diff --git a/event/canonical.go b/event/canonical.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c58ae7c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/event/canonical.go
@@ -0,0 +1,109 @@
+package event
+
+import (
+	"reflect"
+
+	"realy.lol/hex"
+	"realy.lol/json"
+	"realy.lol/kind"
+	"realy.lol/tags"
+	"realy.lol/text"
+	"realy.lol/timestamp"
+)
+
+// ToCanonical converts the event to the canonical encoding used to derive the
+// event ID.
+func (ev *T) ToCanonical(dst by) (b by) {
+	b = dst
+	b = append(b, "[0,\""...)
+	b = hex.EncAppend(b, ev.PubKey)
+	b = append(b, "\","...)
+	b = ev.CreatedAt.Marshal(b)
+	b = append(b, ',')
+	b = ev.Kind.Marshal(b)
+	b = append(b, ',')
+	b = ev.Tags.Marshal(b)
+	b = append(b, ',')
+	b = text.AppendQuote(b, ev.Content, text.NostrEscape)
+	b = append(b, ']')
+	return
+}
+
+// GetIDBytes returns the raw SHA256 hash of the canonical form of an T.
+func (ev *T) GetIDBytes() by { return Hash(ev.ToCanonical(nil)) }
+
+func NewCanonical() (a *json.Array) {
+	a = &json.Array{
+		V: []json.I{
+			&json.Unsigned{}, // 0
+			&json.Hex{},      // pubkey
+			&timestamp.T{},   // created_at
+			&kind.T{},        // kind
+			&tags.T{},        // tags
+			&json.String{},   // content
+		},
+	}
+	return
+}
+
+func FromCanonical(b by) (ev *T, rem by, err er) {
+	id := Hash(b)
+	c := NewCanonical()
+	if rem, err = c.Unmarshal(b); chk.E(err) {
+		return
+	}
+	if len(rem) > 0 {
+		log.I.F("rem %s", rem)
+	}
+	// unwrap the array
+	x := (*c).V
+	if v, ok := x[0].(*json.Unsigned); !ok {
+		err = errorf.E("did not encode expected type in first field of canonical event %v %v",
+			reflect.TypeOf(x[0]), x[0])
+		return
+	} else {
+		if v.V != 0 {
+			err = errorf.E("unexpected value %d in first field of canonical event, expect 0", v.V)
+			return
+		}
+	}
+	// create the event, use the ID hash to populate the ID
+	ev = &T{ID: id}
+	// unwrap the pubkey
+	if v, ok := x[1].(*json.Hex); !ok {
+		err = errorf.E("failed to decode pubkey from canonical form of event %s", b)
+		return
+	} else {
+		ev.PubKey = v.V
+	}
+	// populate the timestamp field
+	if v, ok := x[2].(*timestamp.T); !ok {
+		err = errorf.E("did not encode expected type in third (created_at) field of canonical event %v %v",
+			reflect.TypeOf(x[0]), x[0])
+	} else {
+		ev.CreatedAt = v
+	}
+	// populate the kind field
+	if v, ok := x[3].(*kind.T); !ok {
+		err = errorf.E("did not encode expected type in fourth (kind) field of canonical event %v %v",
+			reflect.TypeOf(x[0]), x[0])
+	} else {
+		ev.Kind = v
+	}
+	// populate the tags field
+	if v, ok := x[3].(*tags.T); !ok {
+		err = errorf.E("did not encode expected type in fourth (tags) field of canonical event %v %v",
+			reflect.TypeOf(x[0]), x[0])
+	} else {
+		ev.Tags = v
+	}
+	// populate the content field
+	if v, ok := x[3].(*json.String); !ok {
+		err = errorf.E("did not encode expected type in fourth (content) field of canonical event %v %v",
+			reflect.TypeOf(x[0]), x[0])
+	} else {
+		ev.Content = v.V
+	}
+
+	return
+}
diff --git a/event/codectester/divider/main.go b/event/codectester/divider/main.go
index 613b1bd..a61b823 100644
--- a/event/codectester/divider/main.go
+++ b/event/codectester/divider/main.go
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ func main() {
 		if len(rem) > 0 {
 			log.I.F("remainder:\n%s", rem)
 		}
-		can := ev.ToCanonical()
+		can := ev.ToCanonical(nil)
 		eh := event.Hash(can)
 		eq := equals(ev.ID, eh)
 		if !eq {
diff --git a/event/event.go b/event/event.go
index 2e8bb5b..7987667 100644
--- a/event/event.go
+++ b/event/event.go
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ type T struct {
 type Ts []*T
 
