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Exclusive: Marla Speaks! (OK, she's done a lot of speaking before this, but never to Benjamin Dover)
The root of my fascination with Marla Singer is difficult to trace. It's certainly not her extensive writings, which exhibit an overbearing reliance on facts, logical reasoning and wit. Nor is it her highly opinionated opinions. From her misguided idea that free market capitalism is inconsistent with the massive government interventions of the past year to her dangerous notions about the benefits of anonymous speech in a free society to her inexplicable contempt for the machinations of financial firms, she's been on the wrong side of one issue after another. The fact that she has degrees from not one, not two, but three liberal-biased Ivy League universities doesn't exactly speak well of her either. (And as if her miseducation needed underlining, the business school section of her resume lists her as "Sole Member of: The 'Didn't Have Sex with the Co-Chair of the Investment Banking Club' Club.") True, she did serve the cause of the finance industry for several years as Vice President of a private equity firm, but she's gone rogue -- e.g., she describes her former firm as having "not so hidden disdain for the rest of the industry but entirely similar practices." Worst of all, she's now one of the driving forces behind the renegade website ZeroHedge. So what's her appeal? When you get right down to it, pretty much just her photo. Killjoys may claim that's just a picture of one of her fictional online personas, but just like the stock market, I never let reality get in the way of a good fantasy. So my original goal in contacting Marla wasn't scoring an interview. But when my persistent romantic supplications were met first with incredulity, then with anger and finally with a letter from ZeroHedge's counsel mentioning something about a restraining order (methinks the lady doth protest too much, if you know what I mean), I decided that Marla just wasn't my type. Never one to let injured male pride and festering personal resentment interfere with my journalistic responsibilities, I settled for requesting an interview. In return for my contractual stipulation "never to contact Ms. Singer again under any circumstances", Marla enthusiastically agreed. Because for some reason she refused to be in the same room with me or even speak with me by telephone, we conducted the interview via email: BNDIII: You're a former finance professional and now accomplished blogger who has been associated with several popular websites. Why did you choose to become affiliated with a tripe rag like ZeroHedge? MS: Well, I'm not sure I can accept your premise, but that aside, I liked that fact that Zero Hedge was a bit, quite a bit "wonkier" than anything else out there. Rather than worry about turning people away because of the depth and complexity of content, Zero Hedge was happily pouring out very detailed stuff. I was attracted to a blog that actually caused me to pull my dusty copy of "The Bible of Options Strategies" off my shelf again. Also, after reading one of my other extensively researched and detailed blog posts a reader suggested I should join Zero Hedge where I would "fit right in." He/she was right. BNDIII: There are many people -- including at least one of the parties to this interview -- who believe that women have no place in high finance. Is that why you turned to blogging? MS: No, actually it was because someone was insisting there was no place for women in blogging. BNDIII: The ZeroHedge masthead lists you as "Foil." Is that a title or a job description? MS: Yes. BNDIII: As the only female at ZH, are you ever subjected to sexual harassment, and if so, please describe in explicit detail (and attach any photos/videos). MS: Well, first of all, I'm not the only female at Zero Hedge. At the very least you've forgotten to include Jana, a staff member, not to mention a number of female contributors. Second, as an avid collector of British prep-school spanking videos and ABBA records, I am not easily offended. Someone did once say "You're a 9.5 which is a British 12," but that suggested something other than a "10 scale" so I wasn't quite sure how to respond. BNDIII: Um, where were we? I got distracted there for a moment. MS: Something about photos and video? BNDIII: That's not helpful. MS: Do you need a minute alone? BNDIII: No, I've recovered. You've assumed different aliases on different websites, including "Muffie Benson-Perella", "E-P", and now "Marla Singer". Are you trying to evade the authorities or do you just have a cowardly fetish for anonymity? MS: Well I'm not going to comment on rumors about pen names. Quite obviously my name is related to the prevailing "Fight Club" theme on the site. I do have quite a problem with authority though, now that you mention it. BNDIII: If you ever want to work through that father-figure issue, I'm good at role-playing. MS: I had a professor who used to say that all the time but I don't actually play Dungeons & Dragons. BNDIII: Speaking of fetishes, what exactly do you and Tyler do with those yellow dish-washing gloves? MS: Actually, that house on Paper street was absolutely filthy. You wouldn't believe how hard he had to scrub some of the bathtubs. BNDIII: I'm beginning to understand why you're the "foil." MS: It's an honorary title. BNDIII: You don't seem to appreciate the positive role played by respectable traditional media outlets like CNBC. But as Gordon Gekko once said: the most valuable commodity I know of is infotainment. By definition, doesn't that mean CNBC is enriching the retail investor? MS: If by "enrich" you are using the sort of definition that permits one to say that bowling has a "rich and vibrant cultural history," I think you are probably right. Otherwise, it is pretty tough to make that connection. As for "positive role," even a lame horse pulls, I suppose. BNDIII: Although I try to read ZeroHedge as little as possible, I've noticed that you host some sort of subliminal propaganda program on the radio. Is that part of ZH's master plan to take over the world? MS: I can only assume you are referring to "Radio Zero," the randomly aired radio program we produce at "Studio Zero" some weekends. Actually, connecting the words "master plan" with anything related to Radio Zero is probably a mistake. Mostly, Radio Zero's purpose now is testing the streaming servers we've been working on and setting up infrastructure for some future products we are planning. Eventually, we hope that Radio Zero will host real-time (or as close as you can get) market commentary and analysis. Until then, we occasionally throw together musical programming for anyone who cares to tune in. BNDIII: Is it true that when you heard the Obama Administration was unilaterally subordinating Chrysler's senior secured debtholders you said, "My God. I haven't been fucked like that since grade school"? MS: I'm not actually sure. I was taking a lot of medication at the time. BNDIII: Since I can tell from reading the blog how busy Tyler is, will you call me the next time you need a free breast exam? MS: Why in the world would I agree to something like that when all I really need to do to get free breast exams is wait for the taxpayers to pick up the tab? BNDIII: You're an elusive interviewee, Marla, but thanks for your time. MS: You're welcome. And it's Ms. Singer to you.
