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Second of three parts.
This article was reported by the Globe Spotlight Team: reporters Jonathan Saltzman, Marcella Bombardieri, and Bob Hohler and editor Thomas Farragher. It was written by Saltzman and Bombardieri.
Each accident happened in an instant. Elizabeth Rideout was standing on the sidewalk at Logan Airport, fresh from a Florida vacation, when a taxi hurtling out of control jumped the curb and plowed into her and a fellow traveler.
Michael Metcalf, a Massachusetts Turnpike Authority worker, sat in a parked tow truck in the Callahan Tunnel, his emergency lights flashing. Suddenly, a cab struck it from behind with a powerful jolt.
Marijke Rijsberman and her 19-year-old daughter were riding in a taxi to the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. The cabbie lost control and drove into a guardrail, hurling them face-first into the plexiglass divider.
The results of the accidents, which occurred over a span of six years, varied: One person killed, another left in a coma for 18 days, two suffering facial and dental injuries, and one severe back problems.
But all three accidents shared a common denominator: Boston Cab.
Owned by Edward J. Tutunjian, Boston Cab has by far the biggest taxi fleet in the city, controlling 1 in 5 of the 1,825 licensed taxis. With taxi licenses, or medallions, worth more than $220 million, he has the deepest pockets in the taxi trade and the largest potential legal exposure as his trademark brown-and-white cabs zip around town.
But when it comes to insurance claims, the game is rigged in favor of Tutunjian and some other taxi fleet owners — and against accident victims. The Spotlight Team reviewed scores of personal injury claims against Tutunjian and his cabs and found that, as is the case with so much else in the world of Boston's cab industry, financial priorities are upside down. The owner's interests are zealously protected. The passenger and the public come last.
For one thing, Tutunjian and most other taxi owners buy far too little insurance to cover serious injuries.
The three cabs involved in the accidents, like about 80 percent of the other taxis in Massachusetts, were operating with the state minimum bodily injury coverage of $20,000. That's a fraction of what most motorists buy for their own cars, even though, according to the state Division of Insurance, cabs have seven times the accident rate of ordinary vehicles.
That coverage is less than half the $50,000 required of bicycle messenger services in Boston. It's also a tiny percentage of the $1 million coverage mandated at Logan International Airport for unmarked black cars known as livery vehicles.
And it's allowed because the Legislature has repeatedly ignored proposals to mandate more insurance for taxis.
Mark Jenkins, a Peabody software entrepreneur whose girlfriend suffered a permanent brain injury in a 1994 accident with a Revere taxi that had only $20,000 in coverage, said he has testified at the State House four times since 2001 in favor of raising the minimum required cab insurance.
Legislators "seem just as flabbergasted as I was by the whole thing," Jenkins said. "But then it's, 'Thank you for showing up. Have a nice day.' ''
Tutunjian takes this unlevel playing field and tilts it even further in his favor. Relying on a little-used provision of state law, he self-insures his cabs by depositing money in interest-bearing state accounts to cover his fleet, instead of paying premiums.
"It would be as though I called American Airlines and booked a flight, and then something horrible happened on the plane, and they said, 'We don't own it. It was Ralph's Plane Inc.'" Jonathan Karon, attorney for accident case plaintiff
Like many other fleet owners in Boston and elsewhere, he also divvies up his 372 valuable taxi medallions into dozens of corporations, which makes some potential litigants think that a cab in an accident belongs to a small business with modest assets rather than a transportation giant.
In addition, Tutunjian denies any responsibility for the errors or negligence of the people who drive his taxis, because he and other fleet owners consider cabbies "independent contractors'' rather than employees.
"He leases a cab to be independent, be his own boss, go make money on streets," Tutunjian testified of drivers in a deposition in February. He added, "I have no control [over] what they do.''
The result of all this is plain: Accountability is minimized. People injured in or by a Boston Cab face a forbidding legal thicket. People like Marion Rideout and her mom.
Rideout, whose 68-year-old mother was trapped under the rear axle of the taxi at Logan International Airport in 2003 and spent eight months hospitalized, said the company initially offered her family $8,000, then grudgingly increased the offer to no more than $20,000 to cover Elizabeth Rideout's massive injuries.
