diff --git a/libmuguile/mu-guile-msg.c b/libmuguile/mu-guile-msg.c
index 30cd92ea..69138aba 100644
--- a/libmuguile/mu-guile-msg.c
+++ b/libmuguile/mu-guile-msg.c
@@ -524,10 +524,13 @@ define_symbols (void)
 	scm_c_define ("mu:trashed",	scm_from_int(MU_FLAG_TRASHED));
 	scm_c_define ("mu:draft",	scm_from_int(MU_FLAG_DRAFT));
 	scm_c_define ("mu:flagged",	scm_from_int(MU_FLAG_FLAGGED));
-	scm_c_define ("mu:unread",	scm_from_int(MU_FLAG_UNREAD));
+
 	scm_c_define ("mu:signed",	scm_from_int(MU_FLAG_SIGNED));
 	scm_c_define ("mu:encrypted",	scm_from_int(MU_FLAG_ENCRYPTED));
 	scm_c_define ("mu:has-attach",	scm_from_int(MU_FLAG_HAS_ATTACH));
+
+	scm_c_define ("mu:unread",	scm_from_int(MU_FLAG_UNREAD));
+
 }
 
 
diff --git a/man/mu-easy.1 b/man/mu-easy.1
index 141ae434..ea44c921 100644
--- a/man/mu-easy.1
+++ b/man/mu-easy.1
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-.TH MU-EASY 1 "May 2011" "User Manuals"
+.TH MU-EASY 1 "August 2011" "User Manuals"
 
 .SH NAME 
 
@@ -138,20 +138,20 @@ Get all messages from Jim without an attachment:
   \fB$ mu find from:jim AND NOT flag:attach\fR 
 .fi
 
-Get all unseen messages where the subject mentions Ångström:
+Get all unread messages where the subject mentions Ångström:
 .nf
-  \fB$ mu find subject:Ångström NOT flag:seen\fR 
+  \fB$ mu find subject:Ångström flag:unread\fR 
 .fi
 which is equivalent to:
 .nf
-  \fB$ mu find subject:angstrom NOT flag:seen\fR 
+  \fB$ mu find subject:angstrom flag:unread\fR 
 .fi
 because does mu is case-insensitive and accent-insensitive.
 
-Get all unseen messages between March 2002 and August 2003 about some bird (or
+Get all unread messages between March 2002 and August 2003 about some bird (or
 a Swedish rock band):
 .nf
-  \fB$ mu find date:20020301..20030831 nightingale NOT flag:seen\fR
+  \fB$ mu find date:20020301..20030831 nightingale flag:unread\fR
 .fi
 
 Get all messages received today:
diff --git a/man/mu-find.1 b/man/mu-find.1
index abb6077c..e5ac5955 100644
--- a/man/mu-find.1
+++ b/man/mu-find.1
@@ -469,7 +469,7 @@ Find all messages in the 'Archive' folder from Fred:
 Find all unread messages with attachments:
 
 .nf
-  $ mu find flag:attach NOT flag:seen
+  $ mu find flag:attach flag:unread
 .fi
 
 
@@ -520,7 +520,7 @@ VFolders {
 
   [size:1m..100m]!mu    "Big"
 
-  [NOT flag:seen]!mu      "Unread"
+  [flag:unread]!mu      "Unread"
 }
 .fi
 
diff --git a/src/mu-flags.c b/src/mu-flags.c
index d4fc08fd..2ea79a17 100644
--- a/src/mu-flags.c
+++ b/src/mu-flags.c
@@ -42,7 +42,9 @@ static const FlagInfo FLAG_INFO[] = {
 
 	{ MU_FLAG_SIGNED,     's', "signed",    MU_FLAG_TYPE_CONTENT  },
 	{ MU_FLAG_ENCRYPTED,  'x', "encrypted", MU_FLAG_TYPE_CONTENT  },
-	{ MU_FLAG_HAS_ATTACH, 'a', "attach",    MU_FLAG_TYPE_CONTENT  }
+	{ MU_FLAG_HAS_ATTACH, 'a', "attach",    MU_FLAG_TYPE_CONTENT  },
+
+	{ MU_FLAG_UNREAD,     'u', "unread",    MU_FLAG_TYPE_PSEUDO  }
 };
 
