Over the past few months, several new specialty businesses have opened in Tallahassee. With names like Sands Internet Café and Dino Dino Internet Café, one might conclude these new shops are catering to people without home internet access or those telecommuting to work.

The primary business, however, is a new form of gambling becoming popular in Florida and other states: the computer-based sweepstakes.

After purchasing time on a computer, patrons can play casino-like games and win prizes including cash. Since the prizes are awarded to predetermined sweepstakes winners and not by chance, these establishments take advantage of a loophole in many jurisdictions' gambling laws.

As they become more prevalent, the sweepstakes cafés are not going unnoticed by some local officials. Mike Carmolingo, City Commissioner in Deltona, Florida, recently oversaw the unanimous passage of an ordinance prohibiting new internet cafés from opening for six months.

"What they really are is gambling houses," he told the Daytona Beach News-Journal. He is hoping the Deltona ordinance will eventually lead to an outright ban, like in North Carolina where internet cafés become non grata on 01 December 2010.

Earlier this year the Independent Weekly gathered information on the demographics of sweepstakes cafés in that state. Their research revealed that many of the burgeoning cafés exist in low-income minority neighborhoods of Durham, Raleigh and Burlington.

Senator Floyd McKissick, Jr. (NC-D) expressed his concern about gaming rooms masquerading as internet cafés saying, "…we need a way to identify businesses that are exploiting vulnerable populations who are using their limited resources on gambling."

Not all public officials are against the new ventures. Three months ago in Fall River, Massachusetts, City Councilor Leo Pelletier opened the New England Internet Café or "Leo's Place." It is apparently one of the few sweepstakes cafés in the state, having garnered little if any negative attention. Says customer Diane Zumuda, "We come here, go on the Internet, play some games, hang out. It's a fun thing to do."

Back at home Pat Fowler, Executive Director of the Florida Council on Compulsive Gambling, says the businesses are "hitting the state in huge numbers," which is of concern to the group. Fowler told the Tampa Tribune they have seen a sudden increase in calls over problem gaming to which they attribute the proliferation of sweepstakes cafés in the Sunshine State. In Hernando County, for example, at least fourteen have opened in recent months.

There are at least four here in Tallahassee. The first to catch my attention was Sands Internet Café at 4176 Apalachee Parkway. Formerly the location of Smokie's Barbeque, Sands appears to have the typical setup including "internet café" and "sweepstakes" signage outdoors. I do not know their hours of operation, but I drive past Sands every Sunday morning between 0200–0400 and the parking lot is always busy.

A mile west is Dino Dino Internet Café, 3618 Apalachee Parkway, occupying the former Gas Mart convenience store. Within walking distance of that, a new sweepstakes banner recently went up at NYK Internet Café, 3404 Apalachee Parkway. Finally, someone at the Urban Tallahassee forum reports the opening of Lucky Hit Internet Café last month at 3839 North Monroe Street.

So just where do these businesses stand legally? In May 2010, the New York Times reported the Florida Attorney General's position "that while it considers sweepstakes cafés to be in violation of state law, it is up to local law enforcement to decide whether illegal gambling is indeed taking place."

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services regulates sweepstakes, which by definition in Chapter 849 Florida Statutes cannot have an associated purchase or entry fee requirement. The statute also requires agency notification of prizes greater than $5,000, meaning this is likely the highest possible winnings amount at these cafés. Furthermore, as devices that accept coins and paper currency are expressly prohibited, players exchange cash for electronic points and cards used for gaming.

As more state legislatures take up the issue, some local law enforcement agencies have been reluctant to act while others are taking active measures. Casselberry, Florida Chief of Police James C. Ruf cites the lack of "clear direction from anyone" as one of his frustrations in trying to deal with the new businesses. Meanwhile, police in Roanoke and Virginia Beach, Virginia as well as Lynn, Massachusetts have raided and closed businesses citing violations of promotional sweepstakes laws.

At the same time, poker rooms at Florida pari-mutuel facilities are seeing record revenues due in part to the July 2010 law that eliminated buy-in limits and increased the permissible hours of operation. Legal wagering of this type is allowed at the several horse tracks, dog tracks and Jai Alai frontons operated statewide as well as at all seven Seminole casinos.