 func (ev Ts) Len() no         { return len(ev) }
-func (ev Ts) Less(i, j no) bo { return *ev[i].CreatedAt > *ev[j].CreatedAt }
+func (ev Ts) Less(i, j no) bo { return ev[i].CreatedAt.I64() > ev[j].CreatedAt.I64() }
 func (ev Ts) Swap(i, j no)    { ev[i], ev[j] = ev[j], ev[i] }
 
 type C chan *T
@@ -49,21 +49,6 @@ func New() (ev *T) { return &T{} }
 
 func (ev *T) Serialize() (b by) { return ev.Marshal(nil) }
 
-func (ev *T) ToCanonical() (b by) {
-	b = append(b, "[0,\""...)
-	b = hex.EncAppend(b, ev.PubKey)
-	b = append(b, "\","...)
-	b = ev.CreatedAt.Marshal(b)
-	b = append(b, ',')
-	b = ev.Kind.Marshal(b)
-	b = append(b, ',')
-	b = ev.Tags.Marshal(b)
-	b = append(b, ',')
-	b = text.AppendQuote(b, ev.Content, text.NostrEscape)
-	b = append(b, ']')
-	return
-}
-
 // stringy functions for retarded other libraries
 
 func (ev *T) IDString() (s st)          { return hex.Enc(ev.ID) }
@@ -78,9 +63,6 @@ func Hash(in by) (out by) {
 	return h[:]
 }
 
-// GetIDBytes returns the raw SHA256 hash of the canonical form of an T.
-func (ev *T) GetIDBytes() by { return Hash(ev.ToCanonical()) }
-
 func GenerateRandomTextNoteEvent(sign signer.I, maxSize no) (ev *T,
 	err er) {
 
diff --git a/event/sort.go b/event/sort.go
index 0d77a37..51df536 100644
--- a/event/sort.go
+++ b/event/sort.go
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ package event
 type Ascending []*T
 
 func (ev Ascending) Len() no         { return len(ev) }
-func (ev Ascending) Less(i, j no) bo { return *ev[i].CreatedAt < *ev[j].CreatedAt }
+func (ev Ascending) Less(i, j no) bo { return ev[i].CreatedAt.I64() < ev[j].CreatedAt.I64() }
 func (ev Ascending) Swap(i, j no)    { ev[i], ev[j] = ev[j], ev[i] }
 
 // Descending sorts a slice of events in reverse chronological order (newest
@@ -12,5 +12,5 @@ func (ev Ascending) Swap(i, j no)    { ev[i], ev[j] = ev[j], ev[i] }
 type Descending []*T
 
 func (e Descending) Len() no         { return len(e) }
-func (e Descending) Less(i, j no) bo { return *e[i].CreatedAt > *e[j].CreatedAt }
+func (e Descending) Less(i, j no) bo { return e[i].CreatedAt.I64() > e[j].CreatedAt.I64() }
 func (e Descending) Swap(i, j no)    { e[i], e[j] = e[j], e[i] }
diff --git a/filter/filter.go b/filter/filter.go
index 30e3e36..55d090f 100644
--- a/filter/filter.go
+++ b/filter/filter.go
@@ -553,8 +553,7 @@ func GenFilter() (f *T, err er) {
 		}
 	}
 	tn := no(timestamp.Now().I64())
-	before := timestamp.T(tn - frand.Intn(10000))
-	f.Since = &before
+	f.Since = &timestamp.T{int64(tn - frand.Intn(10000))}
 	f.Until = timestamp.Now()
 	f.Search = by("token search text")
 	return
diff --git a/ints/ints.go b/ints/ints.go
index 98e310b..a48c890 100644
--- a/ints/ints.go
+++ b/ints/ints.go
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ func New[V uint | no | uint64 | uint32 | uint16 | uint8 | int64 | int32 | int16
 }
 
