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John Tobias

@johntobias.us

31 followers 33 following 41 posts

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grizcalderon.bsky.social @grizcalderon.bsky.social · 11h

Lisbon holds not one, but two great “cities of the dead.” I visited Cemitério do Alto de São João, where marble gates & sunlight reveal stories of love and remembrance. Across the city stands its twin, Cemitério dos Prazeres, equally grand & filled with history.

open.substack.com/pub/grizcald...

Streets of Silence

Inside Lisbon’s Cities of the Dead

open.substack.com

Reposted by John Tobias

grizcalderon.bsky.social @grizcalderon.bsky.social · 1d

open.substack.com/pub/grizcald...

Redefining Retirement

Life Beyond the Work We Do

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Reposted by John Tobias

grizcalderon.bsky.social @grizcalderon.bsky.social · 18h

We’ve all seen the image — the hooded figure with a scythe — but have you ever wondered where that image came from, or why we fear it?

In this post, I explore how the Reaper’s story began, how it changed through history, and why my version is different.

open.substack.com/pub/grizcald...

Why We’re Drawn to the Grim Reaper

You’ve probably seen him a hundred times: a skeletal figure in a dark cloak, a scythe in hand, silent and looming.

open.substack.com

John Tobias @johntobias.us · 3d

I can guarantee you, this book is worth the read. Best Sci-Fi with a touch of humor I have read in a long time!

Adam Holcombe @adamholcombe.bountyink.com · 4d

If you're wondering if you'll enjoy Bounty Inc., wonder no more! You can check out Parts 1 & 2 for a limited time on my Patreon for free! I will unfortunately have to remove chapters once the book releases, but until then I have many available.

Check it out here: www.patreon.com/posts/bounty...

Bounty Inc Chapter List | Adam Holcombe - Bounty Ink Press

Get more from Adam Holcombe - Bounty Ink Press on Patreon

www.patreon.com

Reposted by John Tobias

Adam Holcombe @adamholcombe.bountyink.com · 4d

In just one week, Bounty Inc. will be released to the world, and you can preorder it right now so you have it in time!

Do you like the found family/ensemble of Guardians of the Galaxy? The universe of Mass Effect? The absurd humor of One Piece? This is soup of all that and more!

Links below 👇

Bounty Inc. by Adam Holcombe

John Tobias @johntobias.us · 19d

(think more like Michael Crichton's Airframe than anything written by Tom Clancy). This is a book I will certainly be returning to repeatedly especially as our AI matures.
@TheTorusAI #thetorusrun #sciencefiction #books

John Tobias @johntobias.us · 19d

He is in a position to know having worked on AI for some time. I hope his work is more fictional than fact at this point though. There is some technical information in the story, though that which isn't explicitly explained can be figured out from the context without too much trouble.

John Tobias @johntobias.us · 19d

(ok they are slightly better than that, but they still get more wrong than they get right) However, the future that Harry Buck envisions is not only possible, but more likely than either SkyNet or the Matrix.

John Tobias @johntobias.us · 19d

I am not one that thinks SkyNet is just around the corner, and our AI is going to revolt and kill us all. Especially since what we call AI now is little more than a really powerful search engine equipped with a Sirius Cybernetics Genuine People Personality cobbled on.

John Tobias @johntobias.us · 19d

The story really made me think, especially the ending, which, much like the discarded Barbasol can in Jurassic Park (I saw what you did there...) leaves you wondering if it was a happy ending or a tragic one. I guess that's what sequels are for.

John Tobias @johntobias.us · 19d

I just finished The Torus Run by Harry Buck. It's a truly inspiring (and utterly terrifying) look at AI and its potential for good and for evil. It's a great read, with suspense, high tech shenanigans, robots, humor, and heart.

John Tobias @johntobias.us · 19d

Homemade Pumpkin Spice Latte and a Palm T/X. The stuff of legends. Sometimes you need to enjoy the simple things in life. #coffee

John Tobias @johntobias.us · 20d

Late in the evening during autumn in the north. A quiet room, a good book, and a cup of coffee is all I need.

John Tobias @johntobias.us · 25d

To see the horizon aflame with the rising sun, reds, yellows, and blues all blending into art that Bob Ross could only have dreamt of capturing. From my porch I can see Venus (bottom) the crescent Moon, and Jupiter (top) as well as the sun rising. What a great time of year

John Tobias @johntobias.us · 25d

I look at Jupiter, 318 times the mass of Earth, 1300 Earths fit inside Jupiter, and here it is a tiny (albeit bright) dot in the sky. It gives you a sense of our place in the universe, of just how incredible, how awe inspiring, how fascinating our galaxy and all of the others are. .

John Tobias @johntobias.us · 25d

Good morning everyone. It must be because it's fall, I always get all maudlin in Autumn, but every morning I go out with my coffee to watch the sunrise and look at the stars and planets as they lose their battle to be seen to the sun.

John Tobias @johntobias.us · 29d

If you are in Dallas (or close) today you owe it to yourself to go meet two great authors and find two great books!

www.threads.com/@grizcaldero...

Griz Calderon (@grizcalderon) on Threads

Super excited to be doing a book signing with Harry Buck at Barnes & Noble in Dallas! 📚✨ We’ll be there on Saturday, September 13th from 11AM to 3PM signing our books — Chronicles of the Grim Reaper ...

www.threads.com

John Tobias @johntobias.us · 29d

I know I did. I really just cannot find words strong enough to praise this collection of stories. I know I did. I really just cannot find words strong enough to praise this collection of stories. Get your copy today and READ it. chroniclesofthegrimreaper.com @grizcalderon.bsky.social
#fiction

Chronicles of the Grim Reaper

A journey through the eyes of the one who sees all endings but is never part of the story...until now.

chroniclesofthegrimreaper.com

John Tobias @johntobias.us · 29d

I think this is the kind of book you need to read and reread, to be able to sort through the emotions the stories provoke. I really believe that whatever you have been through in your life, that you will find a story (and likely many) that will speak to you personally.

John Tobias @johntobias.us · 29d

I recently finished Chronicles of The Grim Reaper (By Griz Calderon) and now I think I am ready for my first re-read. My first time through the book was VERY moving. Some of the stories really effected me, some really made me think, and all of them were entertaining.

John Tobias @johntobias.us · 29d

Seriously, Mr. Buck, I tip my hat to you. I cannot wait to finish it. If you like Sci-Fi and are at all interested in the plight of AI you should check out this book! (a.co/d/0FeNVdj)

John Tobias @johntobias.us · 29d

I am reading though The Torus Run by Harry Buck and its a fascinating look at AI and its potential and its dangers, but while I am still not finished with it I just had to comment that Anthrobotics is the best company name since US Robotics and Mechanical Men.

John Tobias @johntobias.us · Jul 26

It might be time to add an Original XL to the arsenal and keep the Go in my travel coffee box. It really does make GOOD coffee though.

John Tobias @johntobias.us · Jul 26

Been making my morning coffee(s) the last few days in my AeroPress Go. I picked up the stainless steel filter and the flow control filter cap both of which work perfectly. My only regret is that being the Go (and not the Go Plus, which is still too small 😉) I need to keep making cup after cup.

John Tobias @johntobias.us · Jul 25

favorite has got to be Zetta, gotta love the attitude, and the HIGH LEVEL math and physics skills.