I'm Alex Kearney, I'm Science at the University of Alberta. I focus on Artificial Intelligence and Epistemology.





Looking for a quarantine activity? Try selling tarantulas to the raccoons that live down the street.


Running low on eggs due to grocery shortages. Stretching protein to last a few more days by having blueberry pancakes.


For the first time in my life I used duct tape for its intended purpose.


Every Monday a bunch of folks from the lab get together to watch movies---we've done it for years. Monday Movie Madness. All of us are practicing social isolation, but didn't let that get in our way of movie-time. We spun up a chat app and pressed play at the same time. This week we watched the surprisingly appropriate Wes Anderson film, Isle of Dogs.

Even when you're far apart, watching a movie together and having a little catch-up is a nice way to break the hermitude.


It's amazing how things have changed over the weekend. On Friday I boarded a plane in San Francisco---an area with a covid outbreak---and was only asked if I'd been in contact with people traveling in Italy/China/Iran. Today the border is closed to everyone except Canadians and Americans. People who cross the border are asked to self-quarantine for 14 days.


I’m on my way home a bit early from my internship. I’m truly fortunate my team was flexible in letting work from home in my real home.

Going to isolate myself for two weeks just to be safe.

It feels so good to be on a plane.

San Francisco International Airport → Edmonton International Airport


When everyone was scrambling buying beans and pasta, I bought a little extra toilet paper. I feel like a prescient crisis champion.


Today in corona WFH: matcha custard bun and a toasty pourover. All with a view of some fresh roasting.


I was on the train earlier and this older man flipped out at an asian kid with a cold to "stop coughing".

I pointed out he could politely ask someone to cover their mouth, rather than blowing a fuse. It's not like you can stop a cough. His response? "Not during a public health crisis."

These people's reactions are not proportional to the threat: it's hysteria.

Fear is not an excuse to be rude to others.


I've been quarantined. To stop myself from going stir-crazy I took a walk.