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Outstanding!
Thanks, I needed that.
I picture Ms. Singer in my mind all the time. I dated a chick who wanted to be spanked. I liked it. Keep up the super work Marla, even though there are those days you may not be able to sit down - he he.
details, this is relevant to my interests.
You see, they are spiritual.
absolutely, tits or gtfo is so cash.
sage goes in every field
BNDIII: Is it true that when you heard the Obama Administration was unilaterally subordinating Chrysler's senior secured debtholders you said, "My God. I haven't been fucked like that since grade school"?
Now that is some very funny shit.
Milk Spit +10
His best line.
So many people who frequent ZH have found over time they do not play well with others... Somehow we manage to do well enough as a group tho.. The odd exception granted.
+1 M.K.
As taken as I am with the emotion and power of electronic music, I am infinitely grateful to have grown up in a culture permiated by rap music. It is an art form rooted in self expression reflecting on the struggles and joys of life. And it speaks directly to those who look at the world around them and do not see where they fit in.
Operatin' under the crooked American system too long
OutKast, pronounced outcast
Adjective meaning homeless, or unaccepted in society
But let's look deeper than that
Are you an OutKast?
If you understand and feel the basic principles and
Fundamental truths contained within this muzik, you probably are
If you think it's all about pimpin hoes and slammin cadillac doughs
You probably a cracker, or a nigga that think he a cracker
Or maybe just don't understand
An OutKast is someone who is not considered to be part of the normal world
He's looked at differently
He's not accepted because of his clothes, his hair
His occupation, his beliefs or his skin color
Now look at yourself, are you an OutKast? I know I am
As a matter of fact, fuck being anythang else
It's only so much time left in this crazy world
Wake up niggaz and realize what's goin on around you
Poisonin' of the food and water
Tamperin' of cigarettes
Disease engineering control over your life
Take back your existence or die like a punk
This is Big Rube, sayin right on to the real, and death to the fakers
Peace out
Steak, in a hyper fragmented society where shards are made small to instill the belief of isolation it is the strengths of OutKast that bind. Hence the wonderment of those that wield the hammer and chisel as they observe their work seemingly mend itself.
Peace brother man.
"seemingly mend itself"
Its quite a talent for wordsmithing you have sir. Use of metaphor with an almost lyrical flow while touching on the principles of emergence. Keep pimpin, pimpin.
Touche, my friend.
Playing well with others is a an overrated skill set. Especially, if it mean subjecting oneself to groupthink.
It is a lovely dysfunctional, highly intelligent group. I learn something from other commentators everyday.
I play to win... Others just get in the way....
Nick, how do you define the term?
well said lizzy36...our country is turning into a groupthinkthinktank which is creating a black hole sucking in truth and justice.
That comment made me smile. Many years ago, I interviewed for a job with a small company. At lunch, one of the senior people at the firm told me that their company was full of people that would never work anywhere else. So, I asked "by whose choice - their own or other employers"? When she responded by saying, "I hadn't thought of it that way, but almost certainly both!", I knew that was a place I wanted to work. The professional relationships I started with have become lifelong personal friendships. We played well only with others that were like us, we didn't paper over problems - we dealt with them front and center. It was a rare experience.
MK,
It's such a relief to find others like ourselves who are willing to listen to (and possibly incorporate) ideas that might be contrary (as well as complimentary) to our own views. This is what binds us together.
Out in the real world, for the most part if you're not marching to the same drum, your an outcast. In here, if you're marching to the same drum, we know you don't belong. While many of us are going in the same direction, we have vastly different views on how we are going to get there and why.
The general mutual respect we show for someone else's opinion posted on ZH (well, most of the time) comes from the knowledge and experience that we can be wrong and still live a full and productive life. Maybe even improve and grow from the encounter. What a concept.
+1 C.D.
i thinks this man put it best
Thanks CB for this encapsulation of the living vs existing action. Cheers.
"Insanity is the only sane reaction to an insane society"
"Dangerous ideas are the only ones worth exploring," says the voice in my head.
Your're only insane if you're poor. If you're rich, you're eccentric.
Can we take our dresses off now?
So, so called winners and losers all get the date and go for a swim, eh?