diff --git a/recipes/ancient_egypt.recipe b/recipes/ancient_egypt.recipe
index c2116a00a4..c40b0aa3cc 100644
--- a/recipes/ancient_egypt.recipe
+++ b/recipes/ancient_egypt.recipe
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python
+# vim:fileencoding=utf-8
 '''
 https://ancientegyptmagazine.com
 '''
diff --git a/recipes/bbc.recipe b/recipes/bbc.recipe
index 93b5eddccf..7302d02d3f 100644
--- a/recipes/bbc.recipe
+++ b/recipes/bbc.recipe
@@ -234,6 +234,20 @@ class BBCNews(BasicNewsRecipe):
     #
     oldest_article = 1.5
 
+    recipe_specific_options = {
+        'days': {
+            'short': 'Oldest article to download from this news source. In days ',
+            'long': 'For example, 0.5, gives you articles from the past 12 hours',
+            'default': str(oldest_article)
+        }
+    }
+
+    def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
+        BasicNewsRecipe.__init__(self, *args, **kwargs)
+        d = self.recipe_specific_options.get('days')
+        if d and isinstance(d, str):
+            self.oldest_article = float(d)
+
     # Number of simultaneous downloads. 20 is consistently working fine on the
     # BBC News feeds with no problems. Speeds things up from the default of 5.
     # If you have a lot of feeds and/or have increased oldest_article above 2
diff --git a/recipes/bloomberg-business-week.recipe b/recipes/bloomberg-business-week.recipe
index d6bfa7f12d..d43bc0cd86 100644
--- a/recipes/bloomberg-business-week.recipe
+++ b/recipes/bloomberg-business-week.recipe
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python
+# vim:fileencoding=utf-8
+
 import json
 import time
 from datetime import datetime
@@ -58,7 +61,7 @@ class Bloomberg(BasicNewsRecipe):
     remove_empty_feeds = True
 
     recipe_specific_options = {
-        'date': {
+        'issue': {
             'short': 'The ID of the edition to download (YY_XX format)',
             'long': 'For example, 24_17\nHint: Edition ID can be found at the end of its URL'
         }
@@ -86,7 +89,7 @@ class Bloomberg(BasicNewsRecipe):
         inx = 'https://cdn-mobapi.bloomberg.com'
         sec = self.index_to_soup(inx + '/wssmobile/v1/bw/news/list?limit=1', raw=True)
         id = json.loads(sec)['magazines'][0]['id']
-        past_edition = self.recipe_specific_options.get('date')
+        past_edition = self.recipe_specific_options.get('issue')
         if past_edition and isinstance(past_edition, str):
             id = past_edition
         edit = self.index_to_soup(inx + '/wssmobile/v1/bw/news/week/' + id, raw=True)
diff --git a/recipes/business_standard_print.recipe b/recipes/business_standard_print.recipe
index ff7d63ff98..a5b2187fac 100644
--- a/recipes/business_standard_print.recipe
+++ b/recipes/business_standard_print.recipe
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python
+# vim:fileencoding=utf-8
 import json
 from datetime import datetime
 
diff --git a/recipes/eenadu.recipe b/recipes/eenadu.recipe
index ed2e254e19..5072bb3866 100644
--- a/recipes/eenadu.recipe
+++ b/recipes/eenadu.recipe
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python
+# vim:fileencoding=utf-8
 import json
 import re
 from datetime import date, datetime, timedelta
diff --git a/recipes/eenadu_ap.recipe b/recipes/eenadu_ap.recipe
index 6cbbb4395e..1a36c5bbef 100644
--- a/recipes/eenadu_ap.recipe
+++ b/recipes/eenadu_ap.recipe
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python
+# vim:fileencoding=utf-8
 import re
 from datetime import datetime, timedelta
 from urllib.parse import quote
diff --git a/recipes/el_correo.recipe b/recipes/el_correo.recipe
index f83ee410df..a803a0ce67 100644
--- a/recipes/el_correo.recipe
+++ b/recipes/el_correo.recipe
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python
+# vim:fileencoding=utf-8
 '''
 http://www.elcorreo.com/
 '''
@@ -22,6 +24,20 @@ class elcorreo(BasicNewsRecipe):
     max_articles_per_feed = 25 # articles
     compress_news_images = True 
 
