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Thursday, May 7, 2009

City / Media The Rancor vs. The Seattle Times

Posted by Eli Sanders on Thu, May 7, 2009 at 2:55 PM

Wow. I have no idea who or what The Rancor are (other than, as they tell me, my "last best hope").

But they just got my attention with this amazing video, in which a Rancor correspondent (the only Rancor correspondent?) gets outraged about a recent Seattle Times swine flu headline, tries to ambush Times reporters at the newspaper's headquarters in order to hold someone accountable for said headline, gets yelled at by Times security, draws the attention of four Seattle Police cars, and then (spoiler alert, watch the video now and don't scroll if you want to be surprised)...

...and then, in an apparent homage to Spike Lee's trademark shots of characters floating down the street in moments of crisis, films himself floating down the street shouting at Times executive news editor Leon Espinoza (not present) and demanding that Mr. Espinoza make a donation to atone for his alleged journalistic sins.

Mr. Espinoza was not immediately available for comment.

Comments (29) RSS

Oldest First Unregistered On Registered On Add a comment

What a dummy.

Posted by Rotten666 on May 7, 2009 at 3:02 PM

Honestly, dude. you should take EVERYTHING The Times says with a big grain of salt.

Posted by Terry Miller on May 7, 2009 at 3:03 PM

This guy is the sic of serious fucking business.

Posted by Mr. Poe on May 7, 2009 at 3:12 PM

Moron.

Posted by nerd on May 7, 2009 at 3:13 PM

sounds like Richard Lee.

Posted by scary tyler moore

on May 7, 2009 at 3:15 PM

Good use of police resources. Love the cop—you can tell that she knows the call was total BS the second she got out of her car.

Posted by Dan Savage on May 7, 2009 at 3:21 PM

"The footage might look a little embarrassing for the Seattle Times" . . . uh, yeah.

Posted by Levislade

on May 7, 2009 at 3:22 PM

Why did that guy think that everyone who was walking in and out of those doors worked in the newsroom and wrote headlines? I didn't recognize any of those people as having been newsdesk types...

Posted by former employee on May 7, 2009 at 3:24 PM

After this I bet two of the cops drove up to Volunteer and parked for the night. Gotta keep them faggots away, PARKS CLOSED, big ups, word.

Posted by Mr. Poe on May 7, 2009 at 3:27 PM

Scary Tyler Moore beat me to it. I think the Lee you want to reference is Richard, not Spike. Where is Richard these days, anyways? I kind of miss his creepy confiding tone as he whispered into his microphone and then videoing himself shouting questions at some person a mile away who might or might not have been Krist Novaselic. Couldn't get closer because of the restraining orders, you see.

Posted by Fnarf

on May 7, 2009 at 3:34 PM

Eli,
You didn't exactly leave the Times by choice now, did you?

Fess up.

Posted by Fairview's Fanny on May 7, 2009 at 3:36 PM

I love this dude's misplaced passion.

Posted by DOUG.

on May 7, 2009 at 3:41 PM

His only other public efforts are an interview with a dipshit wearing a ski mask claiming to be the guy who leaked "Wolverine", and a bit where he tries to get homeless people to declare themselves enemies of the USA for a dollar. And his only YouTube friend is a neo-Nazi Illuminati-fearing militia kook. Nice corduroy jacket though.

I hope his next video is of him getting hit by a car.

Posted by Fnarf

on May 7, 2009 at 3:48 PM

The Times reporters should have sneezed on the Rancor guy.

Posted by Will in Seattle

on May 7, 2009 at 3:54 PM

oh and heads up - Spike Lee is coming to SIFF this year.

Posted by Will in Seattle

on May 7, 2009 at 3:55 PM

For those spouting Richard instead of Spike.

The Spike that is referred to here is a common camera move that Spike Lee uses in most of his films. The camera and the subject are static and tied together. Movement is achieved(usually the camera and subject are on a dolly together) but the camera and actor are linked. This gives the subject a floating effect as it moves through the frame.

See... film school was good for something mom!

Posted by Akbar Fazil on May 7, 2009 at 3:56 PM

@15 - good lookin' out, Will.

http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archive…

Posted by Levislade

on May 7, 2009 at 3:58 PM

If he werent so reactionary he would be kinda cute

Posted by blairewithane on May 7, 2009 at 3:59 PM

Reactionary people call HR all the time, Blaire.

Posted by Mr. Poe on May 7, 2009 at 4:04 PM

@16, we know. The Richard we're referring to has a technique of his own, which is self-aggrandizing crazy. This goober exhibits a very similar style. I'd say 2/3 Richard for every 1/3 Spike.

Posted by Fnarf

on May 7, 2009 at 4:14 PM

Dumbass.

Posted by I Got Nuthin' on May 7, 2009 at 4:35 PM

DoucheBag, much

The ball is in your mouth, AssWipe

Posted by and I don't even like The Times... on May 7, 2009 at 5:07 PM

Remember "for a good time call 2062906841". Now go write it on the bathroom wall, preferably at Volunteer Park.

Posted by NumberOne on May 7, 2009 at 5:47 PM

I work in the Times newsroom. I didn't see any journalists in this video, but I did see the circulation director at the beginning.
Leon Espinoza is a great guy, big hearted, egoless. If the Rancor guy wanted to pick a fight, he sure picked a stupid one.

Posted by Little Voice on May 7, 2009 at 6:07 PM

I think he really just wanted a hug.

Posted by Lee on May 7, 2009 at 6:41 PM

"Rancor" ... rhymes with ______?

Posted by RonK, Seattle on May 7, 2009 at 6:49 PM

banker?

Posted by huh? on May 7, 2009 at 8:47 PM

He has a point. But by the end he ends up looking like a giant turd. And a douche.

All over a sensationalist headline.

Don't anyone tell this guy about The Stranger.

Posted by seattle98104

on May 7, 2009 at 10:57 PM

This guy reminds me of the collective student body of Northwest liberal arts universities. It's been a few years since I graduated and I'm still bitter.

Posted by Sir Learnsalot