 /* does not use FLAG_INFO, optimized */
@@ -53,9 +55,12 @@ mu_flag_type (MuFlags flag)
 		return MU_FLAG_TYPE_MAILFILE;
 	if (flag == MU_FLAG_NEW)
 		return MU_FLAG_TYPE_MAILDIR;
+	if (flag == MU_FLAG_UNREAD)
+		return MU_FLAG_TYPE_PSEUDO;
 	if (flag >= MU_FLAG_SIGNED && flag <= MU_FLAG_HAS_ATTACH)
 		return MU_FLAG_TYPE_CONTENT;
 
+	g_return_val_if_reached (MU_FLAG_TYPE_INVALID);
 	return MU_FLAG_TYPE_INVALID;
 }
 
@@ -78,9 +83,10 @@ mu_flag_char (MuFlags flag)
 	case MU_FLAG_SIGNED:		return	's';
 	case MU_FLAG_ENCRYPTED:		return	'x';
 	case MU_FLAG_HAS_ATTACH:	return	'a';
-		
+
+	case MU_FLAG_UNREAD:		return	'u';
+
 	default:
-		g_message ("unsupported flag %u", flag);
 		g_return_val_if_reached (0);
 		return 0;
 	}
@@ -105,9 +111,10 @@ mu_flag_from_char (char kar)
 	case 's': return MU_FLAG_SIGNED;	
 	case 'x': return MU_FLAG_ENCRYPTED;	
 	case 'a': return MU_FLAG_HAS_ATTACH;	
-	
+
+	case 'u': return MU_FLAG_UNREAD;	
+		
 	default:
-		g_message ("unsupported char %c", kar);
 		g_return_val_if_reached (MU_FLAG_INVALID);
 		return MU_FLAG_INVALID;
 	}
@@ -132,6 +139,9 @@ mu_flag_name (MuFlags flag)
 	case  MU_FLAG_SIGNED:		return	"signed";   
 	case  MU_FLAG_ENCRYPTED:	return  "encrypted";
 	case  MU_FLAG_HAS_ATTACH:	return	"attach";
+
+	case MU_FLAG_UNREAD:		return  "unread";	
+		
 	default:
 		g_return_val_if_reached (NULL);
 		return NULL;
diff --git a/src/mu-flags.h b/src/mu-flags.h
index 7dab13fa..1f5681b7 100644
--- a/src/mu-flags.h
+++ b/src/mu-flags.h
@@ -27,18 +27,31 @@ G_BEGIN_DECLS
 
 enum _MuFlags {
 	MU_FLAG_NONE            = 0,
-	
+
+	/* next 6 are seen in the file-info part of maildir message
+	 * file names, ie., in a name like "1234345346:2,<fileinfo>",
+	 * <fileinfo> consists of zero or more of the following
+	 * characters (in ascii order) */ 
 	MU_FLAG_DRAFT		= 1 << 0,
 	MU_FLAG_FLAGGED		= 1 << 1,   
 	MU_FLAG_PASSED		= 1 << 2,
 	MU_FLAG_REPLIED		= 1 << 3,
 	MU_FLAG_SEEN		= 1 << 4,
 	MU_FLAG_TRASHED		= 1 << 5,
-	
-	MU_FLAG_NEW		= 1 << 6,
+
+	/* decides on cur/ or new/ in the maildir */
+	MU_FLAG_NEW		= 1 << 6,  
+
+	/* content flags -- not visible in the filename, but used for
+	 * searching */
 	MU_FLAG_SIGNED		= 1 << 7,
 	MU_FLAG_ENCRYPTED	= 1 << 8,
-	MU_FLAG_HAS_ATTACH	= 1 << 9
+	MU_FLAG_HAS_ATTACH	= 1 << 9,
+
+	/* pseudo-flag, only for queries, so we can search for
+	 * flag:unread, which is equivalent to 'flag:new OR NOT
+	 * flag:seen' */
+	MU_FLAG_UNREAD          = 1 << 10
 };
 typedef enum _MuFlags MuFlags;
 
