Author: Vincent Augustine D'Souza

Vincent Augustine D'Souza is a blogger, author, novelist, and quiz master. He writes on politics, economy, corruption, terrorism, current events, sports/games and many more topics on his blog Voice From The Rooftop (http://voicefromtherooftop.com). He has written four novels — King, Pope, Dream and Trump. They are available in ebook format. His major non-fiction work is English Konkani Dictionary (https://englishkonkanidictionary.com). He has also written Model Constitution for India and Model Constitution for United States of America. His quizzes appear on his quiz site Go 4 Quiz (https://go4quiz.com). Amazon Page: https://amazon.com/author/vincentdsouza Gumroad Page: https://gumroad.com/vincentdsouza

House of Lords

Posted on July 19, 2012 by Vincent Augustine D'Souza

House of Lords consists of 26 Anglican bishops (Lords Spiritual), 92 hereditary peers, life peers and peeresses and judges of the Supreme Court of Judicature (Law Lords).

There is talk of reforming House of Lords. On 10 July 2012 David Cameronâ€™s government introduced a bill in House of Commons for reform of House of Lords. Its size was to be reduced from 826 to 450. It will be called Senate and 80% of the members will be elected. The demand for reform is from Liberal Democrats who are in coalition with David Cameronâ€™s Conservatives. More than reform it is replacement of House of Lords with another house.

Justice International

Posted on July 3, 2012 by Vincent Augustine D'Souza

I announce the founding of Justice International. I am the founder and president.

The aim is to get justice to victims and their families. Those who wish to join can write to vincent@go4quiz.com

We will fight for death penalty in all countries for all cases of murder, attempted murder, abduction, acid throwing, hijacking, kidnapping, piracy and such high crimes. Death penalty should not be restricted to rarest of rare cases. It is immaterial how much time has passed after the crime. It is ridiculous to say a murderer should be hanged within one year but should not be hanged if a long time has passed. It is immaterial whether the criminal has reformed or not. We will see that death penalty is restored in Canada, European Union, Russia, Mexico, South Africa and such countries.

Sarabjit and Surjeet

Posted on June 28, 2012 by Vincent Augustine D'Souza

On 26/6/2012 around 7 p.m. news broke out that Sarabjit Singh was to be released as Asif Ali Zardari was to commute his death sentence to life which he had already completed as he was in prison for over 14 years he had spent 22 years in jail. Sarabjit Singh was in Kot Lakhpat Jail in Lahore. The news was too good to be true. The decision would have been unpopular in Pakistan.

Sania Mirza and humiliation

Posted on June 28, 2012 by Vincent Augustine D'Souza

On 26/6/2012 Sania Mirza and Rushmi Chakrabarty got wild card entry for womenâ€™s doubles in London Olympics and Somdev Devvarman in menâ€™s singles. Soon Sania issued a statement. Some excerpts:

â€œFor Leander to consider partnering with Vishnu only if he has a written assurance from me to play mixed is, I think, demeaning for me, Vishnu and Leander. What is even more shocking is the manner in which facts have been misrepresented to justify the breaking up of a team that won a second Grand Slam. Leander and I are not the only combination likely to get a direct entry in the mixed doubles.

As an Indian woman belonging to the 21st century, what I find disillusioning is the humiliating manner in which I was put up as a bait to try and pacify one of the disgruntled stalwarts of Indian tennisâ€¦ the manner and timing of the announcement reeks of male chauvinism where a two-time Grand Slam champion and No. 1 player in womenâ€™s singles and doubles is offered in compensation to partner one of the feuding champions purely in order to lure him into accepting to play with a menâ€™s player he does not wish to play with!

Pranab versus Purno

Posted on June 23, 2012 by Vincent Augustine D'Souza

Pranab Mukherjee and Purno Albert Sangma are the two candidates for president of India. When UPA announced Pranab as its candidate some journalists said he will get 82% of votes, Purno will get 6%. NDA and Left Front had not decided on candidates, CPI had said it will oppose Congress candidate, many other parties had not declared their support to any candidate. The journalists added NDA and Left Front votes to Pranab. Instead of being objective they behaved like Pranabâ€™s cheerleaders.

AITA and politicians

Posted on June 23, 2012 by Vincent Augustine D'Souza

The role of politicians in the controversy surrounding the selection of tennis players for London Olympics has not been debated much. The debate has been mostly about players and AITA.

AITA selectors picked Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupati for menâ€™s doubles. Mahesh refused. He should have been banned for life for refusing to play for Indian and asked to refund the amount spent on him. That would have sent a message to all players that AITA will not tolerate players dictating terms to AITA. AITA did not do that. They selected Rohan Bopanna. Rohan also refused. Mahesh and Rohan wanted to play as a pair and said two teams could be sent.

Presidential candidates

Posted on June 17, 2012 by Vincent Augustine D'Souza

On 12/6/2012 Election Commission announced the dates for presidential election. Strange are the ways of Election Commission. They announce elections for Legislative Assemblies six months before the expiry of the term and club various state elections together though announcement before 40 days is enough and clubbing elections together is not necessary and right. In case of presidential election the law provides for announcement 60 days before the expiry of the term and Election Commission announced the dates 43 days before the expiry of the term. Soon there will be vacancy of vice president but Election Commission has not clubbed together elections of president and vice president. S. Y. Qureshi was CEC when 60 days were left i.e., on 25/5/2012. He should have announced the election but did not do so and retired on 10/6/2012. Perhaps he was waiting for Congress to announce its candidate. On 11/6/2012 V. S. Sampath became CEC and next day at 5.30 p.m. he announced the election.

Decline of Advani

Posted on June 13, 2012 by Vincent Augustine D'Souza

Advani did not stand up for people who stood by him. During Jinnah controversy Jaswant Singh had supported Advani. When Jaswant Singh faced expulsion for his book on Jinnah, Advani did not oppose expulsion. BJP members understood it was foolish to support Advani, he would not support them in their difficult time. Nobody from BJP who wanted to expel Jaswant Singh had read the book.

Rites and Churches

Posted on June 13, 2012 by Vincent Augustine D'Souza

Roman Catholic Church has various rites â€“ Latin, Ambrosian, Mozarabic, Alexadrian, Byzantine, Chaldean, Maronite, Melkite, Ruthenian, Syro-Malabar, Syro-Malankara, Ukrainian and so on. Since some years rites are referred by some people as churches. This is contrary to the creeds and creates confusion.

No Nobel Prize for Economics

Posted on June 13, 2012 by Vincent Augustine D'Souza

What is popularly known as Nobel Prize for Economics is Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences. Bank of Sweden established this prize in 1968 and first awarded it in 1969. This prize is announced after Nobel Prizes are announced and given together with prizes for Physics, Chemistry, Literature and Medicine in Stockholm. Sveriges Riksbank Prize is not Nobel Prize.