--- makefile.orig	2013-11-06 15:26:24.000000000 -0500
+++ makefile	2014-08-29 10:51:57.000000000 -0500
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
 # CXX should be set to the name of your favorite C++ compiler.
 # ===========================================================
 
-CXX = g++
+#CXX = g++
 #CXX = icpc
 #CXX = CC
 
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@
 # -O2, -O3 ... to find the best optimization level.
 # ===================================================================
 
-CXXFLAGS = -O3
+CXXFLAGS ?= -O3
 
 # PREDCXXFLAGS is for compiling J. Shewchuk's predicates. 
 
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@
 #   down the speed of TetGen.  They can be skipped by define the -DNDEBUG
 #   switch.
 
-SWITCHES = 
+SWITCHES = -DNDEBUG
 
 # RM should be set to the name of your favorite rm (file deletion program).