@@ -47,7 +60,8 @@ typedef enum _MuFlags MuFlags;
 enum _MuFlagType {
 	MU_FLAG_TYPE_MAILFILE    = 1 << 0,
 	MU_FLAG_TYPE_MAILDIR     = 1 << 1,
-	MU_FLAG_TYPE_CONTENT     = 1 << 2
+	MU_FLAG_TYPE_CONTENT     = 1 << 2,
+	MU_FLAG_TYPE_PSEUDO      = 1 << 3
 };
 typedef enum _MuFlagType MuFlagType;
 
@@ -62,7 +76,7 @@ typedef enum _MuFlagType MuFlagType;
  * 
  * @return the flag type or MU_FLAG_TYPE_INVALID in case of error
  */
-MuFlagType mu_flag_type (MuFlags flag);
+MuFlagType mu_flag_type (MuFlags flag) G_GNUC_CONST;
 
 
 /**
@@ -72,7 +86,7 @@ MuFlagType mu_flag_type (MuFlags flag);
  * 
  * @return the character, or 0 in case of error
  */
-char mu_flag_char (MuFlags flag);
+char mu_flag_char (MuFlags flag) G_GNUC_CONST;
 
 
 /**
@@ -82,7 +96,7 @@ char mu_flag_char (MuFlags flag);
  * 
  * @return the name (don't free) as string or NULL in case of error
  */
-const char* mu_flag_name (MuFlags flag);
+const char* mu_flag_name (MuFlags flag) G_GNUC_CONST;
 
 
 /**
diff --git a/src/mu-msg-file.c b/src/mu-msg-file.c
index 99325ecc..0d71eeca 100644
--- a/src/mu-msg-file.c
+++ b/src/mu-msg-file.c
@@ -332,10 +332,15 @@ get_flags (MuMsgFile *self)
 {
 	MuFlags flags;
 	
-	g_return_val_if_fail (self, MU_FLAG_NONE);
+	g_return_val_if_fail (self, MU_FLAG_INVALID);
 
 	flags = mu_maildir_get_flags_from_path (self->_path);
 	flags |= get_content_flags (self);
+
+	/* pseudo-flag --> unread means either NEW or NOT SEEN, just
+	 * for searching convenience */
+	if ((flags & MU_FLAG_NEW) || (!(flags & MU_FLAG_SEEN)))
+		flags |= MU_FLAG_UNREAD;
 	
 	return flags;
 }
diff --git a/src/mu-store.cc b/src/mu-store.cc
index 6e5f3e5c..819c7945 100644
--- a/src/mu-store.cc
+++ b/src/mu-store.cc
@@ -325,6 +325,34 @@ add_terms_values_date (Xapian::Document& doc, MuMsg *msg, MuMsgFieldId mfid)
 	}
 }
 
+/* TODO: we could pre-calculate the add_term values for FLAGS */
+
+
+/* pre-calculate; optimization */
+G_GNUC_CONST static const std::string&
+prio_val (MuMsgPrio prio)
+{
+	static const std::string pfx (prefix(MU_MSG_FIELD_ID_PRIO));	
+
+	static const std::string lowstr
+		(pfx + std::string(1, mu_msg_prio_char(MU_MSG_PRIO_LOW)));
+	static const std::string normalstr
+		(pfx + std::string(1, mu_msg_prio_char(MU_MSG_PRIO_NORMAL)));
+	static const std::string highstr
+		(pfx + std::string(1, mu_msg_prio_char(MU_MSG_PRIO_HIGH)));
+
+
+	switch (prio) {
+	case MU_MSG_PRIO_LOW:    return lowstr;
+	case MU_MSG_PRIO_NORMAL: return normalstr;
+	case MU_MSG_PRIO_HIGH:   return highstr;
+	default:
+		g_return_val_if_reached (normalstr);
+		return normalstr;
+	}
+}
+
+
 