 func (n *T) Uint64() uint64 { return n.N }
+func (n *T) Int64() int64   { return int64(n.N) }
 func (n *T) Uint16() uint16 { return uint16(n.N) }
 
 var powers = []*T{
diff --git a/ratel/keys/createdat/createdat.go b/ratel/keys/createdat/createdat.go
index 3ba6822..a210b97 100644
--- a/ratel/keys/createdat/createdat.go
+++ b/ratel/keys/createdat/createdat.go
@@ -19,9 +19,7 @@ var _ keys.Element = &T{}
 
 func New(c *timestamp.T) (p *T) { return &T{Val: c} }
 
-func (c *T) Write(buf *bytes.Buffer) {
-	buf.Write(c.Val.Bytes())
-}
+func (c *T) Write(buf *bytes.Buffer) { buf.Write(c.Val.Bytes()) }
 
 func (c *T) Read(buf *bytes.Buffer) (el keys.Element) {
 	b := make(by, Len)
diff --git a/ratel/preparequeries.go b/ratel/preparequeries.go
index bfad490..91a85c1 100644
--- a/ratel/preparequeries.go
+++ b/ratel/preparequeries.go
@@ -158,18 +158,18 @@ func PrepareQueries(f *filter.T) (
 		}
 		// log.T.S("other", qs)
 	}
-	var until uint64 = math.MaxUint64
+	var until int64 = math.MaxInt64
 	if f.Until != nil {
-		if fu := uint64(*f.Until); fu < until {
+		if fu := f.Until.I64(); fu < until {
 			until = fu - 1
 		}
 	}
 	for i, q := range qs {
-		qs[i].start = binary.BigEndian.AppendUint64(q.searchPrefix, until)
+		qs[i].start = binary.BigEndian.AppendUint64(q.searchPrefix, uint64(until))
 	}
 	// this is where we'll end the iteration
 	if f.Since != nil {
-		if fs := uint64(*f.Since); fs > since {
+		if fs := f.Since.U64(); fs > since {
 			since = fs
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/realy/version b/realy/version
index 33e7b42..8a4bd6c 100644
--- a/realy/version
+++ b/realy/version
@@ -1 +1 @@
-v1.2.40
\ No newline at end of file
+v1.2.41
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/timestamp/timestamp.go b/timestamp/timestamp.go
index 376ae84..026bdfc 100644
--- a/timestamp/timestamp.go
+++ b/timestamp/timestamp.go
@@ -10,16 +10,13 @@ import (
 
 // T is a convenience type for UNIX 64 bit timestamps of 1 second
 // precision.
-type T int64
+type T struct{ V int64 }
 
-func New() (t *T) {
-	tt := T(0)
-	return &tt
-}
+func New() (t *T) { return &T{} }
 
 // Now returns the current UNIX timestamp of the current second.
 func Now() *T {
-	tt := T(time.Now().Unix())
+	tt := T{time.Now().Unix()}
 	return &tt
 }
 
@@ -28,7 +25,7 @@ func (t *T) U64() uint64 {
 	if t == nil {
 		return 0
 	}
-	return uint64(*t)
+	return uint64(t.V)
 }
 
 // I64 returns the current UNIX timestamp of the current second as int64.
@@ -36,45 +33,37 @@ func (t *T) I64() int64 {
 	if t == nil {
 		return 0
 	}
-	return int64(*t)
+	return t.V
 }
 
 // Time converts a timestamp.Time value into a canonical UNIX 64 bit 1 second
 // precision timestamp.
-func (t *T) Time() time.Time { return time.Unix(int64(*t), 0) }
+func (t *T) Time() time.Time { return time.Unix(t.V, 0) }
 
 // Int returns the timestamp as an int.
 func (t *T) Int() no {
 	if t == nil {
 		return 0
 	}
-	return no(*t)
+	return no(t.V)
 }
 
 func (t *T) Bytes() (b by) {
 	b = make(by, 8)
-	binary.BigEndian.PutUint64(b, uint64(*t))
+	binary.BigEndian.PutUint64(b, uint64(t.V))
 	return
 }
 
