diff --git a/resources/templates/book_details.css b/resources/templates/book_details.css
index 5059a8f4c3..5fc2691850 100644
--- a/resources/templates/book_details.css
+++ b/resources/templates/book_details.css
@@ -2,6 +2,11 @@ a {
     text-decoration: none;
     color: blue
 }
+
+a:hover {
+    color: red
+}
+
 .comments { 
     margin-top: 0;
     padding-top: 0;
diff --git a/src/calibre/ebooks/conversion/utils.py b/src/calibre/ebooks/conversion/utils.py
index 1546644f95..7488df4609 100644
--- a/src/calibre/ebooks/conversion/utils.py
+++ b/src/calibre/ebooks/conversion/utils.py
@@ -156,17 +156,17 @@ class HeuristicProcessor(object):
         ]
 
         ITALICIZE_STYLE_PATS = [
-            r'(?msu)(?<=[\s>])_(?P<words>[^_]+)_',
-            r'(?msu)(?<=[\s>])/(?P<words>[^/\*>]+)/',
-            r'(?msu)(?<=[\s>])~~(?P<words>[^~]+)~~',
-            r'(?msu)(?<=[\s>])\*(?P<words>[^\*]+)\*',
-            r'(?msu)(?<=[\s>])~(?P<words>[^~]+)~',
-            r'(?msu)(?<=[\s>])_/(?P<words>[^/_]+)/_',
-            r'(?msu)(?<=[\s>])_\*(?P<words>[^\*_]+)\*_',
-            r'(?msu)(?<=[\s>])\*/(?P<words>[^/\*]+)/\*',
-            r'(?msu)(?<=[\s>])_\*/(?P<words>[^\*_]+)/\*_',
-            r'(?msu)(?<=[\s>])/:(?P<words>[^:/]+):/',
-            r'(?msu)(?<=[\s>])\|:(?P<words>[^:\|]+):\|',
+            ur'(?msu)(?<=[\s>"“\'‘])_(?P<words>[^_]+)_',
+            ur'(?msu)(?<=[\s>"“\'‘])/(?P<words>[^/\*>]+)/',
+            ur'(?msu)(?<=[\s>"“\'‘])~~(?P<words>[^~]+)~~',
+            ur'(?msu)(?<=[\s>"“\'‘])\*(?P<words>[^\*]+)\*',
+            ur'(?msu)(?<=[\s>"“\'‘])~(?P<words>[^~]+)~',
+            ur'(?msu)(?<=[\s>"“\'‘])_/(?P<words>[^/_]+)/_',
+            ur'(?msu)(?<=[\s>"“\'‘])_\*(?P<words>[^\*_]+)\*_',
+            ur'(?msu)(?<=[\s>"“\'‘])\*/(?P<words>[^/\*]+)/\*',
+            ur'(?msu)(?<=[\s>"“\'‘])_\*/(?P<words>[^\*_]+)/\*_',
+            ur'(?msu)(?<=[\s>"“\'‘])/:(?P<words>[^:/]+):/',
+            ur'(?msu)(?<=[\s>"“\'‘])\|:(?P<words>[^:\|]+):\|',
         ]
 
