Home |
LEGAL MATTERS
Last Updated: February 18, 2026
Owner / Publisher: Ardan Michael Blum
Applies to: www.ardanmichaelblum.com and associated subdomains, including (without limitation) links.ardanmichaelblum.com and diary.ardanmichaelblum.com, plus any other content hosted on these domains (collectively, the “Site”).
0) QUICK READING GUIDE
This page contains:
If a topic is addressed in more than one place, the most specific section controls (for example, privacy topics are governed by the Privacy Policy; dispute resolution is governed by the Terms of Service).
1) ACCESSIBILITY STATEMENT
I aim to make this Site accessible and usable for as many people as possible. I strive to meet the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA and continuously review and improve pages, templates, and content.
Accessibility is an ongoing process. Some pages or features may change over time. Some content may be provided by or embedded from third parties (for example, maps, video players, or external documents) and may be outside my direct control.
If you encounter an accessibility barrier—such as keyboard navigation issues, missing or inaccurate alt text, focus order problems, low-contrast text, or assistive-technology compatibility issues—please contact me and I will make a good-faith effort to help.
To help me troubleshoot quickly, please include (if available): • the page URL (or the page name), • what you were trying to do, • your device and browser, • any assistive technology used (screen reader, switch device, magnifier, etc.), • and a brief description of what happened.
Phone: +1 650 427-9358 (Voice or Text)
Online: Contact Form
2) TERMS OF SERVICE
2.1 DEFINITIONS • “Ardan,” “I,” “me,” or “my” means Ardan Michael Blum. • “You” or “your” means any person who accesses or uses the Site. • “Site” means the domains/subdomains listed above and all hosted pages and files on those domains. • “Content” means all text, posts, articles, images, graphics, audio/video, design elements, layout, compilations, and code available on the Site, unless clearly stated otherwise. • “Service” means the Site and any features, tools, or contact mechanisms made available through it. • “Third-Party Services” means any websites, platforms, services, or tools not operated by me (including linked sites and embedded features).
2.2 AGREEMENT & ACCEPTANCE These Terms of Service (“Terms”) constitute a legally binding agreement between Ardan Michael Blum (345 Forest Avenue, Suite 204, Palo Alto, California 94301) and you. By accessing or using the Service, you confirm that you have the legal capacity to enter into this agreement and that you agree to these Terms. If you do not agree, do not use the Site.
2.3 CHANGES TO THE SITE OR TERMS I may update the Site, its features, or these Terms at any time. Changes become effective when posted. Your continued use of the Site after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms.
2.4 ELIGIBILITY; CHILDREN The Site is not directed to children under 13. If you are under 13, do not use the Site or submit information through it. If you are a parent or guardian and believe a child has provided personal information, contact me so I can take steps to delete it.
2.5 INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY; OWNERSHIP Unless otherwise stated, the Content is owned by me or licensed to me and is protected by applicable intellectual property laws (including copyright, trademark, and trade dress). The look and feel of the Site (including layout and design) may be protected as trade dress. All rights not expressly granted to you are reserved.
2.6 LIMITED LICENSE; PERMITTED USE I grant you a limited, revocable, non-exclusive, non-transferable license to access and view the Site for your personal, non-commercial use, provided you comply with these Terms.
You may: • view and print Content for personal, non-commercial use; • share links to pages on the Site; • quote brief excerpts for commentary, criticism, scholarship, or similar purposes, with attribution where reasonably feasible.
You may not (without my prior written permission): • copy, reproduce, republish, redistribute, sell, sublicense, rent, publicly display, or commercially exploit Content; • create derivative works from Content (other than as allowed by law); • remove or alter copyright notices, attribution, or other proprietary marks; • use the Site or Content in a manner that suggests sponsorship, endorsement, or affiliation where none exists.
2.7 PROHIBITION ON AUTOMATED ACCESS; SCRAPING; DATA MINING; AI TRAINING You may not use automated means to access, acquire, copy, monitor, or extract any portion of the Site or Content, including (without limitation) robots, spiders, scrapers, crawlers, or data-mining tools.
Strict AI / ML restriction: You are strictly prohibited from using the Site or Content (in whole or in part) to build, train, fine-tune, benchmark, validate, or improve machine-learning systems or artificial intelligence models (including large language models), or to create competing datasets, indexes, or knowledge bases. Unauthorized automated collection or AI-training use is a material breach of these Terms and may result in suspension of access and legal remedies.
2.8 USER SUBMISSIONS (CONTACT FORMS, MESSAGES, FEEDBACK) If you send me messages, files, feedback, or suggestions through the Site: • You agree not to submit unlawful, infringing, defamatory, abusive, threatening, or harmful content. • You agree not to submit sensitive information you do not wish to share (for example, medical records or full financial account numbers). • You understand that messages may be processed and delivered through Third-Party Services that support Site operations (for example, hosting or email delivery).
