diff --git a/binarycpython/utils/population_extensions/_HPC.py b/binarycpython/utils/population_extensions/_HPC.py
index eaca0508527763859099ee0ebdc278420a542c88..61521df962f6cd49b2574ad1dd132716566b3b41 100644
--- a/binarycpython/utils/population_extensions/_HPC.py
+++ b/binarycpython/utils/population_extensions/_HPC.py
@@ -17,6 +17,10 @@ import glob
 import json
 import os
 
+from binarycpython.utils.functions import (
+    now,
+)
+
 from binarycpython.utils.population_extensions._slurm import slurm
 from binarycpython.utils.population_extensions._condor import condor
 
@@ -193,7 +197,7 @@ class HPC(condor, slurm):
         and their .saved equivalents also exist
         """
 
-        print("HPC check if we can join at {}".format(self.now()))
+        print("HPC check if we can join at {}".format(now()))
 
         if self.grid_options["HPC_force_join"] == 0 and os.path.exists(joiningfile):
             if vb:
diff --git a/binarycpython/utils/population_extensions/_dataIO.py b/binarycpython/utils/population_extensions/_dataIO.py
index ddd0796d35a36ffc3e20519309d6c94829251ad6..ff19dbba53c3df8616fbf69461885bfdc486cac8 100644
--- a/binarycpython/utils/population_extensions/_dataIO.py
+++ b/binarycpython/utils/population_extensions/_dataIO.py
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ from binarycpython.utils.dicts import (
 )
 from binarycpython.utils.functions import (
     verbose_print,
+    now,
 )
 
 
@@ -110,7 +111,7 @@ class dataIO:
             # add datestamp
             population_object.grid_ensemble_results["metadata"][
                 "save_population_time"
-            ] = self.now()
+            ] = now()
 
             # add extra metadata
             population_object.add_system_metadata()
diff --git a/binarycpython/utils/population_extensions/_grid_options_defaults.py b/binarycpython/utils/population_extensions/_grid_options_defaults.py
index e6ab8fef5e4b16777f0909651e7ad5a929307764..6eac46ebe503286d4edb027c2bddaebb66226575 100644
--- a/binarycpython/utils/population_extensions/_grid_options_defaults.py
+++ b/binarycpython/utils/population_extensions/_grid_options_defaults.py
@@ -23,6 +23,10 @@ import sys
 
 from binarycpython.utils.custom_logging_functions import temp_dir
 
+from binarycpython.utils.functions import (
+    now,
+)
+
 _MOE2017_VERBOSITY_LEVEL = 5
 _MOE2017_VERBOSITY_INTERPOLATOR_LEVEL = 6
 _MOE2017_VERBOSITY_INTERPOLATOR_EXTRA_LEVEL = 7
@@ -83,7 +87,7 @@ class grid_options_defaults:
             "original_command_line": os.getenv("BINARY_C_PYTHON_ORIGINAL_CMD_LINE"),
             "working_diretory": os.getcwd(),
             "original_working_diretory": os.getenv("BINARY_C_PYTHON_ORIGINAL_WD"),
-            "start_time": self.now(),
+            "start_time": now(),
             "original_submission_time": os.getenv(
                 "BINARY_C_PYTHON_ORIGINAL_SUBMISSION_TIME"
             ),
diff --git a/binarycpython/utils/population_extensions/_metadata.py b/binarycpython/utils/population_extensions/_metadata.py
index 4e1f5704b4ac2bd4e75a029a5b60281a74e9523b..fab6143119816ceb8df4b028064e75271d3ecf18 100644
--- a/binarycpython/utils/population_extensions/_metadata.py
+++ b/binarycpython/utils/population_extensions/_metadata.py
@@ -15,6 +15,9 @@ from binarycpython.utils.dicts import (
 from binarycpython.utils.ensemble import (
     binaryc_json_serializer,
 )
+from binarycpython.utils.functions import (
+    now,
+)
 
 
 class metadata:
@@ -39,7 +42,7 @@ class metadata:
             self.grid_ensemble_results["metadata"] = {}
 
         # add date
-        self.grid_ensemble_results["metadata"]["date"] = self.now()
+        self.grid_ensemble_results["metadata"]["date"] = now()
 
         # add platform and build information
         self.grid_ensemble_results["metadata"]["platform"] = platform.platform()
diff --git a/binarycpython/utils/population_extensions/_spacing_functions.py b/binarycpython/utils/population_extensions/_spacing_functions.py
index 64eacce2d8095e36cc9ab907c5b3d07bab58ee18..d7792601a141cf5d2c59a2235766b5191a17d002 100644
--- a/binarycpython/utils/population_extensions/_spacing_functions.py
+++ b/binarycpython/utils/population_extensions/_spacing_functions.py
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ import numpy as np
 import cachetools
 import diskcache
 
-from binarycpython.utils.grid import Population
+# from binarycpython.utils.grid import Population
 
 import py_rinterpolate