         for word in ITALICIZE_WORDS:
@@ -518,13 +518,13 @@ class HeuristicProcessor(object):
         if re.findall('(<|>)', replacement_break):
             if re.match('^<hr', replacement_break):
                 if replacement_break.find('width') != -1:
-                   width = int(re.sub('.*?width(:|=)(?P<wnum>\d+).*', '\g<wnum>', replacement_break))
-                   replacement_break = re.sub('(?i)(width=\d+\%?|width:\s*\d+(\%|px|pt|em)?;?)', '', replacement_break)
-                   divpercent = (100 - width) / 2
-                   hr_open = re.sub('45', str(divpercent), hr_open)
-                   scene_break = hr_open+replacement_break+'</div>'
+                    width = int(re.sub('.*?width(:|=)(?P<wnum>\d+).*', '\g<wnum>', replacement_break))
+                    replacement_break = re.sub('(?i)(width=\d+\%?|width:\s*\d+(\%|px|pt|em)?;?)', '', replacement_break)
+                    divpercent = (100 - width) / 2
+                    hr_open = re.sub('45', str(divpercent), hr_open)
+                    scene_break = hr_open+replacement_break+'</div>'
                 else:
-                   scene_break = hr_open+'<hr style="height: 3px; background:#505050" /></div>'
+                    scene_break = hr_open+'<hr style="height: 3px; background:#505050" /></div>'
             elif re.match('^<img', replacement_break):
                 scene_break = self.scene_break_open+replacement_break+'</p>'
             else:
@@ -584,10 +584,10 @@ class HeuristicProcessor(object):
                 #print "styles for this line are: "+str(styles)
                 split_styles = []
                 for style in styles:
-                   #print "style is: "+str(style)
-                   newstyle = style.split(':')
-                   #print "newstyle is: "+str(newstyle)
-                   split_styles.append(newstyle)
+                    #print "style is: "+str(style)
+                    newstyle = style.split(':')
+                    #print "newstyle is: "+str(newstyle)
+                    split_styles.append(newstyle)
                 styles = split_styles
                 for style, setting in styles:
                     if style == 'text-align' and setting != 'left':
diff --git a/src/calibre/ebooks/metadata/book/base.py b/src/calibre/ebooks/metadata/book/base.py
index 5619ef7806..7927517b22 100644
--- a/src/calibre/ebooks/metadata/book/base.py
+++ b/src/calibre/ebooks/metadata/book/base.py
@@ -563,10 +563,12 @@ class Metadata(object):
     def format_tags(self):
         return u', '.join([unicode(t) for t in sorted(self.tags, key=sort_key)])
 
-    def format_rating(self, v = None):
+    def format_rating(self, v=None, divide_by=1.0):
         if v is None:
-            return unicode(self.rating/2)
-        return unicode(v/2)
+            if self.rating is not None:
+                return unicode(self.rating/divide_by)
+            return u'None'
+        return unicode(v/divide_by)
 
     def format_field(self, key, series_with_index=True):
         '''
diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/main.py b/src/calibre/gui2/main.py
index ee18d8e9ca..eadfa55549 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/main.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/main.py
@@ -40,6 +40,11 @@ path_to_ebook to the database.
     parser.add_option('--ignore-plugins', default=False, action='store_true',
             help=_('Ignore custom plugins, useful if you installed a plugin'
                 ' that is preventing calibre from starting'))
+    parser.add_option('-s', '--shutdown-running-calibre', default=False,
+            action='store_true',
+            help=_('Cause a running calibre instance, if any, to be'
+                ' shutdown. Note that if there are running jobs, they '
+                'will be silently aborted, so use with care.'))
     return parser
 
 def init_qt(args):
@@ -339,7 +344,7 @@ def cant_start(msg=_('If you are sure it is not running')+', ',
 
     raise SystemExit(1)
 
-def communicate(args):
+def communicate(opts, args):
     t = RC()
     t.start()
     time.sleep(3)
@@ -348,9 +353,12 @@ def communicate(args):
         cant_start(what=_('try deleting the file')+': '+f)
         raise SystemExit(1)
 
-    if len(args) > 1:
-        args[1] = os.path.abspath(args[1])
-    t.conn.send('launched:'+repr(args))
+    if opts.shutdown_running_calibre:
+        t.conn.send('shutdown:')
+    else:
+        if len(args) > 1:
+            args[1] = os.path.abspath(args[1])
+        t.conn.send('launched:'+repr(args))
     t.conn.close()
     raise SystemExit(0)
 
@@ -365,6 +373,8 @@ def main(args=sys.argv):
     from calibre.utils.lock import singleinstance
     from multiprocessing.connection import Listener
     si = singleinstance('calibre GUI')
+    if si and opts.shutdown_running_calibre:
+        return 0
     if si:
         try:
             listener = Listener(address=ADDRESS)
@@ -390,10 +400,10 @@ def main(args=sys.argv):
     else:
         # On windows only singleinstance can be trusted
         otherinstance = True if iswindows else False
-    if not otherinstance:
+    if not otherinstance and not opts.shutdown_running_calibre:
         return run_gui(opts, args, actions, listener, app, gui_debug=gui_debug)
 
