Cookies — Scribe Nest

This page explains what scribenest.pro stores on your device, why it stores it, and how you can change your mind later. I wrote it in plain Singapore English because cookie notices should be readable at a kitchen table, not only in a lawyer's drawer. For broader privacy context, see privacy.

1. What cookies and similar storage mean here

A cookie is a small text file your browser saves when a site asks it to. LocalStorage is a similar browser storage area that can hold a little more text. This site uses both — cookie and localStorage — to remember your cookie preference so the bottom banner does not treat every visit like the first one. That is the main first-party storage I control directly.

Third parties may also set or read cookies when their content loads inside a page. On this site, the notable third party is Google Maps, embedded on every content page as a neighbourhood map. Google Fonts may also receive technical data when your browser fetches typefaces. I do not run third-party analytics by default on this blog.

2. The consent banner — how it behaves

On your first visit, a bottom strip appears with three choices: Accept all, Reject all, and Customise. It is not a blocking modal; you can scroll the page and read while it sits at the bottom. Once you choose, the banner hides and your choice is saved for about six months (one hundred eighty days), after which you may see the banner again so you can reconsider.

Accept all turns on functional storage categories and leaves analytics off unless you explicitly enable analytics in Customise — analytics defaults to off because I am not operating a metrics dashboard for a personal nest. Reject all saves a record that functional and analytics categories are off, while essential storage for the consent record itself remains on — otherwise the site could not remember that you rejected.

Customise opens a small panel where Essential is always on (and disabled, because without it the consent system cannot work), Functional can be toggled, and Analytics can be toggled. Save choices writes exactly what you selected. You can reopen the panel anytime using the Manage cookies button on this page, or by clearing storage and revisiting — though clearing storage resets everything and the banner will return.

3. Categories in plain language

Essential. Required for the consent system to remember your answer. Includes the first-party cookie named sg_blog_consent and the localStorage key cookie_consent_v1. Without these, the banner would reappear on every page load, which would be honest but tiring.

Functional / embedded content. Covers preferences that affect embedded services such as Google Maps. On scribenest.pro I classify neighbourhood maps as functional because they appear on every page and help orient you to Whampoa / Balestier without tracking you for advertising. Important distinction for this site: I keep the Google Maps iframe visible even if you Reject all, treating the embed as strictly functional infrastructure with disclosure here rather than hiding the map behind a click-to-load gate. Google may still process technical data when the iframe loads; their policies apply inside their embed.

Analytics. Optional and off by default. If enabled in Customise, this category would be ready for measurement tools — currently I do not load separate analytics scripts on this static build. The toggle exists so the consent machinery is honest if that changes later.

4. Table of what is stored

Name / key	Type	Purpose	Retention
sg_blog_consent	First-party cookie	Stores JSON preference: essential, functional, analytics flags, timestamp, version	~180 days (Max-Age 15552000 seconds)
cookie_consent_v1	localStorage	Mirror of the same JSON for quick reads on page load	Until cleared or overwritten
Google Maps cookies	Third-party (Google)	May be set when map iframe loads; used by Google per their policies	See Google cookie documentation
Google Fonts requests	Third-party (Google)	Technical logs when fonts are fetched	See Google privacy policy

5. Google Maps on this site — Accept vs Reject

Every content page includes one Google Maps iframe centred on the Whampoa / Balestier area at neighbourhood zoom, not a pin on my flat door. The map is contextual, not decorative.

If you Accept all: Your preference record shows functional consent as true. The map displays normally. Google may set or read cookies within the embed according to their configuration.

If you Reject all: Your preference record shows functional consent as false for first-party categorisation, but the map embed remains on the page because I classify it as strictly functional embedded content that does not require a click-to-load gate on this site. You should assume Google may still process technical data when the iframe loads. If you prefer not to load Google content at all, use a browser extension that blocks third-party embeds, or do not use the map section of pages.

This approach differs from sites that hide maps until you click Load map. I chose transparency over theatre: the map stays, and this page tells you plainly what that means.

6. How to change or withdraw consent

Use the button below to reopen the consent panel. You may also delete cookies for scribenest.pro in your browser settings and clear localStorage for the site; on your next visit the banner will treat you as a new visitor.

7. Browser controls

Most browsers let you block all cookies, block third-party cookies only, or delete stored data site by site. Blocking essential cookies may break the consent memory and cause the banner to reappear. Blocking third-party cookies may affect Google Maps or fonts inside pages.

8. Do Not Track

This site does not respond to Do Not Track signals with a separate mechanism because I do not operate cross-site tracking here. Your cookie choice is the meaningful control on this domain.

9. Updates

If I change categories, add tools, or switch map behaviour, I will update this page and the last updated date. Material changes will be described in plain language here rather than only in code.

10. Contact

Questions about cookies or embedded maps: [email protected] or the address on the knock page. Personal blog · views are my own · not professional advice.