"I said, 'Twenty thousand dollars? My mother's in a coma at the [intensive care unit] at Mass. General,' '' recalled Rideout. "And they said, 'Well, that's all we're liable for.' ''
But unlike some accident victims who accept a woefully insufficient insurance payout, Marion Rideout refused to take "that's all" as a final answer. She joined battle with Tutunjian — a battle that would continue for two nightmarish years.
In her desperation and determination, she has some company — others who refused to accept the company's terms and went to court to fight Boston Cab. Among them:
■ The family of Anna Makrokanis, a 79-year-old woman who was killed getting out of a Boston Cab taxi in 1997 when the driver allegedly took his foot off the brake.
■ Mariano C. Lozano, a taxi driver who lost both his legs when the Boston Cab taxi behind him in line at Logan rolled into him, also in 1997.
■ Daniel Fitzgerald, a Boston police officer who allegedly suffered neck and back injuries when a Boston Cab taxi struck him while he was directing rush-hour traffic in the Financial District in 2009. The cabbie said his foot slipped from the brake onto the gas pedal. A trial is scheduled for May.
■ Dr. Merton Bernfield, who said he had his hand on a Boston Cab taxi as he spoke to the driver outside Children's Hospital in 2001. When the driver sped away, Bernfield alleged, he fell and dislocated his shoulder. The 62-year-old professor of pediatrics and cell biology at Harvard Medical School had Parkinson's disease, and his widow believes the fall led to a cascade of medical setbacks that hastened his death 13 months later.
It is legal and common for business owners to form corporations to limit their liability, but lawyers for accident victims contend that Tutunjian exploits corporate protections to put his assets out of reach. They say he uses the power of his deep-pocketed corporations to solicit riders and attract taxi drivers, then denies those corporations have anything to do with his small medallion-owning companies when a cab is involved in an accident.
"It would be as though I called American Airlines and booked a flight, and then something horrible happened on the plane, and they said, 'We don't own it. It was Ralph's Plane Inc.,' '' said the Bernfields' attorney, Jonathan Karon.
Several state judges and court officials have assailed Tutunjian for trying to conceal how his corporations are interconnected and for failing to turn over evidence to plaintiffs hurt in taxi accidents.
"After living with this case over the past few months, I cannot help but conclude that Mr. Tutunjian has either a practice and policy of withholding documents in discovery or disposing of business records an ordinary businessman would maintain for years longer,'' a court-appointed master wrote in 2007 in the case of a South Boston woman who broke her neck in the back seat of a Tutunjian cab hit by another car.
Superior Court Judge Thomas E. Connolly was even more withering two years ago. He wrote that Tutunjian's tactic of distancing himself from his drivers and walling off his assets into myriad small companies were "shams.''
Tutunjian was asked about Connolly's comments and the Rideout case, which, according to court files in an unrelated suit against him, he ultimately settled for $1.5 million. He wrote that the Globe's "choice of one large settlement over 25 years and the comments of one judge suggest the negative slant of your upcoming article and your willingness to accept the biases of a small number of unhappy drivers and litigants."
Tutunjian then declined to discuss further personal injury cases filed against his firms. In fact, juries have ordered Tutunjian to pay, or he has agreed to pay, a total of $6.2 million in four personal injury cases just since 2004, including Rideout's and that of the man killed in the same accident.
Even so, the taxi magnate's practice of self-insuring his fleet has proved a remarkable bargain for him.
Instead of paying insurance for nearly 400 cabs, he keeps $10,000 on deposit with the state treasurer for each of his cabs as security in case of an accident. His taxis currently account for two-thirds of all the cars in the state-run self-insurance program. With almost $4 million on deposit, he has earned hundreds of thousands of dollars in interest over the past decade.
Being self-insured means that Tutunjian, not an insurance company, decides what — if anything — to offer an accident victim. His taxi operation handles 500 to 700 insurance claims a year, Armen Mahserejian, Tutunjian's nephew and top manager, testified in 2005.