 // FromTime returns a T from a time.Time
-func FromTime(t time.Time) *T {
-	tt := T(t.Unix())
-	return &tt
-}
+func FromTime(t time.Time) *T { return &T{t.Unix()} }
 
 // FromUnix converts from a standard int64 unix timestamp.
-func FromUnix(t int64) *T {
-	tt := T(t)
-	return &tt
-}
-func (t *T) FromInt(i no) { *t = T(i) }
+func FromUnix(t int64) *T { return &T{t} }
+
+func (t *T) FromInt(i no) { *t = T{int64(i)} }
 
 // FromBytes converts from a string of raw bytes.
-func FromBytes(b by) *T {
-	tt := T(binary.BigEndian.Uint64(b))
-	return &tt
-}
+func FromBytes(b by) *T { return &T{int64(binary.BigEndian.Uint64(b))} }
 
 func FromVarint(b by) (t *T, rem by, err er) {
 	n, read := binary.Varint(b)
@@ -82,13 +71,12 @@ func FromVarint(b by) (t *T, rem by, err er) {
 		err = errorf.E("failed to decode varint timestamp %v", b)
 		return
 	}
-	tt := T(n)
-	t = &tt
+	t = &T{n}
 	rem = b[:read]
 	return
 }
 
-func ToVarint(dst by, t *T) by { return binary.AppendVarint(dst, int64(*t)) }
+func ToVarint(dst by, t *T) by { return binary.AppendVarint(dst, t.V) }
 
 func (t *T) FromVarint(dst by) (b by) { return ToVarint(dst, t) }
 
@@ -99,14 +87,11 @@ func (t *T) String() (s st) {
 	return unsafe.String(&b[0], len(b))
 }
 
-func (t *T) Marshal(dst by) (b by) {
-	tt := ints.New(t.U64())
-	return tt.Marshal(dst)
-}
+func (t *T) Marshal(dst by) (b by) { return ints.New(t.U64()).Marshal(dst) }
 
 func (t *T) Unmarshal(b by) (r by, err er) {
 	n := ints.New(0)
 	r, err = n.Unmarshal(b)
-	*t = T(n.Uint64())
+	*t = T{n.Int64()}
 	return
 }
diff --git a/ws/pool.go b/ws/pool.go
index 00d114e..2a19e0c 100644
--- a/ws/pool.go
+++ b/ws/pool.go
@@ -149,7 +149,7 @@ func (pool *SimplePool) subMany(c cx, urls []st, ff *filters.T,
 	ctx, cancel := context.Cancel(c)
 	_ = cancel // do this so `go vet` will stop complaining
 	events := make(chan IncomingEvent)
-	seenAlready := xsync.NewMapOf[st, timestamp.T]()
+	seenAlready := xsync.NewMapOf[st, *timestamp.T]()
 	ticker := time.NewTicker(time.Duration(seenAlreadyDropTick) * time.Second)
 	eose := false
 	pending := xsync.NewCounter()
@@ -215,7 +215,7 @@ func (pool *SimplePool) subMany(c cx, urls []st, ff *filters.T,
 						}
 						if unique {
 							if _, seen := seenAlready.LoadOrStore(evt.EventID().String(),
-								*evt.CreatedAt); seen {
+								evt.CreatedAt); seen {
 								continue
 							}
 						}
@@ -225,9 +225,9 @@ func (pool *SimplePool) subMany(c cx, urls []st, ff *filters.T,
 						}
 					case <-ticker.C:
 						if eose {
-							old := timestamp.T(timestamp.Now().Int() - seenAlreadyDropTick)
-							seenAlready.Range(func(id st, value timestamp.T) bo {
-								if value < old {
+							old := &timestamp.T{int64(timestamp.Now().Int() - seenAlreadyDropTick)}
+							seenAlready.Range(func(id st, value *timestamp.T) bo {
+								if value.I64() < old.I64() {
 									seenAlready.Delete(id)
 								}
 								return true