diff --git a/resources/recipes/mainichi_it_news.recipe b/resources/recipes/mainichi_it_news.recipe
index 4c285a2c01..eddab149cd 100644
--- a/resources/recipes/mainichi_it_news.recipe
+++ b/resources/recipes/mainichi_it_news.recipe
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 from calibre.web.feeds.news import BasicNewsRecipe
+import re
 
 class MainichiDailyITNews(BasicNewsRecipe):
     title          = u'\u6bce\u65e5\u65b0\u805e(IT&\u5bb6\u96fb)'
@@ -14,6 +15,7 @@ class MainichiDailyITNews(BasicNewsRecipe):
 
     remove_tags_before = {'class':"NewsTitle"}
     remove_tags = [{'class':"RelatedArticle"}]
+    remove_tags_after = {'class':"Credit"}
 
     def parse_feeds(self):
 
@@ -29,4 +31,4 @@ class MainichiDailyITNews(BasicNewsRecipe):
                     index = curfeed.articles.index(d)
                     curfeed.articles[index:index+1] = []
 
-        return feeds   remove_tags_after = {'class':"Credit"}
+        return feeds
diff --git a/resources/recipes/ming_pao.recipe b/resources/recipes/ming_pao.recipe
index 385dbdbdb7..726181f57b 100644
--- a/resources/recipes/ming_pao.recipe
+++ b/resources/recipes/ming_pao.recipe
@@ -1,8 +1,9 @@
 __license__   = 'GPL v3'
 __copyright__ = '2010, Eddie Lau'
 '''
-modified from Singtao Toronto calibre recipe by rty
 Change Log:
+2010/12/07: add entertainment section, use newspaper front page as ebook cover, suppress date display in section list
+            (to avoid wrong date display in case the user generates the ebook in a time zone different from HKT)
 2010/11/22: add English section, remove eco-news section which is not updated daily, correct
             ordering of articles
 2010/11/12: add news image and eco-news section
@@ -17,14 +18,15 @@ from calibre.web.feeds.recipes import BasicNewsRecipe
 from contextlib import nested
 
 
-from calibre import __appname__, strftime
+from calibre import __appname__
 from calibre.ebooks.BeautifulSoup import BeautifulSoup
 from calibre.ebooks.metadata.opf2 import OPFCreator
 from calibre.ebooks.metadata.toc import TOC
 from calibre.ebooks.metadata import MetaInformation
-from calibre.utils.date import now as nowf
 
 class MPHKRecipe(BasicNewsRecipe):
+    IsKindleUsed = True  # to avoid generating periodical in which CJK characters can't be displayed in section/article view
+
     title          = 'Ming Pao - Hong Kong'
     oldest_article = 1
     max_articles_per_feed = 100
@@ -39,13 +41,13 @@ class MPHKRecipe(BasicNewsRecipe):
     encoding = 'Big5-HKSCS'
     recursions = 0
     conversion_options = {'linearize_tables':True}
-    extra_css = 'img {display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;}'
-    #extra_css = 'img {float:right; margin:4px;}'
+    timefmt = ''
+    extra_css = 'img {display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;} font>b {font-size:200%; font-weight:bold;}'
     masthead_url = 'http://news.mingpao.com/image/portals_top_logo_news.gif'
     keep_only_tags = [dict(name='h1'),
-                      #dict(name='font', attrs={'style':['font-size:14pt; line-height:160%;']}), # for entertainment page
+                      dict(name='font', attrs={'style':['font-size:14pt; line-height:160%;']}), # for entertainment page title
                       dict(attrs={'class':['photo']}),
-                      dict(attrs={'id':['newscontent']}),
+                      dict(attrs={'id':['newscontent']}), # entertainment page content
                       dict(attrs={'id':['newscontent01','newscontent02']})]
     remove_tags = [dict(name='style'),
                    dict(attrs={'id':['newscontent135']})]  # for the finance page
@@ -55,51 +57,68 @@ class MPHKRecipe(BasicNewsRecipe):
                             lambda match: '<h1>'),
                             (re.compile(r'</h5>', re.DOTALL|re.IGNORECASE),
                             lambda match: '</h1>'),
+                            (re.compile(r'<p><a href=.+?</a></p>', re.DOTALL|re.IGNORECASE), # for entertainment page
+                            lambda match: '')
                          ]
 
