J. Wes Ulm's Tumblr Page

Wes's Semi-Amazing, Sometimes-Amusing, Always-Confusing Public Mindtrips

[jwesulm]

Big news #KantKon fans, we're officially a semifinalist in the prestigious and long-running International Songwriting Competition! #ISC2022SEMIFINALIST Dr. Wes has written several new songs over the past year over multiple new genres, now with enough material for a full album and bonus EP; we've been on a bit of a hiatus with public postings amid all the background work, training, and post-production among other duties over the past few weeks and months, but rest assured we haven't been idle. As mentioned we've spread our wings and branched out to four new genres building on our foundation in alt rock, sending a sample of the new productions to the ISC; we're therefore grateful and excited to announce this special honor. A great thanks to the ISC for recognizing our hard work as our submissions move through the contest, and for all you loyal fans and followers out there, we'll be following up with sneak peeks of the new music and remasterings going forward. Stay tuned and rock on! . We are KantKon. Come join the hypno-intox musical revolution! . . . . . #ISC #songwritinghonor #songwritingaward #songwritingawards #internationalsongwritingcompetition #internationalsongwritingcontest #songwriter #isc2022 #newgenres #newalbum #singersongwriter #topsoil #awardedsong #songaward #musicalrange #topsongwriter #nuevacancion #nouvellechanson #neueslied #hypnointox #songrecognition #songprize #comingsoon (at Charlottesville, Virginia) https://www.instagram.com/p/CpvGp64sFNw/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[jwesulm]

Dr. Wes here again everyone, it hurts to have to make back-to-back IG posts on national tragedies but our country and especially its kids have had a horrible past couple weeks, and the shooting in Texas a few days ago was a special sort of anguish. @iambeckyg posted up this collage of the children who lost their lives in the deadly onslaught at Robb Elementary in Uvalde, and seeing each of those faces is like a new gut punch every time. Especially for a parent or anyone planning on starting a family soon but also for America in general, as we mourn yet another horrific tragedy in our schools. Like Sandy Hook all over again, but in some ways even more tragic with the news that law enforcement waited over an hour (78 minutes) to move in and take out the shooter (and even then it was an off-duty Border Patrol agent). Que descansen en paz, niños inocentes, y que Dios esté con Ustedes y sus familias. I could finish this with a note of cynicism and resignation about anything being done to prevent this in the future, and the truth it's probably justified, but the US is already rife with such corrosive sentiment. Right now, there's still a need for blood donations for all those still recovering from their injuries at that nightmarish scene. If you're anywhere nearby, please consider giving blood; we need all types and as much as we can store up. #uvalde #uvaldeshooting #nationaltragedy #schoolshooting #massshooting #texasshooting #shootingintexas #robbelementary #deathofachild #lossofachild #lostinnocence #perdidadelainocencia #masacredelosinocentes #tiroteo #tiroteoenuvalde #tiroteoentexas #tiroteoentejas #tragedianacional  #salvadorramos #elementaryschool #schoolmassacre #sandyhook #78minutes #niñosinocentes #iambeckyg #beckyg #blooddonations #giveblood #donateblood (at Uvalde, Texas) https://www.instagram.com/p/CeKrpbRMe6i/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[jwesulm]

