First, I do not use cookies on any of my pages. If you receive a cookie for any reason while visiting my site, it is being requested by Yahoo! GeoCities. (See the Yahoo! Privacy Center.) You have the right to deny it by clicking on "Cancel", when you are prompted to accept/deny it.
If you are using Netscape Navigator 3 or lower, go to the Options menu, and select "Network Preferences". There you have the option of having Navigator to prompt you to accept or deny each cookie request. If you are using Netscape Navigator 4 or better, go to the Edit menu, and select "Preferences". Click on "Advanced" on the left side. Now, at the bottom of the right side, you have three options, in addition to the choice to warn before accepting/denying. (They are to accept all, accept those being sent back to same server, and deny all. Note that it is worded differently, here, because I choose to save space, and to increase clarification.)
Generally, cookies are harmless. They are used by most people to gather information about the web sites you visit, so that they can use it to do target advertising. Target advertising means that if you visit many sites that do the same business they do, they will put you on their mailing list (e-mail and/or snail mail), if you've provided them with that information. Of course, they cannot send you mail, if you did not provide them with that information. However, they can use that targeted advertising information to implement advertisement banners on specific web pages.
Unfortunately, there are people who have bad intentions. Thus, cookies can be bad. From information gathered about you via cookies, malicious people can send you spam (junk e-mail) or use it for their personal profit. Make sure that if you are providing sensitive, personal information, such as a credit card or driver's license number, over the Internet, you use a secure form, which provides encryption. (Encryption is the scrambling of data in such a way that, usually, only the authorized recipient with a key can decrypt, or read, it.)
On almost all of my pages, you will discover that I installed a GeoGuide somewhere on the page. By adding a GeoGuide, I stop the Ad Square from appearing on the page. Ad Squares are the default advertising mechanism of Yahoo! GeoCities.
The new Yahoo! GeoCities Ad Square replaces pop-up advertising that was used before Yahoo! acquired GeoCities. Without advertisers, Yahoo! GeoCities would not "be able to provide free home pages, and...the functionality of the Ad Square effectively ties together personal publishing and advertising support." An Ad Square is initially a 130x110 image plus a Yahoo! GeoCities logo, which then collapses to a smaller image, which is closable.
Since advertising is a requisite part of my web pages, I opted for the GeoGuide, so you can have a better experience in viewing my web site. The GeoGuide is basically a banner, which rotates between advertiser and member banners. Although I have set the advertising level to those appropriate for children, the minimum level possible, I apologize in advance for any banners you feel may be offensive.
By disabling JavaScript, you avoid all Ad Squares, Pop-Ups, and the GeoGuide. However, there may be pages on my web site for which I have decided to include Java and/or Javascript components.
I will do my best to serve and accommodate as many visitors as I can. So, if I do implement Java/Javascript components, it will be at a minimum. I promise that any of these implementations are in no way intended to infringe on your privacy rights (See "My Privacy Statement".), but I am not responsible for any occurences as a result.
You have the right to deny any request for personal information. If I request information that is considered sensitive, a secure and encrypted form will be used or another method to which you consent.
If, for some unknown reason, I come into possession of sensitive information about you, I will not use it without your knowledge or approval. Approval will be obtained in either written (snail mail or e-mail) or verbal form. If you give advanced approval of usage, knowledge of usage means that I have contacted you prior to usage, and I do not have contact problems. Contact problems include a "Return to Sender" in snail mail, "No such user" or "No such address" in e-mail, and the telephone number is disconnected.
I will not use ANY information about you for malicious doings, whether or not you have knowledge of such event, or whether or not you approve of it. However, I cannot be held responsible for any indirect events that occur as a result of my using your information (upon your consent).
Suspicious activity will be reported. Whether or not you approve, you give up the right for privacy, in cases where law enforcement is involved. For example, things of national security or events leading to the safety of individuals will be, automatically, released to appropriate law enforcement agencies. In all other cases, I will not give up possession of your information to any other requesting party. In other words, I will not sell your information to someone who can benefit from it.