Mystery man ruled out in Brooklyn serial killer investigation

AP

Police have ruled out a person of interest seen in this sketch from the Aug. 2 murder in Bensonhurst.

Cops have ruled out a person of interest in one of the murders committed by the Brooklyn serial killer, saying that the subject of a police sketch released in August has no connection to the slayings.

NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly said the man in the sketch circulated after the Aug. 2 Bensonhurst murder of Isaac Kadare, 59, was in the area at the time.

"That was a sketch that surfaced with one of the previous murders, it is no longer relevant," said Kelly. "That individual washed out again. That individual was somebody we wanted to talk to, who may have been in the area. He’s not a subject, he’s a person we simply wanted to speak to."

"It was someone that we wanted to speak to in the area. I believe that individual was interviewed."

Cops are still hunting for a mysterious man toting a duffel bag identified as a key “person of interest” after surveillance video showed him at one -- and possibly two -- of the three slay scenes, law-enforcement sources told The Post yesterday.

Police are still looking to speak with the man they've dubbed "John Doe Duffel Bag"

"We would obviously like that individual to come forward and contact us," Kelly said today.

The unidentified man -- dubbed “John Doe Duffel Bag” -- who is middle-aged, white and balding, was most recently caught on surveillance video, duffel bag in hand, at around 6 p.m. Friday near the Flatbush store where owner Rahmatollah Vahidipour, 78, was found dead at 7:11 p.m., cops said.

Another video appears to show the same man near a Bensonhurst shop around the time its owner Kadare was killed, several sources said yesterday.

Kelly today disputed the claim that he was spotted at older murders.

“That’s not the case,” he said.

The duffel man has no known connection to the first murder of shopkeeper Mohammed Gebeli, 65, in his Bay Ridge clothing store on July 6.

All three murders were committed with the same .22-caliber handgun, and all three occurred while the lone business owner was closing up shop.

All three bodies were also covered when they were discovered, cops said.

"It may be significant, it may not, but in all three cases, the victim’s head was covered either by cardboard or clothing of some sort," said Kelly.

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Opa-locka may give businesses four years to eliminate pole signs

Opa-locka businesses may soon have to replace giant pole signs with discreet, ground-hugging “monument” signs if the city passes a new law as part of an effort to make the community look better.

According to Howard Brown, the city’s community development director, the ordinance would mainly affect pole signs, wall signs and window signs.

“We’re trying to bring about a uniform standard that takes into consideration the aesthetics of it all,” Brown said.

Commissioner Dottie Johnson has been exploring the option for two years and was able to bring it before the commission and community at a town hall meeting last week.

“I believe that citizen input is crucial, especially the businesses because this is going to have a big impact on them,” Johnson said.

As a result of the meeting, the draft ordinance is going into further review before it is presented to the community again. So far however, Opa-locka is proposing to give local businesses two years to submit a plan for their new signs and four years to comply with the new rules. Additionally, businesses will have the option to choose a selected vendor in order to create the new signs. Businesses said at the meeting that they want to have a choice of vendors. Owners are also concerned about the cost.

“I want to know if there’s been any type of evaluation as it relates to the total cost for the businesses,” said Marc Caputo, vice president of operations for Instant Storage.

According to the initial draft, the ordinance is designed to “promote the public health, safety, comfort, good order, appearance, morals and general welfare.” Under Florida law, cities can pass regulations purely to make the community look more attractive.

Following other cities such as Miami Gardens and North Miami Beach, Commissioner Johnson’s idea is that regulating signs will change the city’s image.

“Our image is important because we want to attract more businesses and make the area more appealing, a place where your kids want to come back home to, a safe, clean community,” said Johnson.

Although originally set to go for a vote in December, Johnson has postponed voting on the ordinance pending further review and another town hall meeting.

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Who Are the ‘Anti-Israel’ Press Behind Rupert Murdoch’s Twitter Attack?

Rupert Murdoch can apologize (as he sort of did) about his “Jewish-owned press” tweet, but he still can’t take it back. And because that tweet is out there, the big question now—after “Why is he still on there?” and “Wow, that’s really offensive, right?”—is which press, exactly, he was referring to. Here’s the tweet that Murdoch sent out on Saturday night: 

Why Is Jewish owned press so consistently anti- Israel in every crisis?

