Paul Johstono
@profpaulj.bsky.social
Ancient Military Historian at Air Command & Staff College; teaching leadership, ethics, strategy;
@DukeU PhD; @FurmanU
My opinions only
@DukeU PhD; @FurmanU
My opinions only
Reposted by Paul Johstono
Handing back student work that’s been written by ChatGPT with a 0 followed by the comment “This essay will never stand in authentic wonder before the Beauty of God’s creation.”
Pope Leo XIV told students not to use artificial intelligence for homework, saying that AI ‘won’t stand in authentic wonder before the beauty of God’s creation.’
Even God Is Worried About ChatGPT
Pope Leo XIV told students not to use artificial intelligence for homework, saying that AI ‘won’t stand in authentic wonder before the beauty of God’s creation.’
www.vulture.com
November 26, 2025 at 3:35 PM
Handing back student work that’s been written by ChatGPT with a 0 followed by the comment “This essay will never stand in authentic wonder before the Beauty of God’s creation.”
Reposted by Paul Johstono
#OTD in 1863, 23,000 Union Troops storm Missionary Ridge in one of the all time epic charges in American military history decisively routing Confederate forces and opening the literal and symbolic “Gateway to the South” (1
November 25, 2025 at 7:44 PM
#OTD in 1863, 23,000 Union Troops storm Missionary Ridge in one of the all time epic charges in American military history decisively routing Confederate forces and opening the literal and symbolic “Gateway to the South” (1
I prefer the old definition of hybrid war that actually involves armed conflict. Maybe its meaningless, but I think its good to retain a term that describes what Russia was doing, e.g., in Donbas 2014.
Firing random thoughts into the sky.
Firing random thoughts into the sky.
November 25, 2025 at 3:18 PM
I prefer the old definition of hybrid war that actually involves armed conflict. Maybe its meaningless, but I think its good to retain a term that describes what Russia was doing, e.g., in Donbas 2014.
Firing random thoughts into the sky.
Firing random thoughts into the sky.
Check Bluesky today and its
a woman is shaking hands with a young man and says `` here 's some money , go see a star war . ''
ALT: a woman is shaking hands with a young man and says `` here 's some money , go see a star war . ''
media.tenor.com
November 25, 2025 at 3:11 PM
Check Bluesky today and its
Reposted by Paul Johstono
Me: You need to learn the geography of Italy.
The Geography:
The Geography:
November 13, 2025 at 1:31 AM
Me: You need to learn the geography of Italy.
The Geography:
The Geography:
Trying to write on the Late Ptolemaic Army (like, really late) means having to grapple with the contingent called "Hippothracians" and their astronomical pay rate.
November 6, 2025 at 10:11 PM
Trying to write on the Late Ptolemaic Army (like, really late) means having to grapple with the contingent called "Hippothracians" and their astronomical pay rate.
This is America?
NEW: Footage of a US citizen in Chicago being rammed then dragged from her car on her way to work.
Abducted, with no warrant, her family couldn’t find her for hours.
She was later released with NO CHARGE.
A DHS statement said she “violently resisted arrest, injuring two officers”.
You decide…
Abducted, with no warrant, her family couldn’t find her for hours.
She was later released with NO CHARGE.
A DHS statement said she “violently resisted arrest, injuring two officers”.
You decide…
November 4, 2025 at 2:16 AM
This is America?
Reposted by Paul Johstono
New from Bellingcat: “‘Pattern of Extreme Brutality’ — Tear gas, pepper balls among weapons used by federal agents at Illinois immigration protests.”
Read the full investigation:
www.bellingcat.com/news/2025/10...
Read the full investigation:
www.bellingcat.com/news/2025/10...
Tear Gas, Pepper Balls Among Weapons Deployed Against Illinois Protesters
A judge recently issued a restraining order on crowd-control tactics by federal agents in the state, including those involved in Operation Midway Blitz.
www.bellingcat.com
October 31, 2025 at 7:44 PM
New from Bellingcat: “‘Pattern of Extreme Brutality’ — Tear gas, pepper balls among weapons used by federal agents at Illinois immigration protests.”
Read the full investigation:
www.bellingcat.com/news/2025/10...
Read the full investigation:
www.bellingcat.com/news/2025/10...
Reposted by Paul Johstono
“Individuals on the ground sent a message that reached us Monday morning that 1,200 were dead,” Nathaniel Raymond, the lab’s executive director, said. “By that evening, they said 10,000. By Tuesday, we couldn’t reach them anymore. We assume our ground contacts are dead.”
