Omer Alvie

Omer Alvie is a Pakistani residing in the UAE. He was born in Karachi, did his schooling in Dubai (UAE), got his college diploma in Bournemouth (England), received his degree from a university in Pennsylvania (USA), and wasted 2 years of his life trying to find a decent job in Washington, DC.<br><br>

He returned back to Dubai in the early 90s (although he seems a lot younger than that) and has been employed ever since (to the complete surprise of his parents). He is happily married (although his wife might think otherwise).<br><br>

Since completing his education, he has accomplished much for himself. His waist has expanded by 8 inches, his hair has turned grey and he has started wearing spectacles. All this despite the fact that he is only 16 years old. In his spare time he writes for his blog <a href=http://www.theoliveream.com> The Olive Ream</a>, collects milk bottles, spies on his neighbours and plays with his favourite piece of string.

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Latest posts by Omer Alvie

Pakistan: All Martial and No Law

  6 November 2007

If it walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then it is probably a martial law. President Musharraf can call it what he likes, Emergency or Amer-Jensee (as he pronounced in his speech on television) but in all intents and purposes it is martial law. The legality of...

Pakistan: In the wake of the attacks

  19 October 2007

On her return from an eight year self imposed exile, former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto was welcomed to Karachi with a procession of thousands of her supporters, and two successful suicide bombers. The attack resulted in 136 dead, hundreds more injured and a public that was left in utter shock. The public have their own opinions about who is ultimately responsible.

Pakistan: Blog-o-detention

  11 October 2007

I must begin this post by extending my sincere apologies to the readers of GV for my disappearance of the GV radar for the past several months.. Unfortunately, for me I do not have valid excuse for this prolonged absence except to tell you the truth. I was abducted by...

Pakistan: Blog-o-furious

  15 May 2007

Procrastination be damned (for now), as the situation in Pakistan gets progressively worse, I feel the desperate need to highlight the views of Pakistani bloggers because I think it is imperative that GV readers be updated on what is going on in my homeland, and the bloggers are providing the...

Pakistan: Blog-o-comments

  7 May 2007

Like phoenix rising from the ashes, I return renewed, refreshed and rejuvenated into a new, enthused blogger self. Actually, that is a slight exaggeration, it is more like panic rising from a crisis, I return depleted, drained and depressed added to my existing procrastinating blogger self. Not wanting to disappoint...

Pakistan: Blog-o-hiding

  9 March 2007

I'm writing this post from the confines of my newly acquired underground bunker. The reason for opting for a subterrestrial crib is not because I am paranoid about an impending Middle East conflict turning nuclear (although that is a pretty good reason) but because my blog popularity has soared for...

Pakistan: Blog-o-vacation

  1 February 2007

I'm back! …or didn't anyone notice I was gone? Anyway, as I was not able to attend the Global Voices summit in Delhi (as I am still waiting for the approval for my Indian visa after three months), I consoled myself with a trip to my homeland, Kingdom of Lesotho....

Pakistan: Blog-o-success

  21 November 2006

As part of my extremely philanthropic nature, (which not only parallels but also surpasses the likes of George Soros, Warran Buffet and Bill Gates some say) I have decided to share with you a colossal secret, hidden for years by the high order of the Cyber Templar. Risking life and...

Pakistan: Blog-o-leader

  14 October 2006

With the advent of citizen journalism and the unrelenting popularity of blogs as the main source of honest opinion and news, it won't be long before the world leaders jump on the bandwagon, as President Ahmadinejad has already done, and launch their own blogs to further ensure their own popularity...

Pakistan: Blog-o-addiction

  28 September 2006

Hi, my name is Omer and I am net-o-holic. I've been addicted to the net for the last 8 years and now I must admit I need help. My addiction started out as casual browsing of a few news sites, and has since then progressed to a daily 20 hour...

Pakistan: Blog-o-day

  31 August 2006

I don't quite know what the appropriate salutation would be for this auspicious cyber day, so I'll just go with a very happy World Blog Day to all fellow bloggers and readers of GV! Hope the power of blogs and citizen journalism grow ten fold and beat the daylights out...

Pakistan: Blog-o-punishment

  27 July 2006

So, there you have it! “Collective punishment” is the new black of fashionable excuses used by governments world wide. Whether it be banning blogs or bombing to the hell out of innocent civilians, “collective punishment” pretty much is the “choice” tool of the tools in power. Following suit (of this...

Pakistan: Blog-o-timewarp

  4 July 2006

I write to you this week from the future. This post which was due about three weeks back is actually being written on time, somewhere around the 2nd week of June. So please don't think this a lame excuse for my procrastination because I actually have discovered an internet based...

Pakistan: Blog-o-Aggregator

  24 May 2006

As the readers of some of my posts are well aware, I have complained often about the tedious process of sourcing interesting blog posts to highlight here on GV. One has to spend days, weeks and even months (slight exaggeration) to search for new bloggers to bring into the mix...

Pakistan: Blog-o-strikes back

  26 April 2006

I realize I've been MIA on GV but I shall reveal on the QT that I ODed on FOX TV, as a result my IQ was pronounced DOA by my MD but my mind was resurrected by the aid of my PC and DSL net connection. Returning to cyber world,...

Pakistan: Blog-o-warming

  25 March 2006

It took all the strength I could muster to make this post. Unfortunately, for the last few weeks, I have been under the weather. It actually feels like global warming kind of weather, to be honest. My polar-ice caps melted which resulted in copious amounts of perspiring and as a...

Pakistan: Blog-o-block

  5 March 2006

I am sure the readers of Global Voices are, by now, well aware of the recent move by ISPs in Pakistan to block blogspot.com sites. The rationale behind this ban cannot be logically justified. The reason given is that due to pressure from (political) groups within Pakistan, the government has...

Pakistan: Blog-o-tracking

  20 February 2006

It is bad enough having my blog routinely reviewed by dot gov and dot mil domains but now I think I am also being followed by some rather unsavory net characters while cruising the internet highway searching for interesting blog posts for GV. I have to publicly declare here, that...

Pakistan: Blog-o-reaction

  6 February 2006

Well, by now, everyone is well aware of the controversy that resulted from the publication of caricatures of Prophet Mohammad, and the resulting protests that have occurred around the world. Being a Muslim, I naturally found the cartoons offensive, so no big surprise there. But I also understand and support...

Pakistan: Blog-o-mobile

  29 January 2006

I apologize for not having posted for nearly a fortnight, but I have a pretty good reason for being MIA. The traffic on the internet highway has become so excruciatingly bad that it caused my trusted Vespa scooter to finally breakdown and die. I traded it in the remains for...

Pakistan: Blog-o-reason

  16 January 2006

Since the dawn of civilization … no, that's not quite accurate. Since the dawn of web logs, millions of net surfers have suffered from an existential angst relating to the real purpose of blogging. The famous Danish Philosopher Soren Kierkegaard might have addressed this question with a very simple answer,...