Stephen Gower

Writer/podcaster; fan of books, podcasts, hockey, baseball, curling & movies. Regional Traffic Manager for Rogers Radio in Ottawa. Views & opinions are my own.

I was also diagnosed with epilepsy at the age of 35. Sometimes I talk about that.

You can find links to my work at https://srgower.com

Location: Ottawa, ON, CA
Website: https://srgower.com
Blog: https://lwgrs.bearblog.dev
Photo Blog: https://photos.srgower.com/

Public Key

npub1auja7czj79ncjdqn8g4qk4eqa3adjzav50swcs9rew98zajmdwlskj9hrx

NIP-05 Address

srgower_at_ottawa.place@momostr.pink

Profile Code

nprofile1qqsw7fwlvpf0zeufxsfn52st2uswc7kepwk28c8vgz3uhzn3wedkh0cpz3mhxue69uhhyetvv9ujuerpd46hxtnfduqs6amnwvaz7tmwdaejumr0dshj4f2f

Publishing to

nostr.mom

relay.damus.io

nos.lol

Author Public Key

npub1auja7czj79ncjdqn8g4qk4eqa3adjzav50swcs9rew98zajmdwlskj9hrx

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Last Notes

2026-03-18 02:50:47 UTC

I read the first 100 pages of "Raise the Titanic!". I'm in a weird spot with it - it's somewhat intriguing but it's also slow as hell. I might need to give it another 100 pages.
https://assets.ottawa.place/media_attachments/files/116/247/903/997/750/025/original/7fc02fb5ff7b2b7c.jpg

2025-12-30 15:37:19 UTC

Check out my year in books for 2025! I hope to continue the podcast version of this blog in 2026 and reading even more fun books. #books #reading #blog
https://slowreader.art.blog/2025/12/30/my-year-in-books-2025/
https://assets.ottawa.place/media_attachments/files/115/809/257/940/245/244/original/53a92cbfe78bcfaa.png

2025-11-12 04:04:45 UTC

I haven't published this to my franchise tracker, but one of the purposes for the scorebook I made tonight is for these games. Much easier to track than a full sheet. Here's a sample.
https://assets.ottawa.place/media_attachments/files/115/534/743/691/308/329/original/fb4801c500a63f34.jpg

2025-11-11 23:15:03 UTC

Whipped this together real quick tonight. Will be using it for my MLB The Show 24 games.
https://assets.ottawa.place/media_attachments/files/115/533/604/576/439/265/original/2a4e2ae25b1f68df.jpg
https://assets.ottawa.place/media_attachments/files/115/533/604/600/375/047/original/9c57fa87e2bf2cc2.jpg

2025-08-29 00:32:31 UTC

I just finished reading the first part of Fahrenheit 451. Man...Bradbury was a genius. #books

2025-08-11 17:41:01 UTC

"listening for master"
https://assets.ottawa.place/media_attachments/files/115/011/358/508/048/642/original/6433af7c485f998a.jpg

2025-08-10 14:00:56 UTC

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if this got you mad about Apple's refusal to make tech easy to repair, don't read anything @npub1fdr…lvhs has to say about the right to repair.

2025-05-15 19:57:29 UTC

Yeah I think I like the Now Bar as a concept. But it's a little small and poorly placed.
https://assets.ottawa.place/media_attachments/files/114/513/610/856/919/610/original/781b170d29a9da31.jpg

2025-04-21 00:24:33 UTC

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Plex is set up. First disc ripped.
https://assets.ottawa.place/media_attachments/files/114/373/104/228/276/970/original/7ad413a5d5456edf.jpg

2025-04-20 21:46:50 UTC

Currently setting up Linux Mint on a spare PC. Going to proceed to setting up a Plex server on it. Got the ReBoot box set that is going to be ripped first.
One thing I want to try doing (maybe) is set up a private URL instead of relying on an IP number.

2024-10-16 15:57:48 UTC

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I went to London/Paris/Amsterdam more than 20 years ago; my highlight from the Paris trip was our side trip to Versailles. There's definitely a lot of places that are nicer than Paris, haha!

2024-10-16 13:09:30 UTC

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Nice does in fact look nice!