— Rupert Murdoch(@rupertmurdoch) November 18, 2012

After an avalanche of Twitter blowback, Murdoch soon faux-apologized…

“,Jewish owned press” have been sternly criticised, suggesting link to Jewish reporters.Don’t see this, but apologise unreservedly.

— Rupert Murdoch(@rupertmurdoch) November 18, 2012

…”don’t see this” being Murdochian for faux-apology.

RELATED: Rupert Murdoch Brightens Every Newsroom He Enters

As the initial round of shock wears off (The Daily Beast’s Peter Beinart eloquently wrote about how stupid and offensive this tweet was), journalists and editors are now actually trying to make some kind of sense of which outlet or outlets Murdoch may have gotten all drunk-uncle-at-Thanksgiving over. So, with the help of journalists on the case, here’s our best attempt at “Murdoch Whispering“: 

RELATED: How U.K. Tabloids Are Getting Around Prince Harry’s Nudity Warning

He Is Talking About The New York Times Foreign Policy’s Blake Hounshell put it succinctly: 

FWIW Murdoch was probably referring to the NYT with that weird tweet.

— Blake Hounshell (@blakehounshell) November 18, 2012

And it was shared be Buzzfeed’s Ben Smith:

Wolff also assumes, as I did, that Murdoch’s Jewish-owned press meant the Times guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/…

— Ben Smith (@BuzzFeedBen) November 19, 2012

The reason Smith, Hounshell, and The Guardian‘s Michael Wolff all think it’s a Times-centered attack isn’t just because of an anti-Semitic slam against the Sulzbergers (more on this in a tiny bit) but because of Murdoch’s various “wars” and his rivalry with The New York Times. Back in 2010, as Vanity Fair pointed out, Murdoch was warring with executive editor Bill Keller, and he was seen tweeting dissing the well-liked Times‘s public editor, Margaret Sullivan, not too long ago: 

Amusing fuss over NYT public editor.We see all two million daily subscribers as our very public editors.

— Rupert Murdoch(@rupertmurdoch) November 8, 2012

So maybe this tweet was another pot shot, albeit with more anti-Semitic tone. But as Wolff points out, being Jewish-owned doesn’t even apply to The Times anymore, which kinda makes it even more anti-Semitic if he was just going by the Sulzberger surname:

To describe the Times this way is both quizzical, and we can assume, pointed. Because, as it happens, the Times isn’t, per se, “Jewish”. True, the Sulzbergers, who control the company, were once a prominent Jewish family. But the Times’ chairman and publisher, Arthur Sulzberger, is half-Jewish (on his father’s side) and was raised as an Episcopalian. Murdoch knows this full well. So what he is saying is something more like “Jewish-tainted press”, which, all in all, seems more, not less, antisemitic.

He Was Talking About CNN and the AP If you go to the New York Times report on the whole thing that might be referring to The Times, they point to CNN and the AP. “In an earlier message he had said, “CNN and AP bias to point of embarrassment,” writes The Times‘s Amy Chozick.

RELATED: New York Times Devours Gothamist

He Was Channeling Wendi’s Broken English and Trolling His ‘Minders’ “Curiously, Murdoch’s wife Wendi often uses the word ‘Jewish’in an atonal context – ‘You Jewish, right? I know you Jewish!’– that makes Murdoch’s minders jump.  He may even become more retrograde to bedevil his minders.” wrote Wolff. Based on a life experience which includes very blunt Asian relatives and a large extended family, there is a definite possibility that Wendi might not know how harsh  ”You Jewish, right?” comes off. It’s hard to say the same for Rupert.

RELATED: The Vatican Gets Trendy: Puts Newspaper Online, Plans a Paywall

He Wasn’t Talking About Mother Jones‘s Adam Weinstein: 

*I* don’t own any media. You laid me off in 2008. RT @rupertmurdoch: Why Is Jewish owned press so consistently anti-Israel in every crisis?

— Adam Weinstein (@AdamWeinstein) November 18, 2012

Social Media News Headlines – Yahoo! News

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Hitchcock Exclusive Featurette

More than 30 years after his passing, Alfred Hitchcock is once the rage, once again.

VIDEO - Tippi Hedren's Notorious Birds Screentest

2012 has already seen the premiere of one biopic, HBO's The Girl, and November brings a second as Hitchcock hits the silver screen.