     def image_url_processor(cls, baseurl, url):
         # trick: break the url at the first occurance of digit, add an additional
         # '_' at the front
         # not working, may need to move this to preprocess_html() method
-        #minIdx = 10000
-        #i0 = url.find('0')
-        #if i0 >= 0 and i0 < minIdx:
-        #   minIdx = i0
-        #i1 = url.find('1')
-        #if i1 >= 0 and i1 < minIdx:
-        #   minIdx = i1
-        #i2 = url.find('2')
-        #if i2 >= 0 and i2 < minIdx:
-        #   minIdx = i2
-        #i3 = url.find('3')
-        #if i3 >= 0 and i0 < minIdx:
-        #   minIdx = i3
-        #i4 = url.find('4')
-        #if i4 >= 0 and i4 < minIdx:
-        #   minIdx = i4
-        #i5 = url.find('5')
-        #if i5 >= 0 and i5 < minIdx:
-        #   minIdx = i5
-        #i6 = url.find('6')
-        #if i6 >= 0 and i6 < minIdx:
-        #   minIdx = i6
-        #i7 = url.find('7')
-        #if i7 >= 0 and i7 < minIdx:
-        #   minIdx = i7
-        #i8 = url.find('8')
-        #if i8 >= 0 and i8 < minIdx:
-        #   minIdx = i8
-        #i9 = url.find('9')
-        #if i9 >= 0 and i9 < minIdx:
-        #   minIdx = i9
-        #return url[0:minIdx] + '_' + url[minIdx+1:]
+#        minIdx = 10000
+#        i0 = url.find('0')
+#        if i0 >= 0 and i0 < minIdx:
+#           minIdx = i0
+#        i1 = url.find('1')
+#        if i1 >= 0 and i1 < minIdx:
+#           minIdx = i1
+#        i2 = url.find('2')
+#        if i2 >= 0 and i2 < minIdx:
+#           minIdx = i2
+#        i3 = url.find('3')
+#        if i3 >= 0 and i0 < minIdx:
+#           minIdx = i3
+#        i4 = url.find('4')
+#        if i4 >= 0 and i4 < minIdx:
+#           minIdx = i4
+#        i5 = url.find('5')
+#        if i5 >= 0 and i5 < minIdx:
+#           minIdx = i5
+#        i6 = url.find('6')
+#        if i6 >= 0 and i6 < minIdx:
+#           minIdx = i6
+#        i7 = url.find('7')
+#        if i7 >= 0 and i7 < minIdx:
+#           minIdx = i7
+#        i8 = url.find('8')
+#        if i8 >= 0 and i8 < minIdx:
+#           minIdx = i8
+#        i9 = url.find('9')
+#        if i9 >= 0 and i9 < minIdx:
+#           minIdx = i9
         return url
 
-    def get_fetchdate(self):
+    def get_dtlocal(self):
         dt_utc = datetime.datetime.utcnow()
         # convert UTC to local hk time - at around HKT 6.00am, all news are available
         dt_local = dt_utc - datetime.timedelta(-2.0/24)
-        return dt_local.strftime("%Y%m%d")
+        return dt_local
+
+    def get_fetchdate(self):
+        return self.get_dtlocal().strftime("%Y%m%d")
+
+    def get_fetchday(self):
+        # convert UTC to local hk time - at around HKT 6.00am, all news are available
+        return self.get_dtlocal().strftime("%d")
+
+    def get_cover_url(self):
+        cover = 'http://news.mingpao.com/' + self.get_fetchdate() + '/' + self.get_fetchdate() + '_' + self.get_fetchday() + 'gacov.jpg'
+        br = BasicNewsRecipe.get_browser()
+        try:
+            br.open(cover)
+        except:
+            cover = None
+        return cover
 
     def parse_index(self):
             feeds = []
@@ -127,9 +146,9 @@ class MPHKRecipe(BasicNewsRecipe):
             # if eco_articles:
             #   feeds.append((u'\u74b0\u4fdd Eco News', eco_articles))
             # special - entertainment
-            #ent_articles = self.parse_ent_section('http://ol.mingpao.com/cfm/star1.cfm')
-            #if ent_articles:
-            #   feeds.append(('Entertainment', ent_articles))
+            ent_articles = self.parse_ent_section('http://ol.mingpao.com/cfm/star1.cfm')
+            if ent_articles:
+                feeds.append((u'\u5f71\u8996 Entertainment', ent_articles))
             return feeds
 
     def parse_section(self, url):
@@ -164,6 +183,7 @@ class MPHKRecipe(BasicNewsRecipe):
         return current_articles
 
     def parse_eco_section(self, url):
+        dateStr = self.get_fetchdate()
         soup = self.index_to_soup(url)
         divs = soup.findAll(attrs={'class': ['bullet']})
         current_articles = []
@@ -173,23 +193,25 @@ class MPHKRecipe(BasicNewsRecipe):
             title = self.tag_to_string(a)
             url = a.get('href', False)
             url = 'http://tssl.mingpao.com/htm/marketing/eco/cfm/' +url
-            if url not in included_urls and url.rfind('Redirect') == -1:
+            if url not in included_urls and url.rfind('Redirect') == -1 and not url.rfind('.txt') == -1 and not url.rfind(dateStr) == -1:
                 current_articles.append({'title': title, 'url': url, 'description':''})
                 included_urls.append(url)
         return current_articles
 