 static void
 add_terms_values_number (Xapian::Document& doc, MuMsg *msg, MuMsgFieldId mfid)
@@ -341,10 +369,8 @@ add_terms_values_number (Xapian::Document& doc, MuMsg *msg, MuMsgFieldId mfid)
 		     cur && *cur; ++cur)
 			doc.add_term  (prefix(mfid) + (char)tolower (*cur));
 
-	} else if (mfid == MU_MSG_FIELD_ID_PRIO) {
-		doc.add_term (prefix(mfid) + std::string(1,
-			      mu_msg_prio_char((MuMsgPrio)num)));
-	} 
+	} else if (mfid == MU_MSG_FIELD_ID_PRIO)
+		doc.add_term (prio_val((MuMsgPrio)num));
 }
 
 
diff --git a/src/tests/test-mu-msg.c b/src/tests/test-mu-msg.c
index 88dc7133..2e23f24a 100644
--- a/src/tests/test-mu-msg.c
+++ b/src/tests/test-mu-msg.c
@@ -182,7 +182,7 @@ test_mu_msg_03 (void)
 			 ==,
 			 "\nLet's write some fünkÿ text\nusing umlauts.\n\nFoo.\n");
 	g_assert_cmpuint (mu_msg_get_flags(msg),
-			  ==, MU_FLAG_NONE);
+			  ==, MU_FLAG_UNREAD); /* not seen => unread */
 		
 	mu_msg_unref (msg);
 }
@@ -206,9 +206,9 @@ test_mu_msg_04 (void)
 			  ==, MU_MSG_PRIO_NORMAL);
 	g_assert_cmpuint (mu_msg_get_date(msg),
 			  ==, 0);
-
+	
 	g_assert_cmpuint (mu_msg_get_flags(msg),
-			  ==, MU_FLAG_HAS_ATTACH);
+			  ==, MU_FLAG_HAS_ATTACH|MU_FLAG_UNREAD);
 	
 	mu_msg_unref (msg);
 }
@@ -345,7 +345,8 @@ test_mu_msg_comp_unix_programmer (void)
 
 	refs = mu_str_from_list (mu_msg_get_references(msg), ',');
 	g_assert_cmpstr (refs, ==,
-			 "e9065dac-13c1-4103-9e31-6974ca232a89@t15g2000prt.googlegroups.com,"
+			 "e9065dac-13c1-4103-9e31-6974ca232a89@t15g2000prt"
+			 ".googlegroups.com,"
 			 "87hbblwelr.fsf@sapphire.mobileactivedefense.com,"
 			 "pql248-4va.ln1@wilbur.25thandClement.com,"
 			 "ikns6r$li3$1@Iltempo.Update.UU.SE,"
diff --git a/www/cheatsheet.org b/www/cheatsheet.org
index 1803aea7..23f35491 100644
--- a/www/cheatsheet.org
+++ b/www/cheatsheet.org
@@ -38,8 +38,8 @@ If =mu= did not guess the right Maildir, you can set it explicitly:
 *** signed messages about apples *OR* oranges
 #+html:<pre>  $ mu find flag:signed apples OR oranges</pre>
 
-*** unseen messages about things starting with 'soc' (soccer, society, socrates, ...)
-#+html:<pre>  $ mu find 'subject:soc*' NOT flag:seen</pre>
+*** unread messages about things starting with 'soc' (soccer, society, socrates, ...)
+#+html:<pre>  $ mu find 'subject:soc*' flag:unread</pre>
    
     Note, the '*' only works at the /end/ of a search term.
     (searching using the '*' wildcard is available since mu 0.9.6)