diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 6fcddaa..156875b 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ The arguments are:
 	- `debug`: to have some feedback from the script execution. Useful for debugging
 	- `force`: force refetch the rss feed and articles
 	- `silent`: don't output the final RSS (useless on its own, but can be nice when debugging)
-	- `first`: return the feed items in the order they initially appear in the feed (morss ohterwise shows the newest items first)
+	- `newest`: return the feed items in chronological order (morss ohterwise shows the items by appearing order)
 - http server only
 	- `callback=NAME`: for JSONP calls
 	- `cors`: allow Cross-origin resource sharing (allows XHR calls from other servers)
diff --git a/morss/morss.py b/morss/morss.py
index b045d13..c64f87c 100644
--- a/morss/morss.py
+++ b/morss/morss.py
@@ -343,15 +343,15 @@ def FeedGather(rss, url, options):
     if options.cache:
         max_time = 0
 
-    if options.first:
-        # :first to just take the first items in the feed (in sequence)
-        sorted_items = rss.items
-
-    else:
-        # otherwise, take the _newest_, i.e. sort by time
+    if options.newest:
+        # :newest take the newest items
         now = datetime.now(tz.tzutc())
         sorted_items = sorted(rss.items, key=lambda x:x.updated or x.time or now, reverse=True)
 
+    else:
+        # default behavior, take the first items (in appearing order)
+        sorted_items = rss.items
+
     for i, item in enumerate(sorted_items):
         if time.time() - start_time > lim_time >= 0 or i + 1 > lim_item >= 0:
             log('dropped')
diff --git a/www/sheet.xsl b/www/sheet.xsl
index b4204d1..ff79aaa 100644
--- a/www/sheet.xsl
+++ b/www/sheet.xsl
@@ -192,8 +192,8 @@
 					</select>
 					link of the 
 					<select>
-						<option value="">newest</option>
-						<option value=":first" title="Return the feed items in the order they appear in the feed (morss ohterwise shows the newest items first)">first (?)</option>
+						<option value="">first</option>
+						<option value=":newest" title="Select feed items by publication date (instead of appearing order)">newest (?)</option>
 					</select>
 					items and 
 					<select>