In April 2010, Governor Charlie Crist signed the Seminole Tribe Gaming Compact into law, which in addition to pumping $1 billion into the state's coffers, grants exclusive rights to operate slot machines, blackjack and baccarat games at some of their facilities.

Back in North Carolina, the Chadbourn Town Council is leaving nothing to chance. They will hold a public hearing in early December on an ordinance regulating gaming cafés, just in case the statewide ban is later overturned.

It is an uncertain future for the likes of Sands and Dino Dino. Until state or local officials decide their fate, it looks like the house will continue to win. We can only hope that the proprietors of these businesses will encourage responsible play and not blindly enable those experiencing tough financial times to flush what little they have away, all for the chance to "win it big."

Andy Dufresne taught us the value of hope and that it "is a good thing, maybe the best of things." This concept fit the Barack Obama campaign well, echoed by those who voted for him. When you think about it though, very election is about hope. In casting a vote for a candidate, you hope they make the right choices and justify your support. Frequently they will not meet your expectations or worse will embarrass you by acting inappropriately. You make an informed choice and hope.

After the often misguided, discriminatory and embarrassing actions of leaders past, I hope the concept of change is not lost on President Obama when the weight of the nation's menagerie of issues grows heavier. I hope he is able to make more headway internationally with a foreign policy that promotes peace and security without advocating imperialism. I hope he can establish a bridge between the right and left, whose goals can be met with compromise and an open-minded acceptance of the other side.

Critics may claim that a lack of experience will inhibit President Obama's ability to be an effectual leader, but I think a fresh perspective not clouded by the cynicism and duplicity of Washington is exactly what we need. While the outgoing administration used the causes of freedom and democracy to justify many of its actions, I hope the new White House will do more to practice than preach, realizing that it is easier to get others to cooperate with your initiatives like anti-terrorism, disarmament and regional stability when you do not employ the same tactics you proclaim to abhor.

Like many others, I have eagerly awaited this day since long before Barack Obama blew the doors off the good ole' boys club and started his remarkable journey to the top. There were times it seemed it very distant, such as after the 2004 election and when the USA PATRIOT and 2006 Military Commissions Acts were signed into law. Now that it is here, I am excited to see what happens on day one and beyond, to see which hopes are realized.

I slightly regret my decision not to go to the inauguration, but factors like work and money made it impractical (not to mention the bone-chilling weather and enormous crowds). Instead, I will take an extended lunch and watch the ceremony at home via the internet. I will be there in spirit with Erik and Lauren however, with whom I originally planned to attend. They will start their trek to the from Alexandria around 0530 and make an effort to find a decent spot along the parade route.

After I graduated high school in 1999, I was still on campus doing technical and administrative work as an OPS employee for Seminole County Public Schools. During the course of my normal duties one day, I happened upon stacks and stacks of old textbooks destined for the great book in the sky.

When I spotted copies of my American History textbook used by teacher and friend William Dempsey, I asked permission to take one. My request was denied because each book is returned to the publisher for credit, but I was allowed to tear out one page.

When Erik and I discovered in class the graphic and caption about President Andrew Jackson's big block of cheese, we were highly amused. It quickly became a matter of reference in conversation with our friends. When I found the books, I could think of no better high school memento than this graphic and quickly scanned the souvenir once home.

Thanks to two episodes of The West Wing—season one's "The Crackpots and These Women" and season two's "Somebody's Going to Emergency, Somebody's Going to Jail"—Jackson's cheese gained popular notoriety.

"Jackson's Great Cheese Levee" by Benjamin Perley Poore, 1886

(Click to Enlarge)   President Andrew Jackson thought of himself as the "Tribune of the People," and symbolized this by throwing a White House party that anyone could attend. Hundreds of people showed up and ate or carried away most of a 1,400-pound block of cheese.

In the context of The West Wing, White House Chief of Staff Leo McGarry semi-regularly instructs members of his staff to take meetings with special interest groups and individuals who would not normally receive personal attention from the White House, like the Organization of Cartographers for Social Equality who discuss the Gall-Peters projection map. Each Big Block of Cheese Day as it is known usually starts with an introduction by McGarry.

