
                 if buffer_lens is not None:
-                    b = rec.pop('buffers', empty) or empty
                     buffer_lens.append(len(b))
                     buffers.extend(b)
+                rb = rec.pop('result_buffers', empty) or empty
                 if result_buffer_lens is not None:
-                    rb = rec.pop('result_buffers', empty) or empty
                     result_buffer_lens.append(len(rb))
                     buffers.extend(rb)
             content = dict(status='ok', records=records, buffer_lens=buffer_lens,
diff --git a/IPython/parallel/controller/scheduler.py b/IPython/parallel/controller/scheduler.py
index bdfa3dc..2f49a90 100644
--- a/IPython/parallel/controller/scheduler.py
+++ b/IPython/parallel/controller/scheduler.py
@@ -191,6 +191,8 @@ class TaskScheduler(SessionFactory):
 
     def start(self):
         self.engine_stream.on_recv(self.dispatch_result, copy=False)
+        self.client_stream.on_recv(self.dispatch_submission, copy=False)
+
         self._notification_handlers = dict(
             registration_notification = self._register_engine,
             unregistration_notification = self._unregister_engine
@@ -247,8 +249,7 @@ class TaskScheduler(SessionFactory):
         self.completed[uid] = set()
         self.failed[uid] = set()
         self.pending[uid] = {}
-        if len(self.targets) == 1:
-            self.resume_receiving()
+
         # rescan the graph:
         self.update_graph(None)
 
@@ -256,7 +257,7 @@ class TaskScheduler(SessionFactory):
         """Existing engine with ident `uid` became unavailable."""
         if len(self.targets) == 1:
             # this was our only engine
-            self.stop_receiving()
+            pass
 
         # handle any potentially finished tasks:
         self.engine_stream.flush()
@@ -445,6 +446,11 @@ class TaskScheduler(SessionFactory):
 
     def maybe_run(self, msg_id, raw_msg, targets, after, follow, timeout):
         """check location dependencies, and run if they are met."""
+        self.log.debug("Attempting to assign task %s", msg_id)
+        if not self.targets:
+            # no engines, definitely can't run
+            return False
+        
         blacklist = self.blacklist.setdefault(msg_id, set())
         if follow or targets or blacklist or self.hwm:
             # we need a can_run filter
diff --git a/IPython/parallel/tests/test_client.py b/IPython/parallel/tests/test_client.py
index 9ad18b8..db58524 100644
--- a/IPython/parallel/tests/test_client.py
+++ b/IPython/parallel/tests/test_client.py
@@ -223,6 +223,14 @@ class TestClient(ClusterTestCase):
         for rec in found:
             self.assertEquals(set(rec.keys()), set(['msg_id', 'submitted', 'completed']))
     
+    def test_db_query_default_keys(self):
+        """default db_query excludes buffers"""
+        found = self.client.db_query({'msg_id': {'$ne' : ''}})
+        for rec in found:
+            keys = set(rec.keys())
+            self.assertFalse('buffers' in keys, "'buffers' should not be in: %s" % keys)
+            self.assertFalse('result_buffers' in keys, "'result_buffers' should not be in: %s" % keys)
+    
     def test_db_query_msg_id(self):
         """ensure msg_id is always in db queries"""
         found = self.client.db_query({'msg_id': {'$ne' : ''}},keys=['submitted', 'completed'])