Cookie Policy
Cookie Policy
Our cookie policy page is full of information with a fun approach. Learn about cookies, the rules, and how to clean them up. Text files have taken the nickname: cookies. We had some fun with this idea in our titles and images.
The cookies we talk about here are TEXT FILES.
They are not as sweet and innocent as chocolate chip treats.
Our Cookie Policy
COOKIE POLICY: NECESSARY AND OPTIONAL COOKIES
1. Who Gives Out Cookies and Why?
Necessary Cookies
Cookies (text files) are part of how the internet works. Some are necessary, while others are not. Everyone, including us, gives out cookies. They have been part of the internet experience since 1994. Some are necessary to be able to use the internet and access a website. These are the ones we ask you to accept. For example, they know which language you speak.
Optional Cookies
Others are optional. These include advertisers who want to know which ads to show you. Have you ever wondered why some ads follow you around the internet?
COOKIE POLICY: TEXT FILES & DATA
2. Cookie Ingredients
Our Recipe
Our cookie recipe is one shared by every website. Small text files are the only ingredient. The obvious type of data cookie is from the website host. A hidden one is in the plugins. They give out their cookies. They are part of the building and maintaining a website. We use Google Analytics. You can read more about it in our Privacy Policy.
Active Ingredient
These bits of data are persistent trackers. They are pieces of information saved about you. They track your behaviour and preferences as long as they are on your device. These same cookies continue to track you as you browse online. All cookies remain on your device even after you close your browser unless you remove them. Remember that any information collected about you is your data.
Reduced Cookie Consumption
The necessary cookies are only used by the website that created them. Websites usually store information like your sign-in data. Since we do not ask for a login, it reduces your cookie consumption while you are here.
COOKIE POLICY: COOKIE CLEANUP
3. Cookie Cleanup
Cookie Cleanup
Cookies do not carry viruses or malware. But, they still have privacy concerns and security risks. It is possible to disable cookies on websites by disabling them on your device. Click to learn how to disable them.
COOKIE POLICY: INTERNATIONAL REGULATIONS
4. Are There Cookie Laws?
Global Regulations
Rules are in place for your protection. These global regulations help control who sees your data and what they can do with it.
Where It All Began
The European Union enacted rules for the worldwide web. They gave guidelines for tracking and privacy. Website owners must declare that they use cookies to store data.
GDPR & E-Privacy
As you noticed, we use cookie alerts. It is because of two different regulations in Europe. First is the GDPR, or the General Data Protection Regulation of May 2018. The other is the ePrivacy Directive of 2002 updated in 2009. They specified the right of individuals to access all their data. With the policy in place, everyone can control the use of their data or have it deleted.
Cookie Popups
Since then, companies all over the globe have been more open about what they are collecting and why. Cookie popups, for example, allow users to choose to accept or reject cookies. Most websites inform visitors that the page is using cookies.
COOKIE POLICY: PRIVACY & DATA COLLECTION
5. The Problem with Cookies
Privacy & Data Collection
Cookie disclosures are a symptom of the holes in the fabric of the internet. Let’s face it, complete online privacy is just not realistic. Cookies and popups on specific websites are a symptom of an underlying problem. The real issue is privacy and data collection on the internet in general.
6. Updates to Our Cookie Policy
Cookie Policy Updates
From time to time, we may amend or update our Cookie Policy. Please check back as often as you wish. We most recently updated our Cookie Policy on February 17, 2021.
CREDITS
The LOGO image of Our Lady of Grace is original artwork by Martin Lariviere in 2009. We have the artist’s permission (my son). It is our exclusive trademark logo image.
A beautifully photographed sky by Donald Tong inspired the website’s colour scheme. Cropped portions of it are the background for the footer Bible verse. He shared it as a free download on pexels.com.
Raphael painted The Sistine Madonna circa (1513-1514). We made circular cut-outs from the original image.
Cookie images were plentiful on Pixabay.com. We chose photos by: Ermal Tahiri, Pezibear, Bruno/Germany, Einladung_zum_Essen, Stephen Giacomelli, katetesib, Steven Giacomelli and Legentheri.
Our favourite photographer from Pexels.com was Polina Tankilevitch. Her homemade cookies look mouth-watering.
Tumisu from Pixabay shared the image for choosing cookies.
Gerd Altmann from Pexels shared the wonderful image of the computer with sticky notes that we used for our featured image.
Our information is from general knowledge, experience, and shared internet resources. We’d like you to use it as a starting point for your research to verify facts and build a reference list.
IN REVIEW
Internet cookies are text files. They have been part of the function of the internet since 1994. Some are necessary. For example, they know which language you speak. Others are optional. For example advertisers want to know which ads to show you.
Cookies do not carry viruses or malware. But they still have privacy concerns and security risks. We have a link to help you safely disable cookies from your device.
Even though websites are required to let users know they use cookies, the real issue is privacy and data collection on the internet in general. Complete online privacy is just not realistic.