Cookie Policy
Effective Date: January 5, 2026
This Cookie Policy explains how Island of the Angry Smile (“we,” “us,” or “our”) uses cookies and similar tracking technologies on islandoftheangrysmile.com (the “Site”). By using our Site, you consent to the use of cookies as described in this policy.
What Are Cookies?
Cookies are small text files that are placed on your computer or mobile device when you visit a website. They are widely used to make websites work more efficiently and provide information to website owners.
Cookies can be “persistent” or “session” cookies:
- Persistent cookies remain on your device after you close your browser and are activated each time you visit the Site
- Session cookies are temporary and are deleted when you close your browser
How We Use Cookies
We use cookies to:
- Enable essential Site functionality
- Remember your preferences and settings
- Analyze how visitors use our Site to improve user experience
- Understand Site traffic patterns and performance
- Support our newsletter signup and contact forms
Types of Cookies We Use
1. Essential Cookies
These cookies are necessary for the Site to function properly. They enable core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility.
Examples:
- Session cookies that remember your form inputs
- Security cookies to authenticate users and prevent fraudulent use
- Load balancing cookies
Duration: Session or short-term persistent
Can you disable them? These cookies are strictly necessary, and disabling them may prevent you from using certain features of the Site.
2. Functional Cookies
These cookies allow the Site to remember choices you make (such as your preferences) and provide enhanced, more personalized features.
Examples:
- Cookies that remember your language preferences
- Cookies that store your newsletter subscription preferences
- Cookies that remember your form field entries
Duration: Persistent (typically 30 days to 1 year)
Can you disable them? Yes, but disabling these cookies may affect Site functionality and your user experience.
3. Analytics Cookies
These cookies help us understand how visitors interact with our Site by collecting and reporting information anonymously. This helps us improve the Site.
Examples:
- Google Analytics cookies: We use Google Analytics to track page views, visitor behavior, traffic sources, and Site performance. These cookies collect information anonymously and report website trends without identifying individual visitors.
- Cookies that track page views and bounce rates
- Cookies that measure Site performance
Duration: Persistent (typically up to 2 years)
Can you disable them? Yes. These cookies don’t collect information that identifies you personally, but disabling them means we can’t analyze Site usage patterns. You can opt out of Google Analytics specifically by installing the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on at https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout
4. Third-Party Cookies
Some cookies are placed by third-party services that appear on our pages. We do not control these cookies.
Examples:
- Mailchimp cookies (for newsletter signup functionality)
- Social media embedded content cookies (if applicable)
Duration: Varies by third party
Can you disable them? Yes, through your browser settings or by opting out through the third-party service.
Specific Cookies Used on Our Site
| Cookie Name | Type | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| WordPress Cookies | Essential | Maintain logged-in status and form data | Session |
| Mailchimp Cookies | Functional/Third-Party | Newsletter signup functionality | Varies |
| _ga, _gid, _gat | Analytics/Third-Party | Google Analytics – Track Site usage and performance | Up to 2 years |
Google Analytics Cookies Explained:
- _ga: Used to distinguish unique users
- _gid: Used to distinguish users
- _gat: Used to throttle request rate
Note: The specific cookies used may vary. Check your browser’s cookie settings to see active cookies.
How to Manage Cookies
You have several options for managing cookies:
Browser Settings
Most web browsers allow you to control cookies through their settings. You can:
- View what cookies are stored on your device
- Delete cookies
- Block cookies from being set
- Set preferences for certain websites
Browser-specific instructions:
- Chrome: Settings > Privacy and Security > Cookies and other site data
- Firefox: Settings > Privacy & Security > Cookies and Site Data
- Safari: Preferences > Privacy > Cookies and website data
- Edge: Settings > Privacy, search, and services > Cookies and site data
Opt-Out Tools
You can opt out of certain analytics cookies:
- Google Analytics: https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout
Do Not Track
We respect Do Not Track (DNT) signals. When DNT is enabled in your browser, we will not set non-essential tracking cookies.
Impact of Disabling Cookies
If you disable cookies, some features of the Site may not function properly:
- You may need to re-enter information on forms
- Your preferences may not be saved
- Newsletter signup may not work correctly
- We won’t be able to improve the Site based on usage data
Essential cookies cannot be disabled, as they are required for the Site to function.
Updates to This Cookie Policy
We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. When we make changes, we will update the “Effective Date” at the top of this page.
Contact Us
If you have questions about our use of cookies or this Cookie Policy, please contact us at:
Email: designlab@michaelkulwiec.com
Contact Form: https://islandoftheangrysmile.com/contact-me/
For more information about how we handle your personal information, please see our Privacy Policy.
Last Updated: January 5, 2026