Yale lab reports mass killings in Sudan, calls for student activism
The Humanitarian Research Lab was told this week that over 10,000 people in Sudan were killed within three days.
yaledailynews.com
October 31, 2025 at 8:02 PM
“Individuals on the ground sent a message that reached us Monday morning that 1,200 were dead,” Nathaniel Raymond, the lab’s executive director, said. “By that evening, they said 10,000. By Tuesday, we couldn’t reach them anymore. We assume our ground contacts are dead.”
Happy Halloween from Captain Rex
November 1, 2025 at 12:52 AM
Happy Halloween from Captain Rex
All about that Bassus
Antony, while he has been musing a Parthian campaign, has left that frontier under-defended in the mean time and in 40, the Parthians, with some pro-Pompey dead-enders, invade. Antony is off partying with Cleopatra.
The only man in their way? P. Ventidius Bassus. 21/
The only man in their way? P. Ventidius Bassus. 21/
a man in a tuxedo with a bow tie is sitting in a crowd of people .
Alt: a man in a tuxedo with a bow tie is sitting in a crowd of people making a 'bring it on' gesture.
media.tenor.com
October 24, 2025 at 5:25 AM
All about that Bassus
Reposted by Paul Johstono
New satellite images show the scale of demolition that has occurred on the East Wing of the White House in less than a month.
October 23, 2025 at 7:02 PM
New satellite images show the scale of demolition that has occurred on the East Wing of the White House in less than a month.
Reposted by Paul Johstono
“For local residents, Russia’s human safari has made sudden death from above an everyday fact of life. During the first nine months of 2025, more than a hundred people were killed and over one thousand were wounded in drone attacks.”
www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/ukrain...
www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/ukrain...
Russia’s ‘human safari’ in southern Ukraine is a warning to the world
Russia's escalating campaign of drone attacks on the civilian population of Ukraine's Kherson region highlights the destructive power of modern drone technologies, writes Oleksandr Tolokonnikov.
www.atlanticcouncil.org
October 24, 2025 at 4:49 AM
“For local residents, Russia’s human safari has made sudden death from above an everyday fact of life. During the first nine months of 2025, more than a hundred people were killed and over one thousand were wounded in drone attacks.”
www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/ukrain...
www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/ukrain...
If "Sextus' Ship Asclepius" isn't the next Mardi Gras Krewe, I'll be deeply disappointed.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Roman grave marker found in New Orleans yard left there by US soldier’s granddaughter
Erin Scott O’Brien says grandfather Charles Paddock brought back artifact with him from second world war
www.theguardian.com
October 17, 2025 at 1:43 PM
If "Sextus' Ship Asclepius" isn't the next Mardi Gras Krewe, I'll be deeply disappointed.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Reposted by Paul Johstono
Hey Military Historians, esp Grad students! The SMH is announcing its 2026 Summer Seminar in Military history, hosted by the Adams Center at VMI. This is a fabulous opportunity to learn the field outside your specialty, to network, and enjoy the Blue Ridge Mountains. www.smh-hq.org/summersemina...
Summer Seminar | The Society for Military History
www.smh-hq.org
October 7, 2025 at 4:39 PM
Hey Military Historians, esp Grad students! The SMH is announcing its 2026 Summer Seminar in Military history, hosted by the Adams Center at VMI. This is a fabulous opportunity to learn the field outside your specialty, to network, and enjoy the Blue Ridge Mountains. www.smh-hq.org/summersemina...
"Each employee of the United States Government ... furloughed as a result of a covered lapse in appropriations shall be paid for the period of the lapse in appropriations... at the earliest date possible"
But I guess Vought's interpretation is that the paycheck could be months/years in the future?
But I guess Vought's interpretation is that the paycheck could be months/years in the future?
October 7, 2025 at 1:52 PM
"Each employee of the United States Government ... furloughed as a result of a covered lapse in appropriations shall be paid for the period of the lapse in appropriations... at the earliest date possible"
But I guess Vought's interpretation is that the paycheck could be months/years in the future?
But I guess Vought's interpretation is that the paycheck could be months/years in the future?