Feedback license: If you provide suggestions or feedback, you grant me a perpetual, worldwide, royalty-free right to use and incorporate that feedback to improve the Site, without compensation or obligation to you.
2.9 ACCEPTABLE USE; PROHIBITED CONDUCT You agree not to: • violate any applicable law or regulation; • interfere with Site security or functionality (including denial-of-service attacks, probing/scanning, bypassing access controls); • transmit malware, viruses, spam, or harmful code; • impersonate any person or entity or misrepresent affiliation; • attempt to gain unauthorized access to any portion of the Service or related systems.
2.10 THIRD-PARTY LINKS; EMBEDS; EXTERNAL RESOURCES The Site may contain links to Third-Party Services or embedded content (for example, maps, video players, or social widgets). I do not control Third-Party Services and do not endorse them by default. Your use of Third-Party Services is at your own risk and subject to their own terms and privacy practices.
2.11 DISCLAIMERS (IMPORTANT) A) Informational purposes only; no professional advice All Content is provided for general informational purposes only. It is not legal, medical, financial, or other professional advice and is not a substitute for advice from a qualified professional. You should consult a qualified professional for guidance on your specific situation. Reliance on information from the Site is solely at your own risk.
B) No professional-client relationship: Using the Site does not create a professional-client relationship between you and me (or any associated professionals). Such a relationship exists only if and when I expressly agree in writing through a signed written agreement.
C) AI-assisted content: Some Content may be AI-assisted. I review and edit, but AI output can be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect. You should independently verify important details before relying on them. AI-assisted posts are generally identified by a disclaimer at the footer of the specific post.
D) “As is” and “as available”; no warranties To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Service and Content are provided “as is” and “as available.” I disclaim all warranties, express or implied, including warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, non-infringement, and any warranties that the Service will be uninterrupted, secure, timely, or error-free.
E) Accuracy, completeness, and updates I strive for accuracy but do not warrant that Content is complete, current, or free of errors. I may change, update, correct, or remove Content at any time without notice.
2.12 LIMITATION OF LIABILITY To the fullest extent permitted by law, Ardan Michael Blum will not be liable for any indirect, incidental, consequential, special, exemplary, or punitive damages, or for any loss of profits, revenues, data, goodwill, or other intangible losses, arising out of or related to your use of (or inability to use) the Service, even if advised of the possibility of such damages. If any liability cannot be excluded under applicable law, it will be limited to the minimum extent permitted by law.
2.13 INDEMNIFICATION You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless Ardan Michael Blum from and against claims, damages, losses, liabilities, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) arising out of or related to your use of the Service, your submissions, or your violation of these Terms.
2.14 DISPUTES, ARBITRATION, AND VENUE Arbitration: Disputes arising from or related to these Terms or the Service will be resolved by binding arbitration on an individual basis administered by the American Arbitration Association (AAA), and you waive the right to a jury trial and to participate in class actions. Court venue for non-arbitrable claims: If a claim is not subject to arbitration, you agree to exclusive jurisdiction and venue in state or federal courts located in Santa Clara County, California.
2.15 GOVERNING LAW These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of California, without regard to conflict-of-law principles.
2.16 SEVERABILITY; WAIVER; ENTIRE AGREEMENT If any provision is held invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions remain in full force. No waiver is a continuing waiver. These Terms constitute the entire agreement regarding your use of the Service.
3) PRIVACY POLICY
A. Information I Collect • Information you provide: name, email address, phone number, and message content if you contact me. • Automatic information: basic technical and usage data such as IP address, approximate location derived from IP, device/browser type, operating system, timestamps, referring pages, and page requests—typically collected via hosting logs and (if enabled) analytics tools. • Cookies and similar technologies (if enabled): as described in Section 4.
B. How I Use Information: I use information to: • operate and maintain the Site; • respond to messages and provide requested information; • improve content, usability, and accessibility; • protect against fraud, abuse, and security incidents; • comply with legal obligations and enforce these Terms.
If you have opted in where required, I may use your contact information to send updates or communications you requested. You can opt out of non-essential communications at any time.
C. Sharing and Disclosures: I do not sell personal data for money. I may share information with: • Service providers (for example, hosting, analytics, security, or communication providers) who process data on my behalf; • Legal authorities if required by law or to protect rights, safety, or investigate fraud/abuse; • Business transfers (for example, merger, acquisition, or sale of assets), in which case information may be transferred as part of that transaction.
D. Security and Retention: No website can guarantee absolute security. I take reasonable steps to protect information, but transmission over the internet is not risk-free. I retain personal information only as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes described above, including responding to inquiries, maintaining records, resolving disputes, and complying with legal obligations.
E. Children’s Privacy: This Site is not directed to children & teens under 18, and I do not knowingly collect personal information from children & teens under 18. If you believe a child has provided personal information, contact me and I will take steps to delete it.