+    recipe_specific_options = {
+        'days': {
+            'short': 'Oldest article to download from this news source. In days ',
+            'long': 'For example, 0.5, gives you articles from the past 12 hours',
+            'default': str(oldest_article)
+        }
+    }
+
+    def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
+        BasicNewsRecipe.__init__(self, *args, **kwargs)
+        d = self.recipe_specific_options.get('days')
+        if d and isinstance(d, str):
+            self.oldest_article = float(d)
+
     extra_css = '''
         .v-mdl-ath__inf, .v-mdl-ath__p--2, .v-mdl-ath__p {font-size:small; color:#404040;}
         .v-fc, .v-a-fig {  text-align:center; font-size:small; }
diff --git a/recipes/el_pais.recipe b/recipes/el_pais.recipe
index 0bf6fb5ce3..ffe83b57dc 100644
--- a/recipes/el_pais.recipe
+++ b/recipes/el_pais.recipe
@@ -27,6 +27,20 @@ class ElPais(BasicNewsRecipe):
     oldest_article = 2.1
     max_articles_per_feed = 25
 
+    recipe_specific_options = {
+        'days': {
+            'short': 'Oldest article to download from this news source. In days ',
+            'long': 'For example, 0.5, gives you articles from the past 12 hours',
+            'default': str(oldest_article)
+        }
+    }
+
+    def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
+        BasicNewsRecipe.__init__(self, *args, **kwargs)
+        d = self.recipe_specific_options.get('days')
+        if d and isinstance(d, str):
+            self.oldest_article = float(d)
+
     use_embedded_content = False
     recursion = 5
 
diff --git a/recipes/epoch_times.recipe b/recipes/epoch_times.recipe
index cf2c0cc8b8..d0da409b37 100644
--- a/recipes/epoch_times.recipe
+++ b/recipes/epoch_times.recipe
@@ -19,6 +19,20 @@ class EpochTimes(BasicNewsRecipe):
     masthead_url = 'https://epochtimes-ny.newsmemory.com/eeLayout/epochtimes/1.0.a/images/webapp/banner.png'
     extra_css = '.post_caption, .text-sm, .uppercase {font-size:small;}'
 
+    recipe_specific_options = {
+        'days': {
+            'short': 'Oldest article to download from this news source. In days ',
+            'long': 'For example, 0.5, gives you articles from the past 12 hours',
+            'default': str(oldest_article)
+        }
+    }
+
+    def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
+        BasicNewsRecipe.__init__(self, *args, **kwargs)
+        d = self.recipe_specific_options.get('days')
+        if d and isinstance(d, str):
+            self.oldest_article = float(d)
+
     keep_only_tags = [
         dict(name='article')
     ]
diff --git a/recipes/financial_times.recipe b/recipes/financial_times.recipe
index 62384d6aed..581ca3ab79 100644
--- a/recipes/financial_times.recipe
+++ b/recipes/financial_times.recipe
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python
+# vim:fileencoding=utf-8
 import json
 import re
 from urllib.parse import quote
@@ -31,6 +33,20 @@ class ft(BasicNewsRecipe):
         .o-topper__topic { font-size:small; color:#5c5c5c; }
     '''
 
+    recipe_specific_options = {
+        'days': {
+            'short': 'Oldest article to download from this news source. In days ',
+            'long': 'For example, 0.5, gives you articles from the past 12 hours',
+            'default': str(oldest_article)
+        }
+    }
+
+    def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
+        BasicNewsRecipe.__init__(self, *args, **kwargs)
+        d = self.recipe_specific_options.get('days')
+        if d and isinstance(d, str):
+            self.oldest_article = float(d)
+
     keep_only_tags = [
         classes(
             'body_json o-topper__topic o-topper__headline o-topper__standfirst o-topper__visual article-info__time-byline main-image'
diff --git a/recipes/foreign_policy.recipe b/recipes/foreign_policy.recipe
index a702fa81e0..89d8fc5b2d 100644
--- a/recipes/foreign_policy.recipe
+++ b/recipes/foreign_policy.recipe
@@ -47,8 +47,20 @@ class ForeignPolicy(BasicNewsRecipe):
     ]
     remove_tags_after = [classes('post-content-main')]
 