-    communicate(args)
+    communicate(opts, args)
 
     return 0
 
diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/threaded_jobs.py b/src/calibre/gui2/threaded_jobs.py
index ad295503a0..9e16f88a1a 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/threaded_jobs.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/threaded_jobs.py
@@ -100,7 +100,8 @@ class ThreadedJob(BaseJob):
         try:
             self.consolidate_log()
         except:
-            self.log.exception('Log consolidation failed')
+            if self.log is not None:
+                self.log.exception('Log consolidation failed')
 
         # No need to keep references to these around anymore
         self.func = self.args = self.kwargs = self.notifications = None
@@ -112,7 +113,7 @@ class ThreadedJob(BaseJob):
             self.start_time = time.time()
             self.duration = 0.0001
         else:
-            self.duration = time.time() - self.start_time()
+            self.duration = time.time() - self.start_time
             self.abort.set()
 
         self.log('Aborted job:', self.description)
diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/ui.py b/src/calibre/gui2/ui.py
index 4885f7b2db..435b9ebe78 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/ui.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/ui.py
@@ -446,6 +446,8 @@ class Main(MainWindow, MainWindowMixin, DeviceMixin, EmailMixin, # {{{
             self.library_view.model().refresh()
             self.library_view.model().research()
             self.tags_view.recount()
+        elif msg.startswith('shutdown:'):
+            self.quit(confirm_quit=False)
         else:
             print msg
 
@@ -599,8 +601,9 @@ class Main(MainWindow, MainWindowMixin, DeviceMixin, EmailMixin, # {{{
         dynamic.set('sort_history', self.library_view.model().sort_history)
         self.save_layout_state()
 
-    def quit(self, checked=True, restart=False, debug_on_restart=False):
-        if not self.confirm_quit():
+    def quit(self, checked=True, restart=False, debug_on_restart=False,
+            confirm_quit=True):
+        if confirm_quit and not self.confirm_quit():
             return
         try:
             self.shutdown()
diff --git a/src/calibre/library/save_to_disk.py b/src/calibre/library/save_to_disk.py
index 8eb2e8d788..b89e9c36f8 100644
--- a/src/calibre/library/save_to_disk.py
+++ b/src/calibre/library/save_to_disk.py
@@ -189,7 +189,7 @@ def get_components(template, mi, id, timefmt='%b %Y', length=250,
     else:
         template = re.sub(r'\{series_index[^}]*?\}', '', template)
     if mi.rating is not None:
-        format_args['rating'] = mi.format_rating()
+        format_args['rating'] = mi.format_rating(divide_by=2.0)
     if hasattr(mi.timestamp, 'timetuple'):
         format_args['timestamp'] = strftime(timefmt, mi.timestamp.timetuple())
     if hasattr(mi.pubdate, 'timetuple'):
@@ -212,7 +212,8 @@ def get_components(template, mi, id, timefmt='%b %Y', length=250,
             elif cm['datatype'] == 'bool':
                 format_args[key] = _('yes') if format_args[key] else _('no')
             elif cm['datatype'] == 'rating':
-                format_args[key] = mi.format_rating(format_args[key])
+                format_args[key] = mi.format_rating(format_args[key],
+                        divide_by=2.0)
             elif cm['datatype'] in ['int', 'float']:
                 if format_args[key] != 0:
                     format_args[key] = unicode(format_args[key])
diff --git a/src/calibre/manual/creating_plugins.rst b/src/calibre/manual/creating_plugins.rst
index 3b6b9611af..4a69cc8753 100644
--- a/src/calibre/manual/creating_plugins.rst
+++ b/src/calibre/manual/creating_plugins.rst
@@ -195,9 +195,10 @@ It can get tiresome to keep re-adding a plugin to calibre to test small changes.
 
 Once you've located the zip file of your plugin you can then directly update it with your changes instead of re-adding it each time. To do so from the command line, in the directory that contains your plugin source code, use::
 
-    zip -R /path/to/plugin/zip/file.zip *
+    calibre -s; sleep 4s; zip -R /path/to/plugin/zip/file.zip *; calibre
 
-This will update all changed files. It relies on the freely available zip command line tool. Note that you should quit calibre before running this command.
+This will shutdown a running calibre. Wait for the shutdown to complete, then update your plugin files and relaunch calibre.
+It relies on the freely available zip command line tool.
 
 More plugin examples
 ----------------------