Offline Brain / Blog
The blog
Plain guides to offline AI, offline Wikipedia, offline maps and getting through an outage, for New Zealand and the US. Every fact links to the page we read it on.
- Offline AI: can you run your own AI on a laptop with no internet?
Yes. Small open models now run on an ordinary laptop with the wifi off. Here's what that takes, how fast it is, and where it falls short.
Offline AI5 min read - Offline Wikipedia with Kiwix: what it is, how big it is, and how to set it up
All of English Wikipedia fits on a laptop and works with no internet. Kiwix is the free tool that does it. Here are the real file sizes and the choices you'll make.
Offline Wikipedia5 min read - Internet outage at home: a calm first-hour plan, and what still works offline
What to check first when the internet drops, how to save your phone battery, what to do if the power is out too, and why it's worth knowing what on your laptop works with no connection at all.
Outages5 min read - Emergency kit NZ: what Civil Defence actually says to have
The official Get Ready list for a New Zealand household, a grab bag and the car, in plain words. Most of it you already own. Plus the one thing the list asks you to think about that most kits skip.
Preparedness5 min read - Offline maps in New Zealand: what still works when there's no signal
Google Maps, Organic Maps and LINZ Topo50 all work without a connection if you set them up first. Here's what each one does offline, and the gaps to know about.
Offline maps4 min read - Emergency radio: why a crank or battery radio is still on every official list
Both NZ Civil Defence and the US government list a radio in the basic kit. Here's why it still matters with a smartphone in your pocket, what to tune to in each country, and what to look for when you buy one.
Preparedness4 min read
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