I read the pledge when I agreed to it, and I just read it again. It refers to everything in the present tense..."sells slabbed chips"..."participates" etc. I believe it is a very reasonable reading that a company that sold slabbed chips, but stopped doing so six years ago, is not included in the pledge, no matter how Mark Scott reads it. I have not purchased a chip from anyone who, to my knowledge, has EVER sold slabbed chips, but I don't think I have to refrain from buying from someone or some company that sold slabbed chips, but then thought better of it. I see nothing wrong with rewarding people for coming to their senses. If others want to read the pledge otherwise, then fine, but that's what I agreed to, and what I will hold myself to. I believe rehabilitation is possible.

Michael Siskin