+    recipe_specific_options = {
+        'issue': {
+            'short': 'Enter the Issue ID you want to download ',
+            'long': 'For example, 411131563'
+        }
+    }
+
     def parse_index(self):
-        soup = self.index_to_soup('https://foreignpolicy.com/the-magazine')
+        issue_url = 'https://foreignpolicy.com/the-magazine'
+        d = self.recipe_specific_options.get('issue')
+        if d and isinstance(d, str):
+            issue_url = issue_url + '/?issue_id=' + d
+
+        soup = self.index_to_soup(issue_url)
         img = soup.find('img', attrs={'src': lambda x: x and '-cover' in x})
         if img:
             self.cover_url = img['src'].split('?')[0] + '?w=800?quality=90'
diff --git a/recipes/globaltimes.recipe b/recipes/globaltimes.recipe
index e40bab6b40..e7d808c1ad 100644
--- a/recipes/globaltimes.recipe
+++ b/recipes/globaltimes.recipe
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python
+# vim:fileencoding=utf-8
 from datetime import datetime, timedelta, timezone
 
 from calibre.utils.date import parse_date
@@ -29,6 +31,20 @@ class GlobalTimes(BasicNewsRecipe):
         blockquote, em {color:#202020;}
     '''
 
+    recipe_specific_options = {
+        'days': {
+            'short': 'Oldest article to download from this news source. In days ',
+            'long': 'For example, 0.5, gives you articles from the past 12 hours',
+            'default': str(oldest_article)
+        }
+    }
+
+    def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
+        BasicNewsRecipe.__init__(self, *args, **kwargs)
+        d = self.recipe_specific_options.get('days')
+        if d and isinstance(d, str):
+            self.oldest_article = float(d)
+
     keep_only_tags = [
         classes(
             'article_column article_title author_share_left article_content'
diff --git a/recipes/harpers.recipe b/recipes/harpers.recipe
index be5a87086e..5a502af504 100644
--- a/recipes/harpers.recipe
+++ b/recipes/harpers.recipe
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python
+# vim:fileencoding=utf-8
 '''
 harpers.org
 '''
diff --git a/recipes/himal_southasian.recipe b/recipes/himal_southasian.recipe
index 5025806326..85188e0af9 100644
--- a/recipes/himal_southasian.recipe
+++ b/recipes/himal_southasian.recipe
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python
+# vim:fileencoding=utf-8
 import json
 
 from calibre.web.feeds.news import BasicNewsRecipe
@@ -37,6 +39,20 @@ class himal(BasicNewsRecipe):
     resolve_internal_links = True
     oldest_article = 30  # days
 
+    recipe_specific_options = {
+        'days': {
+            'short': 'Oldest article to download from this news source. In days ',
+            'long': 'For example, 0.5, gives you articles from the past 12 hours',
+            'default': str(oldest_article)
+        }
+    }
+
+    def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
+        BasicNewsRecipe.__init__(self, *args, **kwargs)
+        d = self.recipe_specific_options.get('days')
+        if d and isinstance(d, str):
+            self.oldest_article = float(d)
+
     extra_css = '''
         .cap, .auth {font-size:small;}
         em, blockquote {color:#404040;}
diff --git a/recipes/hindu.recipe b/recipes/hindu.recipe
index 8b81d0b405..b9379bdb68 100644
--- a/recipes/hindu.recipe
+++ b/recipes/hindu.recipe
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python
+# vim:fileencoding=utf-8
 import json
 import re
 from collections import defaultdict
@@ -32,7 +34,7 @@ class TheHindu(BasicNewsRecipe):
     recipe_specific_options = {
         'location': {
             'short': 'The name of the local edition',
-            'long': 'If The Hindu is available in your local town/city,\nset this to your location, for example, hyderabad',
+            'long': 'If The Hindu is available in your local town/city,\nset this to your location, for example, hyderabad\nAvailable Editions: bengaluru, chennai, coimbatore, delhi, erode, hyderabad, international, kochi, kolkata,\nkozhikode, madurai, mangalore, mumbai, thiruvananthapuram, tiruchirapalli, vijayawada, visakhapatnam',
             'default': 'international'
         },
         'date': {
diff --git a/recipes/hindufeeds.recipe b/recipes/hindufeeds.recipe
index 113ac6350f..94b00acc88 100644
--- a/recipes/hindufeeds.recipe
+++ b/recipes/hindufeeds.recipe
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python
+# vim:fileencoding=utf-8
 from datetime import date
 