-    #def parse_ent_section(self, url):
-    #   dateStr = self.get_fetchdate()
-    #   soup = self.index_to_soup(url)
-    #   a = soup.findAll('a', href=True)
-    #   current_articles = []
-    #   included_urls = []
-    #   for i in a:
-    #       title = self.tag_to_string(i)
-    #       url = 'http://ol.mingpao.com/cfm/' + i.get('href', False)
-    #       if url not in included_urls and not url.rfind('.txt') == -1 and not url.rfind(dateStr) == -1 and not title == '':
-    #           current_articles.append({'title': title, 'url': url, 'description': ''})
-    #   return current_articles
+    def parse_ent_section(self, url):
+        soup = self.index_to_soup(url)
+        a = soup.findAll('a', href=True)
+        a.reverse()
+        current_articles = []
+        included_urls = []
+        for i in a:
+            title = self.tag_to_string(i)
+            url = 'http://ol.mingpao.com/cfm/' + i.get('href', False)
+            if (url not in included_urls) and (not url.rfind('.txt') == -1) and (not url.rfind('star') == -1):
+                current_articles.append({'title': title, 'url': url, 'description': ''})
+                included_urls.append(url)
+        current_articles.reverse()
+        return current_articles
 
     def preprocess_html(self, soup):
         for item in soup.findAll(style=True):
@@ -201,21 +223,26 @@ class MPHKRecipe(BasicNewsRecipe):
         return soup
 
     def create_opf(self, feeds, dir=None):
-        #super(MPHKRecipe,self).create_opf(feeds, dir)
+        if self.IsKindleUsed == False:
+            super(MPHKRecipe,self).create_opf(feeds, dir)
+            return
         if dir is None:
             dir = self.output_dir
         title = self.short_title()
-        if self.output_profile.periodical_date_in_title:
-            title += strftime(self.timefmt)
+        title += ' ' + self.get_fetchdate()
+        #if self.output_profile.periodical_date_in_title:
+        #    title += strftime(self.timefmt)
         mi = MetaInformation(title, [__appname__])
         mi.publisher = __appname__
         mi.author_sort = __appname__
         mi.publication_type = self.publication_type+':'+self.short_title()
-        mi.timestamp = nowf()
+        #mi.timestamp = nowf()
+        mi.timestamp = self.get_dtlocal()
         mi.comments = self.description
         if not isinstance(mi.comments, unicode):
             mi.comments = mi.comments.decode('utf-8', 'replace')
-        mi.pubdate = nowf()
+        #mi.pubdate = nowf()
+        mi.pubdate = self.get_dtlocal()
         opf_path = os.path.join(dir, 'index.opf')
         ncx_path = os.path.join(dir, 'index.ncx')
         opf = OPFCreator(dir, mi)
diff --git a/resources/recipes/the_h.recipe b/resources/recipes/the_h.recipe
index dbfad7e32a..28a1571dc5 100644
--- a/resources/recipes/the_h.recipe
+++ b/resources/recipes/the_h.recipe
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ class TheHeiseOnline(BasicNewsRecipe):
     oldest_article = 3
     description    = 'In association with Heise Online'
     publisher      = 'Heise Media UK Ltd.'
-    category       = 'news, technology, security'
+    category       = 'news, technology, security, OSS, internet'
     max_articles_per_feed = 100
     language       = 'en'
     encoding       = 'utf-8'
@@ -27,6 +27,12 @@ class TheHeiseOnline(BasicNewsRecipe):
     feeds          = [
                       (u'The H News Feed', u'http://www.h-online.com/news/atom.xml')
                      ]
+    cover_url = 'http://www.h-online.com/icons/logo_theH.gif'
+
+    remove_tags = [
+                        dict(id="logo"),
+                        dict(id="footer")
+                        ]
 