RELATED -  Toby Jones' Hitchcock Hang Ups

Starring a dazzling cast of A-list talent (Sir Anthony Hopkins, Helen Mirren, Scarlett Johansson, Toni Collette, Michael Stuhlbarg, Jessica Biel), Hitchcock tells the story of the late director's relationship with his wife, Alma Reville (played by Mirren), and the struggles they faced in the autumn of their marriage.

RELATED- ScarJo Recreates Psycho's Shower Scene

"His whole persona was based on an enigma, the idea of approaching someone who really didn't give any emotions out and do an emotional film about him to me was fascinating," director Sacha Gervasi says in ETonline's exclusive featurette that takes you behind the scenes of Hitchcock!

Hitchcock opens November 27.

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Growing middle class feeds spirits business in Latin America

Diageo executive Randy Millian is proud of the fact that eight out of every 12 times someone pours a standard or premium whiskey in the Latin American and Caribbean region, they’re drinking one of his company’s brands.

That kind of dominance is why the spirits giant is bullish on its future in Latin America, which recently has been the fastest growing region for Diageo worldwide. In 2012, the Latin America and Caribbean region represented 12 percent of Diageo’s net worldwide sales and 11 percent of the company’s operating profit. Diageo hopes Brazil will become one of its top three markets by 2017, behind the U.S. and the United Kingdom.

But getting there hasn’t been easy. During periods of economic and political unrest in the region over the last decade, there were times when it would have been more profitable for Diageo to pull back, said Millian, president of Diageo Latin America and the Caribbean. Yet, the company focused on growing its scotch business across the region and it paid off. Over the last eight years, Diageo has increased sales more than two and a half times and almost tripled its operating profit.

“I believed it would get good,” said Millian, who supervises more than 3,000 employees across the region and 119 in Miami. “But I’m not sure I realized it would get this good.”

Millian has been running the region out of Diageo’s Miami office for more than a decade. But he’s also no stranger to this part of the world. He first lived in Argentina as a child and during his career has done stints in Venezuela, Brazil, Mexico and Costa Rica.

The Miami Herald sat down with Millian during a media day, which was part of a Diageo investor conference in Miami spotlighting the success in the Latin American and Caribbean region. Here is some of what Millian had to say:

Q. Has your growth over the last decade been comparable to Diageo’s growth around the world?

We would definitely be in the top positions in the league within Diageo. That’s one of the reasons they’re focusing on us. Like many corporations, the emerging markets have a huge potential for growth. I’m including Asia-Pacific, Africa and Latin America. We are seeing higher growth rates than we are seeing in the developed world, especially Europe. Although the U.S. is starting to come back, the growth rates in the emerging markets are significantly higher.

Q. What is driving the growth Diageo is experiencing in Latin America?

The improved demographics. You now have over 50 percent of the population who is middle class. You have had an increase in spending. Not only are there more people in the middle class, but you have more people in the (upper) class. We expect over the next year to have 60 million more people in the (upper) class. They’re also learning to spend money in different ways.

Q. In what countries do you see the most growth or most opportunities for future growth? Is Brazil the main focus?

There has been broad growth in Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, Chile and Peru. We have seen it all over, but those would be the ones we’re focusing on. It’s not just Brazil, it’s throughout the region.

Q. Why did you remain committed to this region over years when there was not a lot of growth and there was a lot of political and economic unrest in some countries?

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Men’s Health editor Zinczenko is leaving Rodale

Men’s Health editor-in-chief and best-selling author David Zinczenko is leaving Rodale, the family-owned magazine and book empire headed by Maria Rodale.

Steve Perrine, the head of Rodale Books, is also exiting. The two men are said to be teaming up on a new venture. Neither could be reached for comment.

Zinczenko’s departure is seen as a loss to Rodale.

A 21-year veteran of the company, Zinczenko was elevated to general manager of Rodale’s Healthy Living Group, which includes Women’s Health, Prevention and Organic Gardening.

He is also the most high-profile editor on the corporate roster, making frequent guest appearances on NBC’s “Today” Show and other outlets, as well as the author of the popular “Eat This Not That” book franchise.

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Kim Kardashian and sisters to be honored by city of North Miami on Monday

The Kardashian sisters — Kim, Khloe and Kourtney — will receive keys to the city of North Miami at a special presentation on Monday led by Mayor Andre Pierre.

The sisters are living in North Miami during the filming of their new E! reality TV show Kim and Kourtney Take Miami. The move came after Miami Beach rolled-up the welcome carport to the idea of another reality show within its city limits.