Dr. Wes here everyone, I know my social media is thin on current events (can’t follow news much), but even given recent events and ongoing pandemic, I've been shaken by the mass shooting at the Buffalo Tops Market on Saturday. It’s partly the sheer injustice -- targeting innocents in a grocery store minding their business, never posing hurt or harm, alongside brazenness of the hate crime and collective shock with some tearful old friends from Erie County. Our reactions feel distressingly inadequate amid such psychopathy and evil. This post is my response, some karmic jujitsu to make the crime backfire. In the image is Aaron Salter, Jr., the ex-cop and security guard who died confronting the shooter, Payton Gendron, slowing him enough to save countless lives. Gendron had posted a rambling, 180-page screed where, in his own twisted way, he cast himself as a warrior, self-styled like heroic figures immortalized in ancient Greek chronicles. And he researched county demographics to target working-class African-Americans, too busy working to pay bills and support their families to lobby or even tell their stories--to have social and historical agency. The perp had mocking contempt for his victims, amplifying the massacre’s cruelty.  That’s why Mr. Salter’s picture and personal story are such a potent rejoinder, an antidote to the atrocity. They’re a defiant assertion of agency and power, circumventing the perp's intentions to, instead, shine light on a true American hero, braving great danger to save dozens. So forward this post and tell this man’s story, honor his valor so millions of Americans know who he is, his courage and character, and the meaning of true heroism. #AaronSalter #AaronSalterJr #aaronsalter #aaronsalterjr #trueheroism #truehero #trueamericanhero #realamericanhero #sayhisname #rememberhisname #thisisarealhero #karmicjujitsu #agencyproject #theagencyproject #honorhisname #buffalo #buffaloshooting #paytongendron #buffalomassshooting #massshooting #buffalomassacre #honorahero #massmurder #shootinginbuffalo #buffaloterroristattack #hatecrime #topsmarket #supermarket (at Buffalo, New York) https://www.instagram.com/p/CdmnyJhM-UU/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[jwesulm]

No better feeling for a singer/songwriter than to be back in the recording studio again. . . . . #newmusic #backinthestudio #songwriting #singwriter #recordingart #recordingartist #newsong #inthestudio #backinla #cominghome #backhome🏡 #cantando #singen #originalsong #chanson #chansonnouvelle (at Los Angeles, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/CdhZ8TRMd54/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[jwesulm]

Dr. Wes here, everyone. In the picture is one of the most beautiful sights in the beautiful country of Ukraine, a majestic castle called Kamianets-Podilskyi. My girlfriend sent me this image a couple years ago before the current eruption of conflict, though I'd heard of it over a decade ago in med school, while doing a hematology externship in Germany. It was well-known as a kind of magical historic destination even in Western Europe at the time -- direkt aus einem Märchen (straight out of a fairy tale), as the locals described it -- and one glance at this visually sumptuous monument to human inspiration can convey why. A couple of us in the band had even talked about a performance at a nearby venue before COVID put those plans into suspended animation, and now...  Just damn heartbreaking to think that a country, a region, and a culture that could produce something like this, is embroiled in yet another egotistical strongman's display of belligerent stupidity. If anything, the beauty of such acts of creation only serves to further highlight the repugnance of the invasion that's befallen the wonderful Ukrainian people. Don't want to soapbox on this much more as I'm sure you all have been privy to the heartbreaking scenes on TV and the Web. I'll just say, I have many friends in both Russia and the Ukraine, and the people on the ground -- in both countries -- desperately want peace, to bring their own unique magic and beauty to the world. Maybe, just maybe, one day the egomaniacs who too often gain power (the very presence of that power often attracts such types, unfortunately) will realize that aggressive war, esp. in our modern world, is long, long, long past its sell-by date. #ukraine #russia #fairytale #märchen #fairytale #likeafairytale #fairytalelike #fairytalecastle #castle #medievalcastle #beautifulcastle #Kamianetspodilskyi #kamianets #ukrainiancastle #ukrainian #Стара_фортеця #Старафортеця #war #ukrainewar #ukrainianwar #invasionofukraine #braveukrainians #supportukraine #warinukraine #ucrania #theukraine #Україна #Украина #Oekraïne #Ukraina (at Kamianets-Podilskyi Castle) https://www.instagram.com/p/CblrGHLsffJ/?utm_medium=tumblr

[jwesulm]