     def print_version(self, url):
         return url + '?view=print'
diff --git a/resources/recipes/toyokeizai.recipe b/resources/recipes/toyokeizai.recipe
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..395a8bb9b7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/resources/recipes/toyokeizai.recipe
@@ -0,0 +1,68 @@
+__license__   = 'GPL v3'
+__copyright__ = '2010, Hiroshi Miura <miurahr@linux.com>'
+'''
+www.toyokeizai.net
+'''
+
+from calibre.web.feeds.news import BasicNewsRecipe
+import re
+
+class Toyokeizai(BasicNewsRecipe):
+    title          = u'ToyoKeizai News'
+    __author__     = 'Hiroshi Miura'
+    oldest_article = 1
+    max_articles_per_feed = 50
+    description    = 'Japanese traditional economy and business magazine, only for advanced subscribers supported'
+    publisher      = 'Toyokeizai Shinbun Sha'
+    category       = 'economy, magazine, japan'
+    language       = 'ja'
+    encoding       = 'euc-jp'
+    index          = 'http://member.toyokeizai.net/news/'
+    remove_javascript = True
+    no_stylesheets = True
+    masthead_title = u'TOYOKEIZAI'
+    needs_subscription = True
+    timefmt = '[%y/%m/%d]'
+    recursions = 5
+    match_regexps =[ r'page/\d+']
+
+    keep_only_tags = [
+                      dict(name='div', attrs={'class':['news']}),
+                      dict(name='div', attrs={'class':["news_cont"]}),
+                      dict(name='div', attrs={'class':["news_con"]}),
+#                      dict(name='div', attrs={'class':["norightsMessage"]})
+                     ]
+    remove_tags = [{'class':"mt35 mgz"},
+                            {'class':"mt20 newzia"},
+                            {'class':"mt20 fontS"},
+                            {'class':"bk_btn_m"},
+                            dict(id='newzia_connect_member')
+                            ]
+
+    def parse_index(self):
+        feeds = []
+        soup   = self.index_to_soup(self.index)
+        topstories = soup.find('ul',attrs={'class':'list6'})
+        if topstories:
+            newsarticles = []
+            for itt in topstories.findAll('li'):
+                itema = itt.find('a',href=True)
+                itemd = itt.find('span')
+                newsarticles.append({
+                                      'title'      :itema.string
+                                     ,'date'       :re.compile(r"\- ").sub("",itemd.string)
+                                     ,'url'        :'http://member.toyokeizai.net' + itema['href']
+                                     ,'description':itema['title']
+                                    })
+            feeds.append(('news', newsarticles))
+        return feeds
+
+    def get_browser(self):
+        br = BasicNewsRecipe.get_browser()
+        if self.username is not None and self.password is not None:
+            br.open('http://member.toyokeizai.net/norights/form/')
+            br.select_form(nr=0)
+            br['kaiin_id']   = self.username
+            br['password'] = self.password
+            res = br.submit()
+        return br
diff --git a/src/calibre/library/caches.py b/src/calibre/library/caches.py
index 5b6b79e3df..a99c9df125 100644
--- a/src/calibre/library/caches.py
+++ b/src/calibre/library/caches.py
@@ -129,6 +129,7 @@ class CoverCache(Thread): # {{{
         self.keep_running = True
         self.cache = {}
         self.lock = RLock()
+        self.allowed_ids = frozenset([])
         self.null_image = QImage()
 
     def stop(self):
@@ -175,6 +176,11 @@ class CoverCache(Thread): # {{{
                 break
             for id_ in ids:
                 time.sleep(0.050) # Limit 20/second to not overwhelm the GUI
+                if not self.keep_running:
+                    return
+                with self.lock:
+                    if id_ not in self.allowed_ids:
+                        continue
                 try:
                     img = self._image_for_id(id_)
                 except:
@@ -193,6 +199,7 @@ class CoverCache(Thread): # {{{
 
     def set_cache(self, ids):
         with self.lock:
+            self.allowed_ids = frozenset(ids)
             already_loaded = set([])
             for id in self.cache.keys():
                 if id in ids:
@@ -213,8 +220,9 @@ class CoverCache(Thread): # {{{
     def refresh(self, ids):
         with self.lock:
             for id_ in ids:
-                self.cache.pop(id_, None)
-                self.load_queue.put(id_)
+                cover = self.cache.pop(id_, None)
+                if cover is not None:
+                    self.load_queue.put(id_)
 # }}}
 
 ### Global utility function for get_match here and in gui2/library.py
diff --git a/src/calibre/utils/magick/draw.py b/src/calibre/utils/magick/draw.py
index d3cbd58c7d..c03a8660c8 100644
--- a/src/calibre/utils/magick/draw.py
+++ b/src/calibre/utils/magick/draw.py
@@ -54,19 +54,23 @@ def save_cover_data_to(data, path, bgcolor='#ffffff', resize_to=None,
         changed = True
     if not changed:
         changed = fmt != orig_fmt
+
+    ret = None
     if return_data:
+        ret = data
         if changed:
             if hasattr(img, 'set_compression_quality') and fmt == 'jpg':
                 img.set_compression_quality(compression_quality)
-            return img.export(fmt)
-        return data
-    if changed:
-        if hasattr(img, 'set_compression_quality') and fmt == 'jpg':
-            img.set_compression_quality(compression_quality)
-        img.save(path)
+            ret = img.export(fmt)
     else:
-        with lopen(path, 'wb') as f:
-            f.write(data)
+        if changed:
+            if hasattr(img, 'set_compression_quality') and fmt == 'jpg':
+                img.set_compression_quality(compression_quality)
+            img.save(path)
+        else:
+            with lopen(path, 'wb') as f:
+                f.write(data)
+    return ret
 
 def thumbnail(data, width=120, height=120, bgcolor='#ffffff', fmt='jpg'):
     img = Image()
diff --git a/src/calibre/utils/magick/magick.c b/src/calibre/utils/magick/magick.c
index 9dac37f2ff..fd9563529a 100644
--- a/src/calibre/utils/magick/magick.c
+++ b/src/calibre/utils/magick/magick.c
@@ -5,6 +5,9 @@
 