Reposted by Paul Johstono
Israel prepares for hostage release after Hamas agrees to parts of Trump’s peace plan on.ft.com/4o9wdnb
Israel prepares for hostage release after Hamas agrees to parts of Trump’s peace plan
US president ordered Israel to cease bombing but Gaza residents report scattered explosions
on.ft.com
October 4, 2025 at 9:23 AM
Israel prepares for hostage release after Hamas agrees to parts of Trump’s peace plan on.ft.com/4o9wdnb
Reposted by Paul Johstono
⚡ BREAKING: Starlink 'down across the entire front line' in Ukraine as internet service suffers global outage.
The service has become vital for hospitals, schools, and front-line military units across Ukraine.
kyivindependent.com/ukraine-affe...
The service has become vital for hospitals, schools, and front-line military units across Ukraine.
kyivindependent.com/ukraine-affe...
BREAKING: Starlink 'down across the entire front line' in Ukraine as internet service suffers global outage
The service has become vital for hospitals, schools, and front-line military units across Ukraine.
kyivindependent.com
September 15, 2025 at 5:34 AM
⚡ BREAKING: Starlink 'down across the entire front line' in Ukraine as internet service suffers global outage.
The service has become vital for hospitals, schools, and front-line military units across Ukraine.
kyivindependent.com/ukraine-affe...
The service has become vital for hospitals, schools, and front-line military units across Ukraine.
kyivindependent.com/ukraine-affe...
Reposted by Paul Johstono
Why is it so hard to study war seriously in American academia? From Clausewitz to West Point’s new major, I dive into the fragmentation, disappearance, and possible revival of war as a subject of tactical, operational, and political thought. My Latest⬇️
The "War Studies" Problem
The Challenges of a Disciplinary Approach to a Multidisciplinary Problem
secretaryrofdefenserock.substack.com
September 3, 2025 at 9:08 PM
Why is it so hard to study war seriously in American academia? From Clausewitz to West Point’s new major, I dive into the fragmentation, disappearance, and possible revival of war as a subject of tactical, operational, and political thought. My Latest⬇️
Reposted by Paul Johstono
A downed Russian surveillance drone type Gerbera contained test footage from the Chinese factory from which it was delivered.
August 30, 2025 at 9:01 PM
A downed Russian surveillance drone type Gerbera contained test footage from the Chinese factory from which it was delivered.
In the flesh and it's fantastic. Great resource from @historianabel.bsky.social with beautiful set of figures
August 24, 2025 at 9:09 PM
In the flesh and it's fantastic. Great resource from @historianabel.bsky.social with beautiful set of figures
When I see multi-clausal sentences with adjective-heavy triplets in each clause, I begin suspecting my writer was using generative AI.
#grading
#grading
August 23, 2025 at 4:47 PM
When I see multi-clausal sentences with adjective-heavy triplets in each clause, I begin suspecting my writer was using generative AI.
#grading
#grading
Reposted by Paul Johstono
(headbashing ensues)
Palmer Luckey: I Saw the Future of War. Now It’s Up to Us to Prepare For It.
Technology is now the greatest battlefield advantage, writes Palmer Luckey. It’s time for Taiwan—and a new generation of innovators—to heed the call to build.
www.thefp.com
August 5, 2025 at 4:31 PM
(headbashing ensues)
Reposted by Paul Johstono
The entire business model of R1 public universities rests on 4 revenue sources:
1. Federal grants
2. Private gifts/endowments
3. Tuition (esp. from foreign students)
4. State $
For decades, 📈 in 1-3 offset a secular 📉 in 4. Now, 1 & 3 are being decimated & 4 ain't coming back. The math is clear.
1. Federal grants
2. Private gifts/endowments
3. Tuition (esp. from foreign students)
4. State $
For decades, 📈 in 1-3 offset a secular 📉 in 4. Now, 1 & 3 are being decimated & 4 ain't coming back. The math is clear.
August 5, 2025 at 6:13 PM
The entire business model of R1 public universities rests on 4 revenue sources:
1. Federal grants
2. Private gifts/endowments
3. Tuition (esp. from foreign students)
4. State $
For decades, 📈 in 1-3 offset a secular 📉 in 4. Now, 1 & 3 are being decimated & 4 ain't coming back. The math is clear.
1. Federal grants
2. Private gifts/endowments
3. Tuition (esp. from foreign students)
4. State $
For decades, 📈 in 1-3 offset a secular 📉 in 4. Now, 1 & 3 are being decimated & 4 ain't coming back. The math is clear.
76% bot traffic on the other place. Hot damn.
July 31, 2025 at 6:48 PM
76% bot traffic on the other place. Hot damn.