Tutunjian hires a company that provides professional adjusters for the claims, but a longtime adjuster testified in 2008 that "I take my marching orders from Armen."
Lawyers say the company abuses that discretion, forcing people to either forgo what they are rightfully owed or pursue costly litigation.
Maria Ramos De Mendoza discovered just how hard it can be to take on Tutunjian after she was hit by a Boston Cab taxi in 2008 while crossing a street in Newton. The Providence woman allegedly suffered head, neck, and back injuries.
Police blamed the cabbie, noting that De Mendoza was in a marked crosswalk with a stop sign. Still, Boston Cab refused to pay any of her medical bills, according to her attorney, Matthew Durfee of Smithfield, R.I., although state law requires even self-insured companies to cover at least $2,000, regardless of who is at fault.
As her case crawled through the court system, De Mendoza's medical bills climbed to $10,000, and soon collection agencies were chasing her, Durfee said. Still, she had to wait more than three years before the cab company made an offer. Finally, on the eve of trial in November, the company offered a confidential settlement that De Mendoza accepted even though her attorney says she deserved far more.
State insurance laws have sharp teeth – an insurance company found to have acted in bad faith could face triple damages. But Durfee said Tutunjian's staff told him Boston Cab isn't an insurance company, and doesn't feel bound by those rules.
"They don't have the triple damages hanging over their heads so they can thumb their nose at you," said Durfee. "They can say, 'We are not going to pay it, so you have to hire an attorney and wait three years.' "
After an inquiry by the Globe, state Treasurer Steven Grossman said he would ask the Legislature to end the self-insurance program because it benefits only the few prosperous entities that can afford to make $10,000 deposits. He added that $20,000 in coverage, whether paid through a traditional policy or self-insurance, was "nowhere near adequate'' to cover people's injuries.
Despite repeated requests, Tutunjian declined to be interviewed beyond the 20 minutes he, two nephews, and another manager spent with a reporter who approached them in the garage. In a series of written statements, he invoked a class-action lawsuit by cabdrivers who allege that fleet owners and the city have improperly denied them benefits and fair wages.
"Due to pending litigation, I have been advised by my attorneys not to discuss any information that could potentially be addressed in the case,'' he said.
Still, he said in one of the statements that the way he divides up his assets among multiple companies is legal and "no different than the make-up of other medallion owners." The insurance company he hires to handle claims in-house does so "in a legal and ethical manner," he said. And he noted that several people who filed lawsuits against his companies ended up losing at trial after, he said, they rejected "very reasonable settlement offers."
Legal loophole on insurance
The full story of Elizabeth Rideout's ordeal opens a window onto the cold and Kafkaesque world of personal injury claims against Boston Cab.
It began just before midnight on March 19, 2003, at the curb of Terminal C. Logan Airport was on high alert because of the US invasion of Iraq hours earlier.
Rideout, a retired bookkeeper from Quincy, was coming home from visiting friends in Florida after the recent death of her husband. Yuri Wiseman, a 28-year-old businessman, was returning with his wife from Las Vegas to their home in Brookline. Rideout and Wiseman were waiting for cabs. They could not have imagined what would come next.
Preparing to help a customer waiting at the cab stand, driver Mohamed Farah stepped out of the taxi he was driving but failed to put the car in park. When the Crown Victoria rolled forward, he leaped back in and mistakenly stepped on the gas instead of the brake. The cab jumped the curb, striking Wiseman and Rideout. Wiseman was pinned under the front of the two-ton car. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Rideout was trapped under the rear axle. A chaplain administered last rites before she was taken to Massachusetts General Hospital.
Farah collapsed to the ground, crying, "It's me, I'm dead, it's my fault!'' according to a state trooper.
Marion Rideout was alerted to the news by a phone call to her fiance's home in the Seattle area, and soon returned to Boston. As her mother was hospitalized for eight months and underwent seven operations, the younger Rideout found herself trying to unravel the Gordian knot that is Boston's taxi industry.
She soon learned about the legal loophole that allows most cabs in the state, including Tutunjian's, to be inadequately insured. Only 15 percent of ordinary passenger cars in Massachusetts carry the minimum legal insurance, which requires $20,000 for one victim and a total of $40,000 if two or more people are hurt or killed.