The presentation to the sisters will be at 11:30 a.m. in the council chambers of North Miami City Hall, 776 NE 125 St.

Pierre will present a key to the Kardashians and give the reality stars an official welcome to North Miami.

The media has been advised the sisters will pose for photos, but will not give interviews at the event.

A lunch reception will follow the presentation.

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You Named Your Kid What?! Strange Baby Names

Sarah Michelle Gellar & Freddie Prinze, Jr.

Sarah Michelle Gellar and Freddie Prinze, Jr. named their newborn son Rocky James, Us magazine reports! Rocky is the name of the famous Sly Stallone movie character, while James is Prinze's dad's middle name. This Hollywood couple isn't the first to chose a peculiar name for their child. Click the pics to see what celebrities are calling their kids. 

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Bloomberg extends NYC gas rationing through Friday

Mayor Michael Bloomberg is extending the gas rationing system in New York City through the Thanksgiving holiday.

He announced Sunday that the odd-even license plate system would be in effect through Friday.

Bloomberg said that with 30 percent of stations still closed and a major travel week coming up, the extension would make sure there aren't the long lines that brought about the system in the first place.

Motorists can get gas on alternate days based on whether their license plate ends with odd or even numbers.

Rationing went into effect in the city on Nov. 9 in the wake of Superstorm Sandy. Damage to gas stations and distribution networks had led to hours-long lines.

Paul Martinka

Drivers fill up their cars at a gas station in Brooklyn.

Gas rationing has ended in New Jersey and on Long Island.

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Panama Canal’s $5 billion makeover could be boon for South Florida

PANAMA CITY, Panama --
Huge yellow dump trucks resemble Tonka toys in a sand pile as they haul tons of rust-colored dirt and basalt rock from a 56-foot gash in the earth that will become a new access channel in the $5.25 billion expansion of the Panama Canal.

The trucks keep rumbling up muddy terraced slopes as a quick-moving storm blurs the horizon. The rain chases away workers pouring concrete for a mammoth set of locks that will lift super-size ships for their transit across the narrow Isthmus of Panama, but the crews are back in the pit as soon as the sun returns.

By April 2015, it will all be under water — ready for the ever-bigger vessels revolutionizing international trade. The expansion is expected to double the canal’s capacity.

The 2015 target is about six months behind schedule, but U.S. ports are still scrambling to ready their channels for so-called post-Panamax ships and some say they welcome the reprieve. At this point, Baltimore and Norfolk, Va. are the only ports along the Eastern Seaboard with channels deep enough to handle the vessels when they’re fully loaded.

Call it the race for deep water as ports up and down the East Coast, including PortMiami and Port Everglades, and along the Gulf of Mexico make plans to dredge their channels, shore up their docks or rustle up funding for renovations to receive the big ships. Many won’t be ready by the time water floods the new locks.

PortMiami in position to cash in

PortMiami is further along than most and is hoping that early advantage and its position as the first major U.S. port north of Panama will make it a preferred port of call for post-Panamax ships.

Latin American and Caribbean ports also are trying to figure out how to capitalize on the expansion.

As this new phase of canal construction nears completion with 13,000 people working around the clock, there is renewed interest in preserving the history of the old Panama Canal Zone as well as the legacy of those who worked and died building the canal.

While the 50-mile-long Panama Canal has provided a maritime shortcut between the Atlantic and Pacific for the past 98 years, it’s just about maxed out.

This year vessels from the four corners of the globe — car carriers from Japan, bulk carriers loaded with soybeans and wheat from the U.S. heartland, oil tankers, towering container ships carrying the output of Chinese factories to U.S. retailers — are expected to move a record 332 million tons of cargo through the waterway, said Jorge L. Quijano, chief executive of the Panama Canal Authority.

That’s only about 20 million tons short of the canal’s capacity, he said. The canal is also popular with cruise lines and dozens of cruise ships are being built that exceed the size limits of the current canal.

But the more immediate problem is that the huge cargo ships increasingly favored for trade with Asia are too wide, too long and too heavy for the current canal.

With a growing number of ships in the post-Panamax category — exceeding the specifications for the largest ship that can fit through the existing locks — the Panama Canal must expand or risk losing market share.

And post-Panamax vessels aren’t even the biggest on the high seas. Post-Panamax Plus ships, such as most U.S. tankers that carry liquefied natural gas bound for Asia, are five times too big for the Panama Canal.

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