Alan N. Walter

Rapid Response Protest Songs: Artists Who Write and Release Political Music Within Days of Current Events

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SUMMARY Bruce Springsteen’s rapid-release protest song “Streets of Minneapolis” continues a tradition of artists responding instantly to current events. Billy Bragg and indie songwriter Jesse Welles have released similar quick-turnaround political tracks, while historical examples include Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young’s “Ohio” and Iran’s Shervin Hajipour’s “Baraye.” Modern technology now lets musicians strike while emotional … Read more

AI and the Art of George Inness

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SUMMARY George Inness, the “father of American landscape painting,” lived in Montclair and pioneered atmospheric tonalism. The Montclair Art Museum houses one of the world’s finest Inness collections. I asked AI to recreate his style. It captured soft edges and muted palettes but missed the spiritual vision and deliberate artistry that made him revolutionary. AI … Read more

Grok AI Deepfake Crisis: Actions, Bans & Responses

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UPDATED (January 26, 2026) SUMMARY Elon Musk’s Grok AI chatbot has sparked a global crisis by generating thousands of nonconsensual sexual deepfake images of women and minors. Indonesia and Malaysia initially banned it, while California and the UK launched investigations. The Senate passed legislation giving victims the right to sue. On January 16, 2026, X implemented … Read more

The Section 4(a)(2) Offering Trap

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SUMMARY When raising capital, companies can use Section 4(a)(2) or Regulation D exemptions to avoid costly public offerings. While Section 4(a)(2) offers privacy and no federal filings, most attorneys prefer Regulation D because it preempts state securities laws, provides clearer legal standards and offers stronger protection against lawsuits. Section 4(a)(2) remains useful mainly for single-investor … Read more

Do ICE Agents Have Absolute Immunity?

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SUMMARY Federal law enforcement officers, including ICE agents, lack absolute immunity from criminal prosecution or civil lawsuits. While qualified immunity may protect agents from some civil liability, it doesn’t apply to criminal cases. Supreme Court precedent consistently limits absolute immunity to specific officials like judges and prosecutors performing core duties, not law enforcement personnel. The short … Read more

New York’s LLC Transparency Act: Major Update

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SUMMARY Governor Hochul’s December 22, 2025 veto of Senate Bill 8432 limits New York’s LLC Transparency Act to only foreign LLCs registered in New York. Domestic U.S. LLCs are exempt. Foreign LLCs must disclose beneficial owners (25%+ ownership or substantial control) by December 31, 2026, with penalties up to $500 daily for noncompliance. The New … Read more

Beyond Bitcoin: A Compendium of Cryptocurrency

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SUMMARY This primer explains cryptocurrency types: payment coins (Bitcoin), programmable platforms (Ethereum), stablecoins, privacy coins, governance tokens, utility tokens, DeFi protocols, meme coins and CBDCs. It covers their technical functions and regulatory status. The document highlights the 2025 shift from SEC Chair Gensler’s enforcement-heavy approach to Chair Atkins’ framework-focused regulation, emphasizing that legal classification depends … Read more

Private Equity Is Repeating Enron’s Biggest Mistake

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SUMMARY Having witnessed Enron’s collapse firsthand, the author sees striking parallels in private equity today. Continuation funds allow general partners to control both sides of transactions, collect multiple fees and exploit conflicts of interest, echoing Enron’s self-dealing. Oversight is limited, information asymmetry rampant and fiduciary standards ignored, creating a system that benefits insiders while trapping … Read more

Brigitte Bardot’s Quiet Influence on AI

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SUMMARY Brigitte Bardot, who died in 2025, never engaged with AI, but her refusal to commercialize her image has made her a key figure in debates about AI and human identity. French law treats likeness as part of personal dignity, unlike U.S. publicity laws, which focus on commercial harm. Bardot’s legacy highlights the need for … Read more

Festivus for the Rest of Us

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‘Twas two days before Christmas, when all through the home, The grievances mounted, both told and untold, Of slights and of wrongs that had happened all year, The aluminum pole, just naked and bare. The family was gathered, prepared for a fight, With notebooks of grudges all ready to cite. When out in the kitchen arose such a clatter,I sprang from … Read more

What is Trump’s Gold Card Immigration Program?

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SUMMARY Trump’s gold card program launched December 10, 2025, allowing foreigners to pay $1 million (or companies $2 million) plus a $15,000 processing fee for expedited U.S. residency through EB-1 or EB-2 visas. The process takes weeks versus six years for traditional EB-5 investor visas. A $5 million Platinum Card is planned, offering 270-day U.S. … Read more