 #include "magick_constants.h"
 
+// Ensure that the underlying MagickWand has not been deleted
+#define NULL_CHECK(x) if(self->wand == NULL) {PyErr_SetString(PyExc_ValueError, "Underlying ImageMagick Wand has been destroyed"); return x; }
+
 // magick_set_exception {{{
 PyObject* magick_set_exception(MagickWand *wand) {
     ExceptionType ext;
@@ -54,6 +57,7 @@ magick_PixelWand_new(PyTypeObject *type, PyObject *args, PyObject *kwds)
 static PyObject *
 magick_PixelWand_color_getter(magick_PixelWand *self, void *closure) {
     const char *fp;
+    NULL_CHECK(NULL);
     fp = PixelGetColorAsNormalizedString(self->wand);
     return Py_BuildValue("s", fp);
 }
@@ -62,6 +66,8 @@ static int
 magick_PixelWand_color_setter(magick_PixelWand *self, PyObject *val, void *closure) {
     char *fmt;
 
+    NULL_CHECK(-1);
+
     if (val == NULL) {
         PyErr_SetString(PyExc_TypeError, "Cannot delete PixelWand color");
         return -1;
@@ -80,8 +86,21 @@ magick_PixelWand_color_setter(magick_PixelWand *self, PyObject *val, void *closu
 
 // }}}
 
+// PixelWand.destroy {{{
+
+static PyObject *
+magick_PixelWand_destroy(magick_PixelWand *self, PyObject *args, PyObject *kwargs) {
+    NULL_CHECK(NULL)
+    self->wand = DestroyPixelWand(self->wand);
+    Py_RETURN_NONE;
+}
+// }}}
+
 // PixelWand attr list {{{
 static PyMethodDef magick_PixelWand_methods[] = {
+    {"destroy", (PyCFunction)magick_PixelWand_destroy, METH_VARARGS,
+    "Destroy the underlying ImageMagick Wand. WARNING: After using this method, all methods on this object will raise an exception."},
+
     {NULL}  /* Sentinel */
 };
 
@@ -175,10 +194,21 @@ magick_DrawingWand_new(PyTypeObject *type, PyObject *args, PyObject *kwds)
     return (PyObject *)self;
 }
 
+// DrawingWand.destroy {{{
+
+static PyObject *
+magick_DrawingWand_destroy(magick_DrawingWand *self, PyObject *args, PyObject *kwargs) {
+    NULL_CHECK(NULL)
+    self->wand = DestroyDrawingWand(self->wand);
+    Py_RETURN_NONE;
+}
+// }}}
+
 // DrawingWand.font {{{
 static PyObject *
 magick_DrawingWand_font_getter(magick_DrawingWand *self, void *closure) {
     const char *fp;
+    NULL_CHECK(NULL);
     fp = DrawGetFont(self->wand);
     return Py_BuildValue("s", fp);
 }
@@ -186,6 +216,7 @@ magick_DrawingWand_font_getter(magick_DrawingWand *self, void *closure) {
 static int
 magick_DrawingWand_font_setter(magick_DrawingWand *self, PyObject *val, void *closure) {
     char *fmt;
+    NULL_CHECK(-1);
 
     if (val == NULL) {
         PyErr_SetString(PyExc_TypeError, "Cannot delete DrawingWand font");
@@ -208,11 +239,13 @@ magick_DrawingWand_font_setter(magick_DrawingWand *self, PyObject *val, void *cl
 // DrawingWand.font_size {{{
 static PyObject *
 magick_DrawingWand_fontsize_getter(magick_DrawingWand *self, void *closure) {
+    NULL_CHECK(NULL)
     return Py_BuildValue("d", DrawGetFontSize(self->wand));
 }
 
 static int
 magick_DrawingWand_fontsize_setter(magick_DrawingWand *self, PyObject *val, void *closure) {
+    NULL_CHECK(-1)
     if (val == NULL) {
         PyErr_SetString(PyExc_TypeError, "Cannot delete DrawingWand fontsize");
         return -1;
@@ -233,12 +266,14 @@ magick_DrawingWand_fontsize_setter(magick_DrawingWand *self, PyObject *val, void
 // DrawingWand.text_antialias {{{
 static PyObject *
 magick_DrawingWand_textantialias_getter(magick_DrawingWand *self, void *closure) {
+    NULL_CHECK(NULL);
     if (DrawGetTextAntialias(self->wand)) Py_RETURN_TRUE;
     Py_RETURN_FALSE;
 }
 
 static int
 magick_DrawingWand_textantialias_setter(magick_DrawingWand *self, PyObject *val, void *closure) {
+    NULL_CHECK(-1);
     if (val == NULL) {
         PyErr_SetString(PyExc_TypeError, "Cannot delete DrawingWand textantialias");
         return -1;
@@ -253,6 +288,7 @@ magick_DrawingWand_textantialias_setter(magick_DrawingWand *self, PyObject *val,
 // DrawingWand.gravity {{{
 static PyObject *
 magick_DrawingWand_gravity_getter(magick_DrawingWand *self, void *closure) {
+    NULL_CHECK(NULL);
     return Py_BuildValue("n", DrawGetGravity(self->wand));
 }
 
