Privacy Policy
Last updated: 11/14/2026
This Privacy Policy explains how Down Hill Slide (“we,” “us,” or “I”) collects, uses and protects information when you visit downhillslide.life (the “Site”). The Site is operated by Mark Phillips through [Downhill Slide Press / PBDS LLC], based in Arizona, USA.
1. Information I collect
Information you give me. When you leave a comment, the Site collects the name, email address and website you enter, along with your IP address and browser information to help detect spam. If you comment using an email address linked to a Gravatar account, an anonymized version of your email address (a “hash”) may be sent to the Gravatar service to display your profile picture. Gravatar’s privacy policy: https://automattic.com/privacy/. Comments may also be checked by an automated spam-detection service.
If you contact me through the contact form or by email, I receive whatever information you choose to send.
Information collected automatically. Like most websites, the Site automatically collects basic technical information, such as your browser type, device, approximate location (city or region), the pages you visit, and how you arrived at the Site. This is collected through cookies and similar technologies, described below.
2. Cookies
Cookies are small text files stored on your device. The Site uses:
- Essential cookies that WordPress uses to run the Site, such as remembering your name for comments
- Analytics cookies from Google Analytics, which help me understand which articles are useful
- Advertising cookies from Google and its partners, if ads are shown on the Site (see Section 4)
You can block or delete cookies in your browser settings. Some features may not work properly without them.
3. Google Analytics
The Site uses Google Analytics, connected through Google’s Site Kit plugin, to measure traffic and see which pages readers find helpful. Google Analytics collects information such as pages visited, time on the Site, and general location. It does not give me your name or contact details. You can learn how Google uses this data at https://policies.google.com/technologies/partner-sites and opt out at https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout.
4. Advertising (Google AdSense)
The Site may display ads served by Google AdSense. To show those ads:
- Third-party vendors, including Google, use cookies to serve ads based on your prior visits to this Site or other websites.
- Google’s use of advertising cookies enables it and its partners to serve ads based on your visits to this Site and/or other sites on the Internet.
- You may opt out of personalized advertising by visiting Google’s Ads Settings at https://adssettings.google.com. You can also opt out of some third-party vendors’ use of cookies for personalized advertising at www.aboutads.info.
[If you allow other third-party vendors or ad networks in your AdSense account, list them here with links to their sites and their opt-out pages.]
5. Newsletter
[Keep this section if you collect email signups with MailerLite; delete it if you don’t.] If you subscribe to my email list, your name and email address are stored with MailerLite, my email service provider, and used only to send you updates from Down Hill Slide. You can unsubscribe anytime using the link in any email. MailerLite’s privacy policy: https://www.mailerlite.com/legal/privacy-policy
6. Links to Amazon and other sites
The Site links to my book on Amazon and to outside sources such as news articles, research and government websites. [If you join the Amazon Associates program, add: “As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.”] Those sites have their own privacy policies, and I’m not responsible for their practices.
7. Embedded content
Posts may include embedded content, such as YouTube videos. Embedded content behaves as if you visited the other website, which may collect data about you and use cookies.
8. How I use information
I use information to run and improve the Site, reply to your messages, moderate comments and prevent spam, and understand which topics are most helpful. I do not sell your personal information.
9. How long I keep information
Comments and their related information are kept for as long as the post remains on the Site, so I can recognize and approve a returning commenter’s follow-up comments automatically. Emails are kept only as long as needed to respond and keep a reasonable record. Analytics data is kept according to Google Analytics retention settings.
10. Your choices and rights
You can ask me to see, correct, or delete personal information I hold about you, such as a comment you posted, by sending a request through the [Contact page] form. Depending on where you live (for example, California or the European Union), you may have additional rights under local law, and I’ll honor valid requests.
11. Children’s privacy
The Site is written for adults, especially older adults, and is not directed to children under 13. I do not knowingly collect information from children.
12. Health information
Please don’t post private health details in public comments. Anything you write in a comment is visible to everyone. Content on the Site is for general information only and is not medical advice.
13. Security
I use reasonable measures to protect the Site, including keeping WordPress and its plugins up to date. No website is 100% secure, however.
14. Changes to this policy
I may update this policy as the Site changes. The “Last updated” date at the top shows the most recent version.
15. Contact
Questions about this policy? Use the [Contact page] form.