Dr. Wes is back in the studio everyone, with 6, yes count them, 6 new songs recorded leading into the New Year! This is on top of the 4 tracks recorded earlier in 2020 and 2021, with enough material for 3 new EPs! Things have been tough amid the pandemic and Dr. Wes has been staying busy on the medical side. But music is balm for the soul especially at a time like this, and he and Kant's Konundrum are excited to bring you some great, innovative, and upbeat new music that's still consistent with their 90s grunge and alt rock roots. Stay tuned for updates! . We are #KantKon Come join the hypno-intox musical revolution! . . . . . #newmusic #upcomingmusic #dancemusic #recordingstudio #inthestudio #JWesUlmandKantsKonundrum #JWesUlm #grabaciones #songwriting #singer #singing #atthemic #altrock #alternativerock #alternative #lovesongs #atmosphericmusic #studiorecordings #soniccanvas #upcomingep #inthezone #singitloud (at Los Angeles, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/CZiSae2Moxd/?utm_medium=tumblr

[jwesulm]

If y'all have been hoping for a heartwarming, optimistic story to offset some of the misery of the ongoing pandemic roaring back for yet another COVID Winter, it's hard to beat this one. The subject of the picture, Davyon Johnson, is an 11 year old student in Muskogee, Oklahoma who saved the lives of 2 people in one day -- a girl in his school who was choking, and then a woman in a burning home. This kid basically pulled off the kind of thing you see in the scripts of superhero movies, heck even in some of my most intense days as a staff physician, this wasn't something that happened very often. Well done Davyon, you've given this country a much needed shot of inspiration mission going into (knocking on a lot of wood) a hopefully better year than the one we've just endured! . . . . . #reallifehero #davyonjohnson #oklahoma #muskogee #lifesaver #kidhero #inspiration #inspirationalstories #inspirationalstory #hero #covid #covid19 #pandemic #shotinthearm #goodnews #wonderfulnews #upliftingnews #newyear #happynewyear #uplifting (at Muskogee, Oklahoma) https://www.instagram.com/p/CYF-_SwMp17/?utm_medium=tumblr

[jwesulm]

Massive thanks from Dr. Wes to everyone who attended the Open Mic on the Potomac last week. We know the weather's starting to get a bit nippy and COVID-19 is still a-raging, so it was a blast to catch up with you fans out there and add a little music to your day. Thanks also for your feedback with the band's latest song forays, we're doing a major jam session and songwriting series next month, and your comments will be doing a lot to shape the final form of the tracks. We are #KantKon Come join the hypno-intox musical revolution! . . . . #openmic #concert #outdoormusic #outdoirconcert #drwes #singer #songwriting #greatoutdoors #potomacriver #potomac #maryland #musclepose #musclepower #flexit #sunglasses #wraparoundsunglasses #strikeapose #leadsinger #newmusic #onfire #concierto #conciertoalairelibre #concertenpleinair #freiluftkonzert #utomhuskonsert #pandemic #covid19 #pandemicmusic (at Potomac River) https://www.instagram.com/p/CWZmJJgspZ_/?utm_medium=tumblr

[jwesulm]

The Covid-19 pandemic may still be a-raging, but the music is still a-playing! Dr. Wes and Kant's Konundrum have still been busy songwriting and outdoor performing even given the limitations and constraints on live events. Here, Dr. Wes is posing afterr an impromptu outdoor rendition of the band's smash hit from their 1st EP, A Hustler's Tale, with it's still record holding music video awarded awarded with 11 prizes on the music and film festival circuit! (link in bio) You can find the original on Spotify, YouTube, AppleMusic, Napster, Audiomack, iTunes, Amazon, and other sources, but a little announcement to herald many more: The band has recently remixed the track and is in the process of preparing it for a re-release, so stay tuned! We are #KantKon Come join the hypno-intox musical revolution! . . . . . #altrock #alternativerock #newmusic #newtrack #remix #remastering #remaster #newjersey #jersey #somerset #bythecreek #bythelake #singer #singersongwriter #songwriter #drwes #JWesUlmandKantsKonundrum #JWesUlm #covid19pandemic #KantsKonundrum #acapella #ahustlersmotivation #ahustlerstale #musicvideo #recordsetter #youtube #spotify #pandemic (at Somerset, New Jersey) https://www.instagram.com/p/CT56EGKskHH/?utm_medium=tumblr

[jwesulm]

