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Author: Leslie Eastman

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Leslie Eastman

I am an Environmental Health and Safety Professional, as well as a science/technical writer for a variety of news and professional publications. I have been a citizen activist since 2009, and am one of the co-founders of the San Diego-based group, Southern California Tax Revolt Coalition.

Friday the 13th is an appropriate day to report that the North Koreans may have taken a lesson from Syria, which seemingly built up its chemical weapons supply "in plain sight." Satellite imagery shows that North Korea appears to have restarted a reactor capable of producing weapons-grade plutonium.

North Korea Nuclear Plant Satellite

White steam can be seen rising from a building near the hall housing steam turbines and electric generators at Yongbyon nuclear complex in an image taken on 31 August, said the US-Korea Institute at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. ...The US-Korea Institute said the gas-graphite reactor was capable of producing 6kg of weapons-grade plutonium a year. It believes that the North already has 34-36kg, sufficient for around a dozen weapons.
How will the Obama Administration respond? With a strongly worded message, of course!
The United States scolded North Korea on Thursday over reports indicating the reclusive nation has restarted a plutonium-producing nuclear reactor, emphasizing that such a move would violate U.N. Security Council resolutions. ...."Suffice to say, if it was true, it would be a violation of the relevant U.N. Security Council resolutions and, of course, contrary to North Korea's commitments under its September 19, 2005, joint statement," said State Department deputy spokeswoman Marie Harf.
Its this kind of strong stance that has inspired neighboring Japan to build up its national defense, despite an economy still suffering from the impact of a deadly earthquake/tsunami combination in 2011. However, at least one South Korean thinks this Friday the 13th is very lucky:
More than 40 years after he was abducted from a fishing boat and taken to North Korea, a South Korean fisherman has returned to his home in Seoul, state-run Yonhap news agency reported Friday, citing a government official.

In a move that is apt to stun the California-critics among Legal Insurrection readers, our state legislature passed a pro-fracking measure: Oil and gas drillers that use a technique known as fracking would face new rules in California under legislation that was sent to governor Wednesday. The...

More politicians are joining San Diego's former mayor, Bob Filner, for early retirements. Colorado citizens held historic recall elections Tuesday and removed two state senators: Two Democratic lawmakers in Colorado, including the president of the state Senate, were recalled Tuesday in elections brought about by their support...

For event organizers, the definition of failure is when counter-protesters and police outnumber your intended audience. A good example to total event failure was the "Million Muslim March," which was just a bit shy of its goal...by 999,975 people. And it seems that the event wasn't so much about Islam, but about the theories of 9-11 "Truthers".
Attendance evidently ran into the dozens, although it was hard to pick the demonstrators out from counter-demonstrators and reporters covering the event, who may have outnumbered them. It didn’t help that the event was linked to anti-Semites and 9/11 conspiracy theorist lunatics.
While the Biker's event was less than "2 Million", the turnout for these patriots was much more substantial. Via Twitter and Twitchy, it looks like there were over 75,000 hogs on the roads of the nation's capital today.

As Americans are debating over how to react to the situation in Syria, there have been some fascinating developments elsewhere in the world well worth noting. For example, one of Scandinavia's most nanny-state governments has had an election that tilted their state dramatically rightward: Conservative Party leader...

As a Tea Party activist, I am aware of many cases where officials become very insistent that citizens have all their paperwork in order before exercising the right to peacefully assemble. And, like the I.R.S. review of tax exemption applications, the same set of stringent rules...

Earlier this year, I covered the story of the buycott is support of Hobby Lobby. Over 60,000 Americans including myself bought items in support of an important legal case initiated by owner David Green. The firm, which sells arts and crafts supplies, filed a lawsuit against the...

After covering the continuing fallout from the Fukushima nuclear plant disaster, I decided to see how Japan's economy was recovering after the devastating 2011 tsunami. If Obama-style definitions were utilized, their recovery would be spectacular. However, with growth at 2.6%, there is serious pressure mounting on...

Those who follow my exploits know I dance Bollywood, so it is not surprising that this news clip would catch my interest: Indian newspapers have been gushing about the incoming governor of the central bank, Raghuram Rajan, in terms usually reserved for Bollywood film stars: his...

While all eyes are on Syria, there is some news from Japan that caught my eye. Readers may recall that the Fukushima nuclear power plant had a series of equipment failures and nuclear meltdowns in the wake of a devastating tsunami in 2011.  There as been...

Fast food workers in dozens of cities will strike today in support of higher wages.  The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) has been providing financial support and training to those organizing the activities. One of those target cities is here in San Diego. From UT San Diego: San...

One of my cherished memories is camping with my husband and son in Yosemite. The beauty and serenity of the park are breathtaking. So, the news that it is at the center of one of the largest wildfires in California history is devastating. At this point,...

As a Californian, I am thrilled to discover there is actually one business our bureaucrats won't over-regulate. Sadly, it is medical marijuana farming. However, the lessons it offers about the effects of selective reinforcement of regulations are enlightening. In the Merced Sun-Star, Dan Morain describes how marijuana...

I am happy to report the San Diego Mayor Bob Filner, who has been accused by 17 separate women of sexual harassment incidents, has announced his resignation. The San Diego City Council voted 7-0 to accept Mayor Bob Filner's resignation. Filner will step down on August...

As a co-founder of the first San Diego Tea Party group, I appreciate grassroots activism that lights fires under our politicos. I would like to feature two new citizen-organized protests and update my Legal Insurrection friends on the local one I have been closely following. They...