Cookie Policy
Last Updated: July 2, 2025
Effective Date: July 2, 2025
What Are Cookies
As is common practice with almost all professional websites, this site uses cookies, which are tiny files that are downloaded to your computer, to improve your experience. This page describes what information they gather, how we use it, and why we sometimes need to store these cookies.
Technical Definition
Cookies are small text files that are placed on your device (computer, smartphone, or tablet) when you visit a website. They are widely used to make websites work more efficiently and to provide information to website owners about how users interact with their sites.
Types of Cookies by Duration
- Session Cookies: These are temporary cookies that are deleted when you close your browser. They help websites remember what you did on previous pages within the same browsing session.
- Persistent Cookies: These remain on your device for a set period or until you delete them. They remember your preferences and actions across multiple browsing sessions.
Types of Cookies by Origin
- First-Party Cookies: Set directly by our website and can only be read by our website.
- Third-Party Cookies: Set by external services that we use on our website, such as analytics providers or advertising networks.
How We Use Cookies
We use cookies for a variety of reasons detailed below. Unfortunately, in most cases, there are no industry standard options for disabling cookies without completely disabling the functionality and features they add to this site. It is recommended that you leave on all cookies if you are not sure whether you need them or not in case they are used to provide a service that you use.
Essential Website Functionality
Some cookies are essential for the basic functionality of our website. These cookies enable core features such as:
- Maintaining your session as you navigate between pages
- Remembering your privacy preferences
- Ensuring website security and preventing fraud
- Enabling basic website features to function properly
Performance and Analytics
We use cookies to understand how visitors interact with our website, which helps us improve our content and user experience:
- Tracking which pages are most popular
- Understanding user navigation patterns
- Identifying technical issues or errors
- Measuring website performance and load times
- Analyzing user demographics and interests (in aggregate)
Categories of Cookies We Use
Strictly Necessary Cookies
These cookies are essential for the website to function properly and cannot be disabled in our systems. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services.
| Cookie Name | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| session_id | Maintains user session across pages | Session |
| cookie_consent | Remembers your cookie preferences | 1 year |
| security_token | Prevents cross-site request forgery | Session |
Performance Cookies
These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us know which pages are most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site.
| Cookie Name | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| _ga | Google Analytics - distinguishes users | 2 years |
| _ga_* | Google Analytics - session tracking | 2 years |
| _gid | Google Analytics - distinguishes users | 24 hours |
Functional Cookies
These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalization. They may be set by us or by third-party providers whose services we have added to our pages.
| Cookie Name | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| user_preferences | Remembers your site preferences | 6 months |
| theme_choice | Remembers your theme selection | 1 year |
The Cookies We Set
When you visit our website, we may set various cookies to enhance your browsing experience and provide you with relevant content.
Site Preferences Cookies
In order to provide you with a great experience on this site, we provide the functionality to set your preferences for how this site runs when you use it. In order to remember your preferences, we need to set cookies so that this information can be called whenever you interact with a page.
Account and Login Cookies
If we implement user accounts in the future, we would use cookies to manage the login process and general administration. These cookies are typically deleted when you log out, but in some cases may remain afterwards to remember your site preferences when logged out.
Forms Processing Cookies
When you submit data through forms such as contact pages or comment forms, cookies may be set to remember your user details for future correspondence.
Third-Party Cookies
In some special cases, we also use cookies provided by trusted third parties. The following section details which third-party cookies you might encounter through this site.
Google Analytics
This site uses Google Analytics which is one of the most widespread and trusted analytics solutions on the web for helping us to understand how you use the site and ways that we can improve your experience. These cookies may track things such as how long you spend on the site and the pages that you visit so we can continue to produce engaging content.
Font Services
We use Google Fonts to enhance the typography and visual appeal of our website. Google Fonts may set cookies to optimize font loading and delivery.
Content Delivery Networks (CDN)
We may use CDN services to deliver website content more efficiently. These services may set cookies to optimize content delivery based on your geographic location.
Disabling Cookies
You can prevent the setting of cookies by adjusting the settings on your browser (see your browser Help for how to do this). Be aware that disabling cookies will affect the functionality of this and many other websites that you visit. Disabling cookies will usually result in also disabling certain functionality and features of this site.
Browser-Specific Instructions
Google Chrome
- Click the three dots menu in the top right corner
- Select "Settings" then "Privacy and security"
- Click "Cookies and other site data"
- Choose your preferred cookie settings
Mozilla Firefox
- Click the menu button and select "Settings"
- Select the "Privacy & Security" panel
- In the "Cookies and Site Data" section, adjust your preferences
Safari
- Choose Safari > Preferences
- Click Privacy
- Select your cookie preferences under "Cookies and website data"
Microsoft Edge
- Click the three dots menu and select "Settings"
- Click "Cookies and site permissions"
- Under "Cookies and data stored," adjust your settings
Your Cookie Choices
You have several options for managing cookies on our website:
Browser Settings
Most web browsers allow you to control cookies through their settings preferences. You can set your browser to:
- Accept all cookies
- Reject all cookies
- Accept only first-party cookies
- Prompt you before accepting cookies
- Delete cookies when you close your browser
Opt-Out Tools
For specific third-party services, you can use these opt-out tools:
- Google Analytics: Use the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on
- Network Advertising Initiative: Visit their opt-out page for multiple advertising networks
- Digital Advertising Alliance: Use their WebChoices tool to opt out of interest-based advertising
Mobile Device Settings
Mobile devices also allow you to control cookie settings:
iOS (iPhone/iPad)
- Go to Settings > Safari
- Scroll down to "Privacy & Security"
- Adjust "Block All Cookies" and other privacy settings
Android
- Open your browser app
- Tap the menu button (usually three dots or lines)
- Go to Settings > Site settings > Cookies
- Adjust your cookie preferences
Impact of Disabling Cookies
While you can disable cookies, doing so may impact your experience on our website:
Potential Issues
- Some website features may not function properly
- Your preferences may not be remembered between visits
- You may need to re-enter information on each visit
- Some content may not display correctly
- Website performance may be reduced
Essential Functions
Certain cookies are essential for basic website functionality. Disabling these may prevent you from:
- Accessing secure areas of the website
- Using contact forms or other interactive features
- Maintaining your session across pages
- Receiving important security updates
Updates to This Cookie Policy
We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or other factors.
Notification of Changes
- We will post the updated policy on this page
- We will update the "Last Updated" date
- For significant changes, we may provide additional notice
- Your continued use of our website constitutes acceptance of changes
Legal Basis for Cookie Use
Our legal basis for using cookies depends on the type of cookie and the purpose for which it is used:
Consent
For non-essential cookies, we rely on your consent, which you can withdraw at any time by adjusting your browser settings or contacting us.
Legitimate Interest
For some cookies, we rely on our legitimate interest in operating and improving our website, provided this does not override your privacy rights.
Contractual Necessity
Some cookies are necessary to provide services you have requested or to fulfill our contractual obligations.
More Information
Hopefully, this has clarified things for you. If you are still looking for more information, then you can contact us through our preferred contact methods:
Additional Resources
For more information about cookies and online privacy, you may find these resources helpful:
- All About Cookies: www.allaboutcookies.org
- Network Advertising Initiative: www.networkadvertising.org
- Digital Advertising Alliance: www.aboutads.info
- European Interactive Digital Advertising Alliance: www.youronlinechoices.eu