 from calibre.web.feeds.news import BasicNewsRecipe, classes
@@ -24,6 +26,20 @@ class TheHindufeeds(BasicNewsRecipe):
         .italic {font-style:italic; color:#202020;}
     '''
 
+    recipe_specific_options = {
+        'days': {
+            'short': 'Oldest article to download from this news source. In days ',
+            'long': 'For example, 0.5, gives you articles from the past 12 hours',
+            'default': str(oldest_article)
+        }
+    }
+
+    def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
+        BasicNewsRecipe.__init__(self, *args, **kwargs)
+        d = self.recipe_specific_options.get('days')
+        if d and isinstance(d, str):
+            self.oldest_article = float(d)
+
     ignore_duplicate_articles = {'url'}
 
     keep_only_tags = [
diff --git a/recipes/hindustan_times_print.recipe b/recipes/hindustan_times_print.recipe
index a8eee1e21a..94bf2db993 100644
--- a/recipes/hindustan_times_print.recipe
+++ b/recipes/hindustan_times_print.recipe
@@ -1,20 +1,11 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python
+# vim:fileencoding=utf-8
 import json
 from collections import defaultdict
 from datetime import date
 
 from calibre.web.feeds.news import BasicNewsRecipe
 
-# figure out your local_edition from the fetch news log of this recipe
-local_edition = 'Delhi'
-
-today = date.today().strftime('%d/%m/%Y')
-
-# for older edition, change today
-# today = '22/12/2023'
-
-day, month, year = (int(x) for x in today.split('/'))
-dt = date(year, month, day)
-today = today.replace('/', '%2F')
 
 index = 'https://epaper.hindustantimes.com'
 
@@ -23,28 +14,49 @@ class ht(BasicNewsRecipe):
     language = 'en_IN'
     __author__ = 'unkn0wn'
     masthead_url = 'https://www.htmedia.in/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/HT-dot-com-logo-product.png'
-    timefmt = ' [' + dt.strftime('%b %d, %Y') + ']'
     description = 'Articles from the Hindustan Times epaper, digital edition'
     encoding = 'utf-8'
     delay = 1
     ignore_duplicate_articles = {'title'}
 
-    def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
-        BasicNewsRecipe.__init__(self, *args, **kwargs)
-        if self.output_profile.short_name.startswith('kindle'):
-            self.title = 'HT Print Edition ' + dt.strftime('%b %d, %Y')
-
     extra_css = '''
         .cap { text-align:center; font-size:small; }
         img { display:block; margin:0 auto; }
     '''
 
-    def parse_index(self):
+    recipe_specific_options = {
+        'location': {
+            'short': 'The name of the local edition',
+            'long': 'If The Hindustan Times is available in your local town/city,\nset this to your location, for example, Delhi\nAvailable Editions: Delhi, Mumbai, Chandigarh, Lucknow, Patna, Bengaluru, Pune, Gurgaon, Ludhiana, Rajasthan, Amritsar,\nEast UP, Haryana, Jammu, Navi Mumbai, Noida, Punjab, Ranchi, Thane, Uttarakhand, West UP',
+            'default': 'Delhi'
+        },
+        'date': {
+            'short': 'The date of the edition to download (DD/MM/YYYY format)',
+            'long': 'For example, 22/12/2023'
+        }
+    }
 
