Early hotel data suggest that Phoenix-area hotels don’t appear to be hurting from the Arizona travel boycotts launched since the state passed its controversial immigration law in April. But experts say the statistics don’t yet paint a clear picture of the boycotts’ impact - and may not for months.

Arizona tourism watchers are waiting to understand the fallout from travel boycotts launched by a still-growing list of municipalities - such as Los Angeles and San Francisco - and organizations, such as the Presbyterian Church, which voted to boycott Arizona travel last week.

The boycotts mean that the groups have crossed off Arizona - and Arizona hotels - from their list for business trips, meetings and conventions. The law is set to take effect on Thursday.

California made the list of finalists for a share of $4.35 billion in federal Race to the Top funds, landing among 18 states and the District of Columbia for the second round of grants, the Obama administration announced Tuesday.

Education Secretary Arne Duncan said he expected 10 to 15 of those finalists to receive the funding to overhaul their struggling schools. California is eligible for up to $700 million.

In making the cut this time, California improved markedly over the first round of finalists announced by the administration in March. Only two states, Delaware and Tennessee, were chosen in that round and California placed a dismal 27th out of 40 applicants.

HOT FOG / Wyvern And Children First EP / Self-Released / 2010

RONNIE JAMES DIO may be gone, but he’s far from forgotten. A whole new generation of geeky Dungeons and Dragons-playing metalheads are keeping the dream alive, steeped in Olde English Pagan mythology and rhythmic bass-string boogie. The lyrics are written in Gothic typeface, and the back cover of this 45RPM 12” vinyl offering includes the classic comment, “I’m gonna kill you in the face.” It will make the adolescent male nerd in you start jerking your cervical spine violently!

SOUNDS LIKE:DIO, SCORPIONS, MOTORHEAD

SUGGESTED TRACKS:
1 “Dwarf King Of The Sovereign” (can’t get more D&D than that!)
3 “Blood Wedding” (serious ‘70s metal vibes)
4 “Death Killers” (the sequal to “Killed By Death”?)

WIMPY DICKS / Home Grown Terror CD / Bopp’N’Skin Records / 2010

It’s like I stepped into a time machine and am suddenly back to 1982, listening to hardcore punk bands practicing in someone’s mom’s basement. This release actually captures that naïve and spontaneous feel that made hardcore so appealing back in the day

SOUNDS LIKE:
D.R.I., M.I.A., J.F.A.

SUGGESTED TRACKS:
3 “Congressional Body Bag” (anti-war anthem)
7 “Unknown Soldier” (the M.I.A. classic)
10 “Natural Causes” (shades of SUBHUMANS UK)

Celebrate the publication of Aja Couchois Duncan’s chapbook, “Nomenclature, Mugaadiwin, a Forked Tongue” by C.C. Marimbo press. This event will take place at 3109 24th Street (corner of 24th Street and Folsom Street). There will be reading, music, festivities, food and drinks.

http://sf.funcheap.com/ymcas-work-attire-yoga-chinatown/

Don’t worry about changing into yoga pants, this is a come-as-you-are after work yoga session to help you unwind before you tackle the Muni or BART ride home.

Follow the sidewalk chalk to Redwood Park and unwind after work with the YMCA SF’s Work Attire Yoga in the shadow of the Transamerica Building.

July 28th at 5:30pm

A man was injured in San Francisco this morning when he was struck by a taxicab.

The man’s injuries did not appear to be life-threatening, said San Francisco Fire Department spokeswoman Mindy Talmadge.

Paramedics were dispatched to the intersection of Post and Taylor streets at 8:21 a.m. after receiving a report that a taxi had hit an elderly man.

The driver of the taxi remained at the scene and reported the accident.

The documents released by the Wikileaks website include details of killings of Afghan civilians unreported until now.

The records also show Nato concerns that Pakistan’s ISI intelligence agency is helping the Taliban in Afghanistan, an accusation Islamabad has denied.

The Pentagon said it might take weeks to ascertain what damage had been done.

Calling their release a “criminal act”, spokesman Col Dave Lapan said officials were reviewing the documents to determine “whether they reveal sources and methods” and might endanger US and coalition personnel.

A spokesman for Afghan President Hamid Karzai said he was “shocked” at the scale of the leaks, but thought that “most of this is not new”

Rock band the Kings of Leon have been forced to end a concert early after pigeons defecated on them from the rafters of a US venue.

The rockers abandoned the gig in St Louis after three songs when bass player Jared Followill was hit in the mouth and face by pigeon droppings.

Drummer Nathan Followill later apologised to fans via Twitter, saying “it was too unsanitary to continue”.

Their publicist added the band found it hard to carry on after the incident.

Opening acts The Postelles and The Stills had also come off stage after their sets were covered in excrement.