Dr. Wes's 1-Minute Exam Pearls is back after a brief summer hiatus -- in (for now) 3 languages! Stay tuned tomorrow for one of Dr. Wes's 1st lessons in Brazilian Portuguese, on the physics of the rainbow, debuting on TikTok, Instagram Reels, and Snapchat. Plenty more coming soon, and for all you Kant's Konundrum fans out there, remember, One Minute Exam Pearls is more or less our lead-in to the re-release of the band's 1st EP and upcoming 2nd EP -- part of the creative adaptation to the pandemic, but we like to see it as seizing a serendipitous opportunity, and we're happy to bring you the fruits of our efforts! . . . . . #onlinelessons #multilinguallessons #multilingual #reels #instagramteacher #instagramreels #tiktok #snapchatteacher #tiktokteacher #snapchat #drwesportuguês #1minexampearl #1minexampearls #drwesespañol #pandemicstyle #pandemic #physicslesson #physics #rainbowcolors #brazilianpotuguese #arcoiris #examprep #testprep #highyieldtopics (at Virginia Beach, Virginia) https://www.instagram.com/p/CS-rMovMrRn/?utm_medium=tumblr

[jwesulm]

Deerspotting on an al fresco music outing earlier in August on the Appalachian Trail. SXSW and the other music festivals and gatherings are in uncertain territory nowadays with Delta continuing the pandemic's persistence, so looking like our outdoor music events will be more ad hoc like this... At least Mother Nature was kind enough to provide the scenery. . . . . . #deerspotting #deer #appalachiantrail #appalachians #covid19 #pandemic #adhoc #musicoutings #covid #deltavariant #deltastrain #coronavirus #sxsw #musicfestival #musicfestivals #alfresco https://www.instagram.com/p/CSyHEHZMgiE/?utm_medium=tumblr

[jwesulm]

Congrats to Zaila Avant-garde: Scripps National Spelling Bee Champion, math child prodigy, star basketball player and Guinness World Record holder -- and all-around inspiration. There's been so much miserable news lately between the Surfside Miami condo collapse, resurgent COVID-19 pandemic and Delta variant, the tragic crash in Alabama... it's refreshing to hear a story of triumph and sheer joy like this. Zaila is not only the first African-American spelling bee champion, but also a veritable polymath and Renaissance woman. She's already building on her accomplishments as a scholar-athlete with plans for a career in the WNBA followed by NASA, perhaps following in the footsteps of the once unsung heroes like Mary Jackson, Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, Annie Easley, and other human calculators who made US space flight possible. It's the sort of story we can all take a measure of pride in during such troubled times. . . . . #zailaavantgarde #zaila #spellingbee #nationalspellingbee #scrippsnationalspellingbee #spelling #childprodigy #mathwhiz #humancomputers #nasa #humancalculator #guinness #guinnessworldrecord #guinnessbook #guinnessbookofworldrecords #worldrecord #maryjackson #katherinejohnson #annieeasley #dorothyvaughan #worldrecords #recordholder #renaissancewoman #polymath #basketballplayer #wnba #covid19 #pandemic #inspiration (at Oxon Hill, Maryland) https://www.instagram.com/p/CRK_IDIsa5o/?utm_medium=tumblr

[jwesulm]

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It's official everyone, Dr. Wes's one minute exam pearls ( #1minexampearls ) has started to go viral, and he's creating multiple versions of his popular and fast-growing educational short-form video series, across multiple social media. This particular video is a crossposting of a TikTok recording, but he'll also be producing independent versions of these lessons on Instagram Reels, Snapchat, and other media. Here he's giving a brief lesson on a very high-yield topic: keeping track of chromosomes in mitosis, the primary cell division mechanism in eukaryotic cells, something that comes up frequently exams from elementary school through college and medical school. He has a dozen videos so far posted and many more recorded, with more to come through the summer and fall. It was a nice project to take on while Kant's Konundrum was on ice amid the pandemic, and now the music is picking up right alongside the public teaching efforts online. Stay tuned. . . . . #viralseries #onlineteaching #onlinelessons #mitosis #cellcycle #biology #cellbiology #cellbio #instagramteacher #exampearls #exampreparation #examprep #chromosomes (at Los Angeles, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/CQ4-nF4gic0/?utm_medium=tumblr