@@ -260,6 +296,8 @@ static int
 magick_DrawingWand_gravity_setter(magick_DrawingWand *self, PyObject *val, void *closure) {
     int grav;
 
+    NULL_CHECK(-1);
+
     if (val == NULL) {
         PyErr_SetString(PyExc_TypeError, "Cannot delete DrawingWand gravity");
         return -1;
@@ -281,6 +319,9 @@ magick_DrawingWand_gravity_setter(magick_DrawingWand *self, PyObject *val, void
 
 // DrawingWand attr list {{{
 static PyMethodDef magick_DrawingWand_methods[] = {
+    {"destroy", (PyCFunction)magick_DrawingWand_destroy, METH_VARARGS,
+    "Destroy the underlying ImageMagick Wand. WARNING: After using this method, all methods on this object will raise an exception."},
+
     {NULL}  /* Sentinel */
 };
 
@@ -402,6 +443,7 @@ magick_Image_load(magick_Image *self, PyObject *args, PyObject *kwargs) {
 	Py_ssize_t dlen;
     MagickBooleanType res;
     
+    NULL_CHECK(NULL)
     if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "s#", &data, &dlen)) return NULL;
 
     res = MagickReadImageBlob(self->wand, data, dlen);
@@ -420,7 +462,8 @@ magick_Image_read(magick_Image *self, PyObject *args, PyObject *kwargs) {
     const char *data;
     MagickBooleanType res;
     
-    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "s", &data)) return NULL;
+   NULL_CHECK(NULL)
+   if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "s", &data)) return NULL;
 
     res = MagickReadImage(self->wand, data);
 
@@ -441,6 +484,8 @@ magick_Image_create_canvas(magick_Image *self, PyObject *args, PyObject *kwargs)
     PixelWand *pw;
     MagickBooleanType res = MagickFalse;
 
+    NULL_CHECK(NULL)
+
     if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "nns", &width, &height, &bgcolor)) return NULL;
 
     pw = NewPixelWand();
@@ -464,6 +509,8 @@ magick_Image_font_metrics(magick_Image *self, PyObject *args, PyObject *kwargs)
     DrawingWand *dw;
     double *metrics;
     
+    NULL_CHECK(NULL)
+
     if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "O!s", &magick_DrawingWandType, &dw_, &text)) return NULL;
     dw = ((magick_DrawingWand*)dw_)->wand;
     if (!IsDrawingWand(dw)) { PyErr_SetString(PyExc_TypeError, "Invalid drawing wand"); return NULL; }
@@ -490,6 +537,8 @@ magick_Image_annotate(magick_Image *self, PyObject *args, PyObject *kwargs) {
     PyObject *dw_;
     DrawingWand *dw;
     double x, y, angle;
+
+    NULL_CHECK(NULL)
     
     if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "O!ddds", &magick_DrawingWandType, &dw_, &x, &y, &angle, &text)) return NULL;
     dw = ((magick_DrawingWand*)dw_)->wand;
@@ -510,6 +559,8 @@ magick_Image_export(magick_Image *self, PyObject *args, PyObject *kwargs) {
     PyObject *ans;
     size_t len = 0;
     
+    NULL_CHECK(NULL)
+
     if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "s", &fmt)) return NULL;
 
     if (!MagickSetFormat(self->wand, fmt)) {
@@ -533,6 +584,8 @@ magick_Image_export(magick_Image *self, PyObject *args, PyObject *kwargs) {
 static PyObject *
 magick_Image_size_getter(magick_Image *self, void *closure) {
     size_t width, height;
+    NULL_CHECK(NULL)
+
     width = MagickGetImageWidth(self->wand);
     height = MagickGetImageHeight(self->wand);
     return Py_BuildValue("nn", width, height);
@@ -545,6 +598,9 @@ magick_Image_size_setter(magick_Image *self, PyObject *val, void *closure) {
     double blur;
     MagickBooleanType res;
 
