The Saudi businesswoman Lubna Al-Olayan tops Forbes list of the Most Powerful Businesswomen in the Arab world today. Meanwhile, our friend Bissa says that she had met Al-Olayan recently, and will write about it soon.

Have you ever been driving down the highway and suddenly noticed you have no memory of the last few kilometers? This frequently happens to me when I’m driving, but I never thought if it can be explained. Theater of the Mind is a new book by Jay Ingram that tries to figure out why things like that happen.

What we’re really not remembering is the driving. Because driving for most of us after you’ve been doing it for a long time is automatic. You don’t need to be aware of it. (…) You had to be conscious to learn it but your mind goes on to other things. In that 10 km, you were listening to the radio or a CD or talking to a passenger or cell phone. So your consciousness always lights on things that you have to be aware of.

After being flooded with more than 1500 spam comments over the weekend, I have decided to use the word verification again. Internet Explorer users might have some problems with adding comments, though. Sorry for the inconvenience. (P.S. Using Firefox won’t just makes it easier to add comments, but also would make your browsing experience much better)

What’s it like to be a Saudi student on a U.S. campus in a post-9/11 world? Saudi students in the states speak to Time magazine. On a related note, Ahsarq Al-Awsat has a story about the visit of some Saudi students to NYC.

Do you know of any decent coffee shop in northern Riyadh that has a free WiFi connection and a nice, friendly atmosphere? Thanks. (P.S. I don’t drink coffee, so a place that serves delicious refreshing juice would be preferred)

Three photos from a recent visit to Azizia Mall in northern Riyadh:

Here is where I had my lunch that day. The weird thing: I have not seen any bachelor girls around ;-)

Curious to know what they are selling in this area? It’s actually the recordings store inside HyperBanda, a place that the Religious Police think women should not be allowed to enter. Now I know that women are not allowed to enter such places around the Kingdom, and I think this is stupid, but I’m wondering why the Muttawa’s are keeping their eyes closed and their mouths shut regarding the fact that women enter the Rotana Music Store in Al Mamlaka Mall and MegaStar in Al Faisalia Mall freely with no problem at all.

That’s David Beckham, right? OK, he’s easily recognizable, but take a closer look and you will see that the poor man’s face is blurred. You want to know why? Read the last line at the previous photo: this is also “as instructed by Haya’a.”

After 11 days in jail, Mohsen Al-Awaji is free now.