[jwesulm]

Prayers to the loved ones of all the residents in the collapsed Champlain Towers down in Surfside, Florida, as well as to the brave and tireless rescuers still working to pull any survivors to safety. Not trying to make this IG a downer,, but damn it's been a tough couple weeks for us in America this June, and the scenes out of Miami are both harrowing and heartbreaking. Even if the chances are dwindling of someone being found alive in the rubble, it's worth it to expend every last resource to save any survivors, as many have been found days or even weeks holding out after earthquake and other collapses in the past. And again, a salute to the fearless rescue teams there, they're putting their own lives in great peril to save those of others. . . . . . . #champlaintowers #surfside #miami #miamibeach #buildingcollapse #surfsidebuildingcollapse #miamifl #florida #rescuers #purebravery #sheerbravery #courageondisplay #bravery #courage (at Surfside, Florida) https://www.instagram.com/p/CQuhvxwsdzx/?utm_medium=tumblr

[jwesulm]

Condolences and prayers for everyone affected by that horrific crash in Butler County, Alabama and other accidents on Saturday amid Tropical Storm Claudette. Even amidst all the travails and tragedies since the COVID pandemic began ravaging our world in 2020, our hearts sank upon learning of the loss of almost a dozen people in the pileup, including 8 little girls from the Tallapoosa County Girls Ranch who'd battled and overcome so much adversity already. For whatever it's worth coming from strangers several states away, our thoughts are with you during this terrible time. https://www.instagram.com/p/CQY5713Drgj/?utm_medium=tumblr

[jwesulm]

Some cicada closeups,, snapped after strumming and jamming while trekking around the Blue Ridge region. These guys are true marvels of nature, creepy as they may look with their red eyes and orange wings -- lying low for 17 years before emerging to mate and start the cycle all over again. Their mating calls fill the forest way up on the decibel scale, louder than a big rig truck at times but for us, it was strangely beautiful, like a haunting symphony or chorus in the background. . . . #cicada #cicadacloseups #cicadas #cicadapics #naturesbeauty #naturalrhythms #every17years #matingcall #matingcalls #creepy #creepycloseup #creepycloseups #highres #naturesmusic #naturessymphony #natureschorus #naturessoundtrack #haunting (at Blue Ridge Parkway) https://www.instagram.com/p/CPpCP7BjIR2/?utm_medium=tumblr

[jwesulm]

Dr. Wes has recently taped another series of his one minute exam pearls, the innovative, popular, and fast-growing educational series of compact, high-yield test-prep lessons packed into 60 seconds for Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, YouTube, Vimeo, Facebook, Twitter, and other social media. For all you #KantKon and other music fans, fear not, Dr. Wes is still very much engaged as a songwriter and musician, assembling new songs just like before. The one-minute exam pearls series is simply a nice complement to the music with the COVID-19 pandemic shutting down so many musical events for a while. and it's helped to spread the band's audience more globally. The two will be advancing in tandem. Just zn FYI to you out there, if you have any requests for lessons that you'd like Wes to record, feel free to post them up here or on any other social media, the recordings mostly begin on TikTok but will be shared on other media as well. Lots of exciting stuff coming soon as we all, hopefully, gradually emerge from the dark shadow of this persistent plague year we've been under for what seems like an eternity already. . . . #educationalservices #teaching #examprep #testprep #exampearls #teachjng #usefulsubjects #highyield #drwes #learningisfun #funlearning #coollearning #creativelessons #oneminutelessons #60secondlessons #60secondlesson #1minutelesson #oneminuteexampearls #drwesoneminuteexampearls #instagramteacher #tiktokteacher #snapchatteacher (at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania) https://www.instagram.com/p/CPb3DBrDWKW/?utm_medium=tumblr