"President Andrew Jackson in the main foyer of his White House had a big block of cheese. The block of cheese was huge—over two tons—and it was there for any and all who might be hungry. Jackson wanted the White House to belong to the people, so from time to time, he opened his doors to those who wished an audience. It is in the spirit of Andrew Jackson that I, from time to time, ask senior staff to have face-to-face meetings with those people representing organizations who have a difficult time getting our attention. I know the more jaded among you see this as something rather beneath you. But I assure you that listening to the voices of passionate Americans is beneath no one, and surely not the people's servants."

I am pleased and entertained so many people are interested in this small fact from our nation's history and hope this fictional idealism has a place in our government.

My state of embarrassment over my government only grows stronger as every new realization of a crooked politician comes to light. If you have not figured it out by now, we have given the keys to the United States car to hypocritical, selfish babies who could not debate their way out of a paper bag without spouting party-line rhetoric or messages of hate.

People who do not have the ability to admit when they are wrong, to finally sit down and not retort with a ridiculous comparison, have no place in a democratic argument. Just as it has been said the mark of a "done" online debate is when Adolph Hitler and the Nazi Party become the next analogy, modern politicking cannot seem to go two seconds without badmouthing the opponent.

Take this for example, our infamous former Representative Mark Foley (R, FL) is clearly a scum bag. We have a man in an important public position not only screwing around online on my dime but also sending harassing messages to minors.

In this critical pre-election time for the GOP, amid the continuing decline of support for the current administration, having yet another controversy like this can hurt. It comes as no surprise then that FOX News identified Foley as a Democrat via on-screen graphics and corrected the error later by simply not identifying his party affiliation. Come on.

When you cannot argue with the big kids, throw mud, right? We have our own problem children, thank you, so why don't you pull the reigns in on Katherine Harris (R, FL) before she alienates every segment of the population you desperately want to vote Republican. Like the Jewish and Hispanic people of south Florida. Yeah, she forgot about them, didn't she?

Make no mistake, I am not much more pleased with the Democratic party for their (yet again) lack of organization when it comes to campaigning. Who thought it would be so difficult to find an educated, intelligent, articulate and skeleton-free closet owning individual who wants to run for public office? I mean, are there any politicians left who cannot be bought and sold like cattle?

Regardless of my anger toward just about everyone involved in politics right now, the world does keeps turning. And what is our next step? Oh that's right, passing legislation to deny Constitutional rights to those arrested for alleged terrorist activities.

At a time where the people of the world are watching our every move, as we push our goals and beliefs on to others, should we not be the good example of proper democracy? We preach democracy, but openly deny it. We preach justice, but actively defy it.

After the passage of S.3930, the Military Commissions Act of 2006, a Republican friend of mine was so angered by the administration and Congress' apparent lack of concern over taking such dramatic actions to undermine the rule of law, he decided to write Congressman Mel Martinez (R, FL) a letter.

The response from Martinez angered my friend even more as it defended the values of our democracy while at the same time took the firm stance that so-called "enemy combatants" do not deserve their day in court. After reading this my friend's question to me was this: "And how do we prove anyone is an enemy combatant if a proper hearing is not first held?"

Good question.

As for me, I did something that I had planned to do for a while. Several years ago, Erik told me of his adventure in trying to give me the gift of an American Civil Liberties Union membership for my birthday. Apparently they are not configured to accept donations for persons other than the remunerator.

I can tell you now, the process of joining the ACLU for oneself is remarkably simple. I do not hold any thoughts of grandeur over my modest contribution, but I do believe in the strength in numbers. And I believe in showing my support for the ideals we are supposed to be preaching and practicing as a nation.

Serious people need to take a stand against the issues plaguing our nation, but nothing will be accomplished so long as we openly practice segregation in our justice system.

A notion with which my Republican friend agrees. So much so that he plans to become a card-carrying member of the ACLU himself. And check it out, I did not even have to trash the Republican party when talking the issues.

UPDATE: 12 October 2006, 1845

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According to the Tallahassee Democrat, Katherine Harris met with Jewish leaders in south Florida yesterday hoping to save face with those voters she likely offended with her "legislate sin" comment seven weeks ago. Hopefully the smart people of the State of Florida will see through Harris and support incumbent Bill Nelson.