Hi Friend,

I've spent the last week in Dubai on a research trip and for a family reunion in celebration of my father's 75th birthday. For the first time in over twenty years, my father and his two siblings were able to share the same space.

For my sisters and cousins, our reunion was nothing short of miraculous, a seamless reweaving of the fabric of our family. We stayed up until four in the morning, chatting and spending time together - no one wanted to miss a single moment.

Yet, this joyous reconnection was shadowed by the stark contrasts of our lives. Our conversations meandered through the everyday realities back in Syria, where life is meticulously choreographed around the erratic gift of electricity (one hour at a time, three hours total per day) and the omnipresent threat of a civil war, economic devastation, recovery after last year's earthquake, and, more recently, the threat of Israeli rockets. They stocked up on things like vitamins and children's aspirin, items that have become overly expensive in Damascus.

Even our choice of meeting place - Dubai - was out of necessity. The UAE remains one of the dwindling number of places where Syrians can still claim a sliver of normalcy through a tourist visa. It's become nearly impossible to travel abroad anymore.

Between the laughter and the shared stories, I'm left contemplating the fragility of our circumstances. The line between peace and turmoil is thinner than we realize. As the world continues to present its challenges, this experience has instilled in me a profound appreciation for the moments of joy and connection we are afforded. I am reminded to cherish these gifts, and to approach life with a renewed dedication to making a difference, however small, in our very complicated world.

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In This Dispatch:

1. Book Club News
2. Dating Site lawsuits
3. On giving voice to Anger
4. WHERE IS KATE?
5. Content Corner

1. Book Club - A New Substack Just for Us

I've finally figured out a (hopefully) painless solution for us to discuss our book.

I've launched a specific newsletter on Substack - which has the ability for people to comment - to discuss Zen and the Art of Saving the Planet. It's called "Threaded: Transformative Ideas for Intentional Living." ​

Part book club, part mastermind group, part hang-out, this will be the place we can come together and go deep into the books and ideas that will help us live a peaceful and joyful life.

This way, you'll receive each week's pages and analysis right to your inbox, and those who only want the Foush Report, won't be disturbed.

I've already uploaded the previous readings for those that are still catching up, and will send out the next installment of notes and videos and reflection questions on FRIDAY.

I'm looking to gather virtually and in person with my communities this year, so sign up because I want to schedule a digital hangout to discuss the book once we're done.

See you over there!

2. Swiping Left on Dating Apps

It seems like consumers are finally waking up to the reality of dating apps: they don't want to help you find love - they need you sad and desperate so that you can keep swiping and paying for the possibility of a happy ending.

Last month, a lawsuit was filed against Tinder, Hinge, Bumble, Match and more, alleging that the apps are using manipulative practices to gamify romantic encounters in a way that hinders people's ability to make meaningful connections.

The entire business model depends on people staying endlessly stuck chasing the promise of a better relationship right around the corner. Plus, the lawsuit alleges that these apps are deliberately creating addictive behavior loops that "gamify human experiences for profit and leave people feeling manipulated."

According to cultural anthropologist, Natasha Dow Schull, author of Addicted by Design, dating app interfaces have more similarities with slot machines: because you never know when you're going to get a match, you are conditioned to keep swiping over and over and over again.

In fact, the lawsuit alleges that Tinder's co-founder applied the same principles that behavioral psychologist, B.F. Skinner used to famously "turn pigeons into gamblers." (He had them press buttons that released food at irregular intervals...sound familiar?)

The other cultural impact of these apps that I think about a lot is the paradox of choice and the pressure of choosing "the right partner." In a fascinating 2022 paper, researchers noted that "Sociologically, the rise of dating apps is to be understood as a part of a cultural logic whereby love is no longer primarily organized by social and economic institutions, but rather left to the free choice of the individual." Which would be fine, except, as Alain de Botton reminded us, we often don't make the right choice about who to spend our lives with.