+    NULL_CHECK(-1)
+
+
     if (val == NULL) {
         PyErr_SetString(PyExc_TypeError, "Cannot delete image size");
         return -1;
@@ -592,6 +648,8 @@ magick_Image_size_setter(magick_Image *self, PyObject *val, void *closure) {
 static PyObject *
 magick_Image_format_getter(magick_Image *self, void *closure) {
     const char *fmt;
+    NULL_CHECK(NULL)
+
     fmt = MagickGetImageFormat(self->wand);
     return Py_BuildValue("s", fmt);
 }
@@ -599,6 +657,8 @@ magick_Image_format_getter(magick_Image *self, void *closure) {
 static int
 magick_Image_format_setter(magick_Image *self, PyObject *val, void *closure) {
     char *fmt;
+    NULL_CHECK(-1)
+
 
     if (val == NULL) {
         PyErr_SetString(PyExc_TypeError, "Cannot delete image format");
@@ -628,6 +688,8 @@ magick_Image_distort(magick_Image *self, PyObject *args, PyObject *kwargs) {
     MagickBooleanType res;
     double *arguments = NULL;
    
+    NULL_CHECK(NULL)
+
     if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "iOO", &method, &argv, &bestfit)) return NULL;
 
     if (!PySequence_Check(argv)) { PyErr_SetString(PyExc_TypeError, "arguments must be a sequence"); return NULL; }
@@ -658,6 +720,8 @@ static PyObject *
 magick_Image_trim(magick_Image *self, PyObject *args, PyObject *kwargs) {
     double fuzz;
     
+    NULL_CHECK(NULL)
+
     if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "d", &fuzz)) return NULL;
 
     if (!MagickTrimImage(self->wand, fuzz)) return magick_set_exception(self->wand);
@@ -672,6 +736,8 @@ static PyObject *
 magick_Image_thumbnail(magick_Image *self, PyObject *args, PyObject *kwargs) {
     Py_ssize_t width, height;
     
+    NULL_CHECK(NULL)
+
     if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "nn", &width, &height)) return NULL;
 
     if (!MagickThumbnailImage(self->wand, width, height)) return magick_set_exception(self->wand);
@@ -686,6 +752,8 @@ static PyObject *
 magick_Image_crop(magick_Image *self, PyObject *args, PyObject *kwargs) {
     Py_ssize_t width, height, x, y;
     
+    NULL_CHECK(NULL)
+
     if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "nnnn", &width, &height, &x, &y)) return NULL;
 
     if (!MagickCropImage(self->wand, width, height, x, y)) return magick_set_exception(self->wand);
@@ -701,6 +769,8 @@ magick_Image_set_border_color(magick_Image *self, PyObject *args, PyObject *kwar
     PyObject *obj;
     magick_PixelWand *pw;
     
+    NULL_CHECK(NULL)
+
     if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "O!", &magick_PixelWandType, &obj)) return NULL;
     pw = (magick_PixelWand*)obj;
     if (!IsPixelWand(pw->wand)) { PyErr_SetString(PyExc_TypeError, "Invalid PixelWand"); return NULL; }
@@ -719,6 +789,8 @@ magick_Image_rotate(magick_Image *self, PyObject *args, PyObject *kwargs) {
     magick_PixelWand *pw;
     double degrees;
     
+    NULL_CHECK(NULL)
+
     if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "O!d", &magick_PixelWandType, &obj, &degrees)) return NULL;
     pw = (magick_PixelWand*)obj;
     if (!IsPixelWand(pw->wand)) { PyErr_SetString(PyExc_TypeError, "Invalid PixelWand"); return NULL; }
@@ -735,6 +807,8 @@ static PyObject *
 magick_Image_set_page(magick_Image *self, PyObject *args, PyObject *kwargs) {
     Py_ssize_t width, height, x, y;
     
+    NULL_CHECK(NULL)
+
     if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "nnnn", &width, &height, &x, &y)) return NULL;
 
     if (!MagickSetImagePage(self->wand, width, height, x, y)) return magick_set_exception(self->wand);
@@ -749,6 +823,8 @@ static PyObject *
 magick_Image_set_compression_quality(magick_Image *self, PyObject *args, PyObject *kwargs) {
     Py_ssize_t quality;
     
+    NULL_CHECK(NULL)
+
     if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "n", &quality)) return NULL;
 
     if (!MagickSetImageCompressionQuality(self->wand, quality)) return magick_set_exception(self->wand);
@@ -767,6 +843,8 @@ magick_Image_has_transparent_pixels(magick_Image *self, PyObject *args, PyObject
     size_t r, c, width, height;
     double alpha;
 
+    NULL_CHECK(NULL)
+
     height = MagickGetImageHeight(self->wand);
     pi = NewPixelIterator(self->wand);
 
@@ -790,6 +868,8 @@ magick_Image_has_transparent_pixels(magick_Image *self, PyObject *args, PyObject
 
 static PyObject *
 magick_Image_normalize(magick_Image *self, PyObject *args, PyObject *kwargs) {
+    NULL_CHECK(NULL)
+
     if (!MagickNormalizeImage(self->wand)) return magick_set_exception(self->wand);
 