+    def parse_index(self):
         self.log(
             '\n***\nif this recipe fails, report it on: '
             'https://www.mobileread.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=228\n***\n'
         )
+        local_edition = 'Delhi'
+        d = self.recipe_specific_options.get('location')
+        if d and isinstance(d, str):
+            local_edition = d
+
+        today = date.today().strftime('%d/%m/%Y')
+
+        p = self.recipe_specific_options.get('date')
+        if p and isinstance(p, str):
+            today = p
+
+        self.timefmt = ' [%s]' % today
+
+        day, month, year = (int(x) for x in today.split('/'))
+        dt = date(year, month, day)
+        today = today.replace('/', '%2F')
 
         get_edition = index + '/Home/GetEditionSupplementHierarchy?EditionDate=' + today
         edi_data = json.loads(self.index_to_soup(get_edition, raw=True))
@@ -56,7 +68,7 @@ class ht(BasicNewsRecipe):
             if edi['EditionName'] == local_edition:
                 edi_name = edi['EditionName']
                 edi_id = str(edi['EditionId'])
-        self.log('Downloading', edi_name, 'Edition')
+        self.log('Downloading', edi_name, 'Edition', self.timefmt)
 
         url = index + '/Home/GetAllpages?editionid=' + edi_id + '&editiondate=' + today
         main_data = json.loads(self.index_to_soup(url, raw=True))
diff --git a/recipes/india_today.recipe b/recipes/india_today.recipe
index f89fb47d14..c8e648e93b 100644
--- a/recipes/india_today.recipe
+++ b/recipes/india_today.recipe
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python
+# vim:fileencoding=utf-8
 
 from calibre.ebooks.BeautifulSoup import Tag
 from calibre.web.feeds.news import BasicNewsRecipe
diff --git a/recipes/le_monde.recipe b/recipes/le_monde.recipe
index f16c39c6ac..f815b1cc38 100644
--- a/recipes/le_monde.recipe
+++ b/recipes/le_monde.recipe
@@ -36,6 +36,20 @@ class LeMonde(BasicNewsRecipe):
         'publisher': publisher
     }
 
+    recipe_specific_options = {
+        'days': {
+            'short': 'Oldest article to download from this news source. In days ',
+            'long': 'For example, 0.5, gives you articles from the past 12 hours',
+            'default': str(oldest_article)
+        }
+    }
+
+    def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
+        BasicNewsRecipe.__init__(self, *args, **kwargs)
+        d = self.recipe_specific_options.get('days')
+        if d and isinstance(d, str):
+            self.oldest_article = float(d)
+
     masthead_url = 'http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/54/Le_monde_logo.svg/800px-Le_monde_logo.svg.png'
 
     feeds = [
diff --git a/recipes/le_monde_diplomatique_fr.recipe b/recipes/le_monde_diplomatique_fr.recipe
index ec14aeaf1d..556af30b61 100644
--- a/recipes/le_monde_diplomatique_fr.recipe
+++ b/recipes/le_monde_diplomatique_fr.recipe
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python
 # vim:fileencoding=utf-8
 from __future__ import unicode_literals
 
@@ -33,6 +34,20 @@ class LeMondeDiplomatiqueSiteWeb(BasicNewsRecipe):
     timefmt = ' [%d %b %Y]'
     no_stylesheets = True
 
+    recipe_specific_options = {
+        'days': {
+            'short': 'Oldest article to download from this news source. In days ',
+            'long': 'For example, 0.5, gives you articles from the past 12 hours',
+            'default': str(oldest_article)
+        }
+    }
+
+    def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
+        BasicNewsRecipe.__init__(self, *args, **kwargs)
+        d = self.recipe_specific_options.get('days')
+        if d and isinstance(d, str):
+            self.oldest_article = float(d)
+
     feeds = [(u'Blogs', u'http://blog.mondediplo.net/spip.php?page=backend'),
              (u'Archives', u'http://www.monde-diplomatique.fr/rss/')]
 