I think the real underlying issues go much deeper and reflect the current reality of modern day living: many people don't have access to third spaces where they can meet potential partners and friends. Historically, these spaces were created by the presence of an integrated community (where you lived in proximity to many members of your family, for example) or through religious institutions like Church.

We need to invest in creating more of these spaces, especially in international cities where people often move without having that network of support.

3. On Giving Voice to Anger

As I was doing the reading for Zen and the Art of Saving the Planet for Book Club, I realized that I had been trying to use Zen to suppress my anger. This week's pages, which I'll be sending out on Friday on Substack, were a slap in the face to the limitations of that approach.

Turns out, if we want to be Zen we have to voice our anger. I thought I could use my willpower to super-impose a Buddha calm and avoid my turbulent emotions in this deeply volatile time.

Turns out, that's NOT the way.

Unfortunately, as Thay tells us: the way out is through. To be present means to provide compassion and space to ALL of our emotions, especially the dark and terrible ones.

Here's the truth: I am FURIOUS.

I have been simmering with an incandescent rage for months now. At everything. At everyone. At the world.

Even though I didn't really want to, I tried to find an outlet to give voice to my anger. I started with some low-stakes: this excellent Yoga Practice that integrates somatic healing for sacred anger.

It felt so good to acknowledge this feeling that I went looking for more outlets. I found a "rage room" where I smashed plates and broke old electronics with a metal pipe. A full deep-dive of my experience (with videos, lol) will be shared over on Threaded.

But, seriously? They should have these rooms in every neighborhood and it should be covered by insurance. What a cathartic 30 minutes.

4. Where is Kate Middleton?

Kate Middleton hasn't been spotted in public for months, following a planned abdominal surgery requiring a long recovery period.

On UK Mother's Day, the Palace released a family photo of Kate and her kids that looked heavily photoshopped, prompting backlash. Unusually, Kate tweeted saying she had edited the image herself, but few believed her claim.

Adding to the controversy, AP, Reuters and the AFP, pulled the photo, a rare move since it was provided directly by the palace due to concerns it had been manipulated. This story has caught the attention of conspiracy theorists whose speculations range from a possible divorce to a secret walled city in Antarctica (yes, really.)

I don't particularly care about the Royal Family, but this is yet another example of how the mainstream press and public are directly grappling with the realities of visually manipulated photos. We're entering an age where we can't trust what we see, even from official sources.

This Kate Middleton controversy shines a light on the eroded credibility of all photographic 'evidence' in an era of deepfakes and ubiquitous editing tools. When even the Palace appears willing to present an artificial reality, it trains the public to question the authenticity of every image they encounter. We're now forced to think like crime scene investigators analyzing each pixel for tampering and fakery.

If anyone can make any image, how do we know what's true?

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5. Content Corner

Here are my recommendations this week:

• TV: Pokemon Concierge. Stay with me on this one. I'm not even a fan of Pokemon, but this Japanese stop motion original series is DELIGHTFUL. Follow Haru, a burned out executive who leaves her office job behind to move to a Pokemon resort (I don't know, just go with it) where she helps Pokemon relax and solve their emotional problems. It's gorgeous and relaxing and there are only four episodes and it was amazing. [Netflix]

• TV: Marry My Husband, is a K-Drama that is centered around a woman with terminal cancer who is accidentally murdered by her husband after she catches him cheating on her with her best friend. But then, she mysteriously wakes up transported back in time a decade earlier -with all her memories in tact - and decides to to completely change the course of her life and take some revenge on her husband and best friend. A fun and riveting watch. [Amazon Prime]
• TV: Hell Camp - Teen Nightmare, a disturbing documentary on Netflix about how out of control teens across America were sent to "therapy camp" in the wilderness of Utah where the conditions and staff were brutal. Horrific.
• Book: The Hating Game is a romantic comedy by Sally Thorne, not my usual genre but I loved the writing style. It's an enemies to lovers (my fave!) about two co-workers who are vying for a promotion. Their intense rivalry turns into something more. It was also turned into a movie, but the book was a really fun read.

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As always, hit reply and let me know your thoughts. I'll see you next week or over on Substack.