Whether the reason is prices at the gas pump, record quarterly profits or a damaging spill, Big Oil is the perennial object of Washington’s wrath.

Most voters’ knowledge of the oil industry begins and ends at the self-serve pump, and Congress is a sucker for a villain in a black hat. In targeting bad guys, however, Congress is the original “Gang That Couldn’t Shoot Straight.” Its strategies to punish Big Oil usually miss the intended target, with a result that is as negative as it is predictable.

As recently as the 1970s, Big Oil was a clearly identifiable entity. The “Seven Sisters” (Exxon, Mobil, Chevron, Texaco, Gulf, BP and Shell) dominated petroleum supply globally and domestically. Today, their global role has been largely supplanted by the national oil companies of OPEC and elsewhere. Forced to focus on international operations, the sisterhood now numbers only four. Smaller upstream companies have filled the domestic void the major companies left behind.

HOUSTON - A survey commissioned by Donate Life America revealed an increase in the number of minorities registered as organ, eye and tissue donors. Currently, nearly 90 million people in the United States are designated donors. To find out how to register, visit www.lifegift.org.

Increasing the number of people registered as organ, eye and tissue donors is critical to the more than 107,000 men, women and children awaiting organ transplants and the hundreds of thousands more who could benefit from cornea and tissue transplants. Registering through a donor registry is the only way to ensure that if you are a candidate for donation, your decision is irrevocably honored. Of those surveyed who wished to be donors, 78 percent of Caucasians, 77 percent of African Americans, 69 of percent of Hispanics and 60 of percent Asian Americans state they have registered on donor registries. Furthermore, increasingly more people, including minorities (72 percent African American, 71 percent Hispanic and 71 percent Asian) want their decision to donate honored, even if a family has different wishes. Still, with minorities comprising 54 percent of those waiting, there is much work to be done.

HOUSTON, TX--The Houston Astros have acquired left-handed pitcher J.A. Happ and minor leaguers Anthony Gose (OF) and Jonathan Villar (SS) from the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for right-handed pitcher Roy Oswalt and cash, General Manager Ed Wade announced today.

The 32-year-old Oswalt, who is 6-12 with a 3.42 ERA (49ER/129IP) in 20 starts this season, had spent his entire career in the Astros organization after being selected in the 23rd round of the June 1996 Draft. In 303 career appearances, he is 143-82 with a 3.24 ERA. Oswalt is second in Houston franchise history in victories and ranks second in strikeouts and third in innings pitched and starts.

(NAPSI)-Not only may women be embarrassed to openly discuss one of the most basic health topics affecting them, but many even believe it's more socially acceptable to talk about men's health.

That's just one of the eye-opening findings of a new survey of more than 1,600 North American women, ages 14-35, conducted by Harris Interactive. Seventy-two percent of women polled felt society is more open to discussion of men's health than women's health, while 47 percent were more comfortable talking about vaginal health anonymously online than with close friends or family.

The lack of discussion about women's health has led to many misconceptions that experts such as Dr. Tomi-Ann Roberts, director of Colorado College's gender studies program, are now determined to correct using what Dr. Roberts calls "truth and transparency." Time, then, to separate some myths from the facts:

THATS ENTERTAINMENT - It’s the dog days of summer, but downtown is still the place to find the best in live music and entertainment these next few weeks. Don’t miss Melissa Etheridge at Verizon Wireless Theateron Saturday, July 31. Kathy Griffin brings her biting wit and sarcasm there on Saturday, August 7.

The House of Blues at the Houston Pavilions has a full schedule. Corey Smith takes the stage on Thursday, July 29 and Perpetual Groove is there on Friday, July 30. Red Cat Jazz Café always features the coolest artists in town. Catch Kyle Turner there on Friday, July 30 and Saturday, July 31.

And be sure to mark your calendar for the 24th Annual Watermelon Dance and Summer Social at Last Concert Café on Saturday, July 31. The music kicks off at 4 p.m. with the Spare Parts Band and continues well into the night with performances by Jambolism, Los Vertigos, the Hightailers and many more.