     Py_RETURN_NONE;
@@ -804,6 +884,8 @@ magick_Image_add_border(magick_Image *self, PyObject *args, PyObject *kwargs) {
     PyObject *obj;
     magick_PixelWand *pw;
    
+    NULL_CHECK(NULL)
+
     if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "O!nn", &magick_PixelWandType, &obj, &dx, &dy)) return NULL;
     pw = (magick_PixelWand*)obj;
     if (!IsPixelWand(pw->wand)) { PyErr_SetString(PyExc_TypeError, "Invalid PixelWand"); return NULL; }
@@ -820,6 +902,8 @@ static PyObject *
 magick_Image_sharpen(magick_Image *self, PyObject *args, PyObject *kwargs) {
     double radius, sigma;
    
+    NULL_CHECK(NULL)
+
     if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "dd", &radius, &sigma)) return NULL;
 
     if (!MagickSharpenImage(self->wand, radius, sigma)) return magick_set_exception(self->wand);
@@ -835,6 +919,9 @@ magick_Image_quantize(magick_Image *self, PyObject *args, PyObject *kwargs) {
     Py_ssize_t number_colors, treedepth;
     int colorspace;
     PyObject *dither, *measure_error;
+
+    NULL_CHECK(NULL)
+
    
     if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "ninOO", &number_colors, &colorspace, &treedepth, &dither, &measure_error)) return NULL;
 
@@ -848,6 +935,8 @@ magick_Image_quantize(magick_Image *self, PyObject *args, PyObject *kwargs) {
 
 static PyObject *
 magick_Image_despeckle(magick_Image *self, PyObject *args, PyObject *kwargs) {
+    NULL_CHECK(NULL)
+
     if (!MagickDespeckleImage(self->wand)) return magick_set_exception(self->wand);
 
     Py_RETURN_NONE;
@@ -857,6 +946,8 @@ magick_Image_despeckle(magick_Image *self, PyObject *args, PyObject *kwargs) {
 // Image.type {{{
 static PyObject *
 magick_Image_type_getter(magick_Image *self, void *closure) {
+   NULL_CHECK(NULL)
+
     return Py_BuildValue("n", MagickGetImageType(self->wand));
 }
 
@@ -864,6 +955,8 @@ static int
 magick_Image_type_setter(magick_Image *self, PyObject *val, void *closure) {
     int type;
 
+    NULL_CHECK(-1)
+
     if (val == NULL) {
         PyErr_SetString(PyExc_TypeError, "Cannot delete image type");
         return -1;
@@ -885,8 +978,21 @@ magick_Image_type_setter(magick_Image *self, PyObject *val, void *closure) {
 
 // }}}
 
+// Image.destroy {{{
+
+static PyObject *
+magick_Image_destroy(magick_Image *self, PyObject *args, PyObject *kwargs) {
+    NULL_CHECK(NULL)
+    self->wand = DestroyMagickWand(self->wand);
+    Py_RETURN_NONE;
+}
+// }}}
+
 // Image attr list {{{
 static PyMethodDef magick_Image_methods[] = {
+    {"destroy", (PyCFunction)magick_Image_destroy, METH_VARARGS,
+    "Destroy the underlying ImageMagick Wand. WARNING: After using this method, all methods on this object will raise an exception."},
+
     {"load", (PyCFunction)magick_Image_load, METH_VARARGS,
      "Load an image from a byte buffer (string)"
     },
@@ -1001,6 +1107,7 @@ static PyGetSetDef  magick_Image_getsetters[] = {
 
 // }}}
 
+
 static PyTypeObject magick_ImageType = { // {{{
     PyObject_HEAD_INIT(NULL)
     0,                         /*ob_size*/
@@ -1053,6 +1160,9 @@ magick_Image_compose(magick_Image *self, PyObject *args, PyObject *kwargs)
     magick_Image *src;
     MagickBooleanType res = MagickFalse;
 
+    NULL_CHECK(NULL)
+
+
     if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "O!nnO", &magick_ImageType, &img, &left, &top, &op_)) return NULL;
     src = (magick_Image*)img;
     if (!IsMagickWand(src->wand)) {PyErr_SetString(PyExc_TypeError, "Not a valid ImageMagick wand"); return NULL;}
@@ -1078,6 +1188,8 @@ magick_Image_copy(magick_Image *self, PyObject *args, PyObject *kwargs)
     PyObject *img;
     magick_Image *src;
 
+    NULL_CHECK(NULL)
+
     if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "O!", &magick_ImageType, &img)) return NULL;
     src = (magick_Image*)img;
     if (!IsMagickWand(src->wand)) {PyErr_SetString(PyExc_TypeError, "Not a valid ImageMagick wand"); return NULL;}
@@ -1153,3 +1265,4 @@ initmagick(void)
     MagickWandGenesis();
 }
 // }}}
+