--- a/numerics/read.py	Mon Mar 16 21:39:00 2015 -0700
+++ b/numerics/read.py	Mon Mar 16 21:53:31 2015 -0700
@@ -95,8 +95,8 @@
         kwargs.setdefault('description', __doc__)
         kwargs.setdefault('formatter_class', argparse.RawTextHelpFormatter)
         argparse.ArgumentParser.__init__(self, **kwargs)
-        self.add_argument('csv', nargs='*',
-                          help="CSV files to read, or read from stdin")
+        self.add_argument('input', nargs='*',
+                          help="CSV input files to read, or read from stdin")
         self.add_argument('-+', '--add', dest='added_columns', nargs='+',
                           help="append this column")
         self.add_argument('-c', '--col', '--columns', dest='columns',
@@ -118,14 +118,12 @@
 
     def validate(self, options):
         """validate options"""
-
-        if not options.csv:
-            options.csv = [sys.stdin]
+        options.input = options.input or [sys.stdin]
 
     def read(self):
         """read and process CSV"""
 
-        data = read_csv(*self.options.csv)
+        data = read_csv(*self.options.input)
 
         if self.options.added_columns:
             # add columns
@@ -164,10 +162,6 @@
                         help="transpose columns and rows")
     options = parser.parse_args(args)
 
-    if not options.csv:
-        # read from stdin
-        options.csv = [sys.stdin]
-
     # read CSV
     if options.transpose:
         data = parser.columns()