diff --git a/recipes/lex_fridman_podcast.recipe b/recipes/lex_fridman_podcast.recipe
index 5fc387f036..8dfb25a5c2 100644
--- a/recipes/lex_fridman_podcast.recipe
+++ b/recipes/lex_fridman_podcast.recipe
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python
+# vim:fileencoding=utf-8
 from calibre.web.feeds.news import BasicNewsRecipe
 
 
diff --git a/recipes/liberation.recipe b/recipes/liberation.recipe
index a2c85284f3..a8d072ad7a 100644
--- a/recipes/liberation.recipe
+++ b/recipes/liberation.recipe
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python
+# vim:fileencoding=utf-8
 '''
 liberation.fr
 '''
diff --git a/recipes/livemint.recipe b/recipes/livemint.recipe
index 3ea015d557..eba947ede0 100644
--- a/recipes/livemint.recipe
+++ b/recipes/livemint.recipe
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python
+# vim:fileencoding=utf-8
 import json
 import re
 from datetime import date
@@ -35,10 +37,6 @@ class LiveMint(BasicNewsRecipe):
         d = self.recipe_specific_options.get('days')
         if d and isinstance(d, str):
             self.oldest_article = float(d)
-        if self.output_profile.short_name.startswith('kindle'):
-            self.title = 'Mint | ' + date.today().strftime('%b %d, %Y')
-            if is_saturday:
-                self.title = 'Mint Lounge | ' + date.today().strftime('%b %d, %Y')
 
     def get_cover_url(self):
         today = date.today().strftime('%d/%m/%Y')
@@ -51,7 +49,7 @@ class LiveMint(BasicNewsRecipe):
                 return cov['HighResolution']
 
     if is_saturday:
-
+        self.title = 'Mint Lounge'
         masthead_url = 'https://lifestyle.livemint.com/mintlounge/static-images/lounge-logo.svg'
 
         oldest_article = 6.5 # days
diff --git a/recipes/military_history.recipe b/recipes/military_history.recipe
index 09d330a09b..9d04d65146 100644
--- a/recipes/military_history.recipe
+++ b/recipes/military_history.recipe
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python
+# vim:fileencoding=utf-8
 '''
 https://www.military-history.org/
 '''
diff --git a/recipes/minerva_magazine.recipe b/recipes/minerva_magazine.recipe
index 203d9b3520..57037bd662 100644
--- a/recipes/minerva_magazine.recipe
+++ b/recipes/minerva_magazine.recipe
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python
+# vim:fileencoding=utf-8
 '''
 https://minervamagazine.com/
 '''
diff --git a/recipes/outlook_india.recipe b/recipes/outlook_india.recipe
index 6c6558c1c4..b91b6ce4e8 100644
--- a/recipes/outlook_india.recipe
+++ b/recipes/outlook_india.recipe
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python
+# vim:fileencoding=utf-8
 from calibre.web.feeds.news import BasicNewsRecipe, classes
 
 
diff --git a/recipes/poliitico_eu.recipe b/recipes/poliitico_eu.recipe
index a5b602173e..44f4e9f484 100644
--- a/recipes/poliitico_eu.recipe
+++ b/recipes/poliitico_eu.recipe
@@ -27,6 +27,20 @@ class Politico(BasicNewsRecipe):
     encoding = 'UTF-8'
     language = 'en'
 
+    recipe_specific_options = {
+        'days': {
+            'short': 'Oldest article to download from this news source. In days ',
+            'long': 'For example, 0.5, gives you articles from the past 12 hours',
+            'default': str(oldest_article)
+        }
+    }
+
+    def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
+        BasicNewsRecipe.__init__(self, *args, **kwargs)
+        d = self.recipe_specific_options.get('days')
+        if d and isinstance(d, str):
+            self.oldest_article = float(d)
+
     remove_empty_feeds = True
     ignore_duplicate_articles = ['url']
 