F. Privacy Requests: You may request access, correction, or deletion of personal information by contacting me (see Section 8). I may need to verify your identity before fulfilling requests.
4) COOKIE POLICY & CONTROLS
A. What cookies are Cookies: are small files stored on your device that help websites function and (if enabled) can measure traffic, remember preferences, and support certain features. (See links in the footer of this page).
B. How this Site uses cookies: Depending on Site configuration and third-party services in use, cookies may be used for: • Strictly necessary functions (core site operation and basic security); • Preferences (e.g., remembering settings); • Analytics (understanding aggregate usage to improve the Site); • Advertising features (only if enabled by third-party services you interact with).
C. Your cookie choices: You can block or delete cookies using browser settings. Where required by law (e.g., EEA/UK), a consent banner or "Cookie Settings" link is provided on the Site to allow you to manage your preferences. Note: disabling cookies may affect how websites function. (See the links in the footer).
D. Google services: The Site may use Google services (including Google Sites), and Google may process certain technical data and set/read cookies as part of providing those services.
E. Industry opt-out tools (optional): You can use industry tools to opt out of certain interest-based advertising and analytics where applicable.
5) JURISDICTION-SPECIFIC RIGHTS
A. California (CCPA/CPRA & CalOPPA) If you are a California resident, you may have rights to know, correct, or delete certain personal information, and to opt out of certain “sharing” for cross-context behavioral advertising. Where applicable, I honor the Global Privacy Control (GPC) signal as a request to opt out of sale/sharing.
B. Other US States Residents of Virginia, Colorado, Connecticut, Utah, and Texas (and other states with active comprehensive privacy laws) may have rights to access, correct, delete, or obtain a copy of their personal data, and to opt-out of targeted advertising or profiling.
C. EEA/UK (GDPR) If you are located in the EEA/UK, you may have rights including access, correction, erasure, restriction, portability, and objection. Cookie-based processing generally relies on consent where applicable; basic security and site operation may rely on legitimate interests. You may also use the EU Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) Platform for unresolved issues.
D. Canada (PIPEDA) You may request access to personal information and challenge accuracy, subject to legal limits.
6) DMCA COPYRIGHT NOTICE
If you believe material on this Site infringes your copyright, send a notice consistent with 17 U.S.C. § 512(c) to the contact form and or the address in Section 8 including: • identification of the copyrighted work claimed to be infringed; • identification of the allegedly infringing material and where it appears on the Site; • your contact information (address, phone, email); • a statement that you have a good-faith belief the use is not authorized by the copyright owner, agent, or law; • a statement, under penalty of perjury, that the information is accurate and you are authorized to act on behalf of the owner; and • your physical or electronic signature.
Designated Agent: Ardan Michael Blum.
Counter-notice (if your content was removed): If you believe material was removed by mistake or misidentification, you may submit a counter-notice including: • your contact information; identification of the material and where it appeared before removal; a statement under penalty of perjury that you believe removal was a mistake; consent to the jurisdiction of the Federal District Court for your address (or Santa Clara County, California, if outside the U.S.); and your signature.
7) PALO ALTO & AREA INFORMATION DISCLAIMER
Nature of information: All content about Palo Alto and surrounding areas is provided for general informational purposes only and is offered on an “as-is” basis. While accuracy is a priority, there are no warranties or guarantees regarding completeness or timeliness. Content is created and maintained independently. Unless a specific page states otherwise, the content is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by any city, university, business, agency, or institution mentioned.
Dynamic conditions and change without notice: Operational details—such as transit schedules, parking rules, entry requirements, construction impacts, safety conditions, and operating hours—can change without notice due to seasonal shifts, holidays, private events, staffing, or policy updates from entities such as Stanford University, the City of Palo Alto, Caltrain, and other agencies.
Independent verification strongly recommended: Before making travel decisions, you should verify time-sensitive details using official sources and posted signage. Reliance on this information is at your sole discretion. This Site does not provide real-time safety alerts or emergency transit updates. Always check official sources (e.g., Caltrain, local police) before traveling.
Assumption of risk: By using this content, you acknowledge responsibility for your own travel plans and personal safety. The creator is not liable for inaccuracies, disruptions, inconveniences, injuries, losses, or damages arising from use of the information.
Special notes • Institutional closures: Facilities such as Memorial Church and Hoover Tower may operate on restricted schedules and may close for private events or holidays. • Major events: Football games, commencements, conferences, and other large events can significantly affect traffic, transit service, and campus access.
8) CONTACT
For legal inquiries, privacy requests, accessibility support, or DMCA notices:
Ardan Michael Blum 345 Forest Avenue, Suite 204
Palo Alto, CA 94301, USA
Phone: +1 650 427-9358 (Voice or Text)
Online: Contact Form