2024-10-10 07:26:34 UTC

New #blog post: Land Acknowledgements
I heard a podcast episode recently that addressed some of my feelings about land acknowledgements in Canada. I found it interesting and recommend listening to it.
https://lwgrs.bearblog.dev/land-acknowledgements/
#EchoFeed

2024-10-05 15:05:58 UTC

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tagging seems like a good idea. I think posting a link to the post to function as a "quote" is the best of both worlds. That way, you don't necessarily get brigaded if you're not tagged. I don't know if that theory holds water.

2024-10-04 15:41:10 UTC

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solid content warning
https://assets.ottawa.place/media_attachments/files/113/249/908/682/494/761/original/f3701ae558ac5f11.jpg

2024-09-29 15:41:36 UTC

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haha! I wasn't entirely clear either. But the scenes there were shot in a way to make you think something was going to go terribly wrong.

2024-09-29 15:23:46 UTC

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I watched that a couple months ago. I knew the rough idea of the events it was based on, but not many details. I felt the movie on its own did a great job of building tension as you're expecting something to happen the entire time (especially the compound). I think knowing a bit about the events increased that tension for me just a little bit more.

2024-09-20 19:10:20 UTC

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They're really creating barriers to entry for something they apparently want to happen, eh?

2024-09-18 15:03:53 UTC

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I guess we know Pierre Polievre follows up on easy promises.

2024-09-12 22:24:17 UTC

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that is definitely a sign someone is paying attention and it's always nice. I don't usually mind if someone spells my name with a v, since that's the common spelling. But one coworker spells it that way every time and my name is spelled with a ph in the email address! That's when I get annoyed haha

2024-09-08 15:21:54 UTC

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and I'm paying to play softball

2024-09-06 14:10:31 UTC

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Oh - what about filters? One of the reasons I've avoided using Openvibe (for reading Mastodon) is because it doesn't use all of the filters I set up. I had a lot of posts show up that I didn't want to see in my feed.

2024-09-05 21:55:55 UTC

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that first squirrel picture reminds me of either Mr. Peanut or the monopoly man

2024-09-05 17:00:56 UTC

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I think it's more about distancing the NDP from the Liberals than anything else. They don't want to go down with the ship.

2024-09-05 14:43:28 UTC

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from someone who has already gone through a "return to office" policy two years ago - what I'm seeing gov't workers going through is no different. Well, other than the lack of desk space issue - THAT is a genuine concern. But the same language is being used - working in person is better for collaboration, morale, etc. They're saying all that to justify forcing people back to the office but there's just not much substance to it. In some cases I've found it to be true, but my job doesn't need on-site presence. And yet, 3 days a week :)

2024-09-04 02:43:54 UTC

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I have Android but notifications aren't enabled yet (I emailed the dev). I did download it on my iPad but I don't turn on any notifications.

2024-09-04 01:56:16 UTC

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I just wish things like filters still worked. Otherwise, great product

2024-08-27 17:41:03 UTC

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He'll just become the office pet.

2024-08-25 22:37:47 UTC

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my wife and I were up front with NAFC & Odawa Native Friendship Centre. Wild day! Everyone had a good time.

2024-08-19 14:13:59 UTC

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I find it actually quite similar to Megalodon, which I was using previously. Almost exactly like it but with some slight differences. In some ways it seems a little more responsive. Will have to test it out some more.

2024-08-19 12:20:09 UTC

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one thing I need to change is turning vibrations off for notifications, haha.

2024-08-19 12:06:25 UTC

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First time I've heard of this app. Trying it out now! So far I like the look of it.

2024-08-15 18:38:14 UTC

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Ditto. FB Marketplace works very well in my experience. Both buying & selling.

2024-08-11 17:25:49 UTC

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probably safe so long as Hitchcock isn't around.

2024-08-10 00:32:26 UTC

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A photo that is both amazing and cute :)

2024-08-07 17:05:59 UTC

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I recommend Phanpy (https://phanpy.social). It puts boosts into a carousel that is separate from original posts. Neat feature and better than having boosts appear in your timeline. But wholly agree, boost grouping doesn't work very well natively.

2024-07-31 21:36:53 UTC

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just enough to clear the humidity though, I have softball tonight!

2024-06-14 16:59:19 UTC

Re-writing my #Introduction post, since I switched from another server.
I write, create podcasts, and enjoy reading. I also love stargazing - I wish I had a telescope to look at the planets, but it's satisfying enough to pick out Jupiter and Saturn in the night sky lately.
I live in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, I have epilepsy (diagnosed in 2019 at the age of 35).
You can find links to most of my work here: https://srgower.com.
Nice to meet you!