diff --git a/recipes/reuters.recipe b/recipes/reuters.recipe
index e22b1a61f4..7fdbbbb997 100644
--- a/recipes/reuters.recipe
+++ b/recipes/reuters.recipe
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python
+# vim:fileencoding=utf-8
 import json
 import time
 from datetime import datetime, timedelta
diff --git a/recipes/rtnews.recipe b/recipes/rtnews.recipe
index a76411a8fc..b4e99da434 100644
--- a/recipes/rtnews.recipe
+++ b/recipes/rtnews.recipe
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python
+# vim:fileencoding=utf-8
 '''
 rt.com
 '''
diff --git a/recipes/spectator_magazine.recipe b/recipes/spectator_magazine.recipe
index fd3f9febee..c9bc29c652 100644
--- a/recipes/spectator_magazine.recipe
+++ b/recipes/spectator_magazine.recipe
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python
+# vim:fileencoding=utf-8
 from calibre.web.feeds.news import BasicNewsRecipe, classes
 
 
diff --git a/recipes/the_week.recipe b/recipes/the_week.recipe
index a3d0110ebc..0e898bd3a0 100644
--- a/recipes/the_week.recipe
+++ b/recipes/the_week.recipe
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python
+# vim:fileencoding=utf-8
 from datetime import datetime
 
 from calibre.web.feeds.news import BasicNewsRecipe, classes
diff --git a/recipes/tls_mag.recipe b/recipes/tls_mag.recipe
index c8f8b239b6..9cd10dcf51 100644
--- a/recipes/tls_mag.recipe
+++ b/recipes/tls_mag.recipe
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python
+# vim:fileencoding=utf-8
 import json
 import re
 
diff --git a/recipes/wash_post.recipe b/recipes/wash_post.recipe
index 6460104be8..73d869a905 100644
--- a/recipes/wash_post.recipe
+++ b/recipes/wash_post.recipe
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python
+# vim:fileencoding=utf-8
 __license__ = 'GPL v3'
 __copyright__ = '2011, Darko Miletic <darko.miletic at gmail.com>'
 '''
@@ -28,6 +30,20 @@ class TheWashingtonPost(BasicNewsRecipe):
     publication_type = 'newspaper'
     remove_attributes = ['style', 'width', 'height']
 
+    recipe_specific_options = {
+        'days': {
+            'short': 'Oldest article to download from this news source. In days ',
+            'long': 'For example, 0.5, gives you articles from the past 12 hours',
+            'default': str(oldest_article)
+        }
+    }
+
+    def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
+        BasicNewsRecipe.__init__(self, *args, **kwargs)
+        d = self.recipe_specific_options.get('days')
+        if d and isinstance(d, str):
+            self.oldest_article = float(d)
+
     extra_css = '''
         .img { text-align:center; font-size:small; }
         .auth { font-weight:bold; font-size:small; }
diff --git a/recipes/world_archeology.recipe b/recipes/world_archeology.recipe
index 31d467a3fd..008f2ff1bf 100644
--- a/recipes/world_archeology.recipe
+++ b/recipes/world_archeology.recipe
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python
+# vim:fileencoding=utf-8
 '''
 https://www.world-archaeology.com
 '''
diff --git a/recipes/wsj.recipe b/recipes/wsj.recipe
index 35587f971d..4cad8727f9 100644
--- a/recipes/wsj.recipe
+++ b/recipes/wsj.recipe
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python
+# vim:fileencoding=utf-8
 import json
 import time
 from datetime import datetime, timedelta
diff --git a/recipes/wsj_mag.recipe b/recipes/wsj_mag.recipe
index 29712902f1..b09aeccdb1 100644
--- a/recipes/wsj_mag.recipe
+++ b/recipes/wsj_mag.recipe
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python
+# vim:fileencoding=utf-8
 import json
 import time
 from datetime import datetime, timedelta
diff --git a/recipes/wsj_news.recipe b/recipes/wsj_news.recipe
index a835b2b3b6..3c8912b7de 100644
--- a/recipes/wsj_news.recipe
+++ b/recipes/wsj_news.recipe
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python
+# vim:fileencoding=utf-8
 import json
 import time
 from datetime import datetime, timedelta