In contrast, eight of 10 taxis on the road carry what is known as "20/40" insurance, according to 2011 statistics compiled by the state Division of Insurance.
Some cities insist that cabs carry more insurance than regular cars. New York City and Los Angeles, for instance, each require that taxis carry insurance of at least $100,000 to cover one person's injuries or death and $300,000 to cover multiple people. Chicago requires that cabs carry at least $350,000 to cover one or more individuals. Dallas requires at least $500,000 to cover all injuries and property damage.
"These are professional drivers, and we believe they should carry insurance that accounts for the fact that they are carrying precious cargo, as opposed to simple conveyance,'' said Allan J. Fromberg, a spokesman for the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission.
While there are no national statistics available, the Globe also found a few cities that allow cabs to carry even lower insurance than Boston. Philadelphia requires only $15,000 in coverage for one person injured, the same as for ordinary cars.
For years, the Massachusetts Academy of Trial Attorneys and Massachusetts Bar Association have urged the Legislature to raise the insurance required of taxis. So has Jenkins, the software entrepreneur whose girlfriend was injured when a Revere cab went through a stop sign and struck her car at Logan Airport in 1994.
After she paid her lawyer and medical bills out of the $20,000 insurance payment, she only had $3,000 left, he said. An executive in a seafood export company when the accident occurred, she can no longer work, he said. The couple married after the accident but later divorced.
"We are all paying for this cabdriver's negligence every time a payment is made" to his ex-wife from Social Security, public food assistance, or Medicare, Jenkins testified in June 2011. "Unless legislation can be enacted that will force them to do what they will not do on their own, it will continue to happen, and the next victim could be any one of you.''
In that legislative session, two insurance associations opposed a bill to raise the minimum insurance for taxis to what New York City and Los Angeles require. An official with one of the groups, Property Casualty Insurers Association of America, told the Globe it generally opposes mandates for higher insurance and it was concerned that insurers would have to pay bigger claims.
Amazingly, Tutunjian has tried to straddle both sides of this insurance equation. His lawyer argued in one personal injury case that it was "unfair and unreasonable" for a driver who hit a Boston Cab taxi to carry only the minimum required insurance of 20/40.
Yet Tutunjian said it was reasonable for his cab to have the same coverage. "I'm going [with] whatever the law says, the minimum," he testified in 2008.
For the Rideouts, the paltry insurance on Tutunjian's cab was hardly the only problem.
Rideout's mother was struck by a taxi that bore the Boston Cab insignia. But smaller print on the door said the taxi was "O/O'' — owned and operated — by another entity, Vicky's Inc.
As medical bills for her mother began to pile up — they totaled more than $700,000 by the end of 2003 — Marion Rideout spent sleepless nights researching Vicky's. She examined corporate records on the Massachusetts secretary of state's website and even parked across the street from the Boston Cab garage to watch taxis come and go. She learned that Vicky's had eight medallions, but no one named Vicky owned it. It belonged to Tutunjian — as did dozens of other taxi companies.
"I'm going, 'Honest to God, the same person owns them all. What's going on here?' " she recalled. "It then came down to an awareness that it's a shell game.''
These mini-cab companies, she would find out, existed almost exclusively on paper. No employees. No bank accounts. No telephone numbers, other than the one for Boston Cab.
Although the medallions held by each company were valuable — each worth as much as $625,000 today — they were highly leveraged because Tutunjian had used them as collateral to borrow tens of millions of dollars to buy more medallions and make other investments. Loading the medallions with debt also makes them less attractive to litigants.
After two years of legal jousting and a judge's order freezing $5 million of Tutunjian's assets, the cab tycoon settled Elizabeth Rideout's lawsuit out of court for $1.5 million.
Rideout also sued the Massachusetts Port Authority, which runs Logan Airport. It settled her claim for $1.3 million, according to the authority.
Wiseman's widow settled her suit against Tutunjian for $1.25 million — after another judge also froze $5 million of Tutunjian's assets — and received about $1 million to settle a claim against Massport, according to court documents and the authority.
As a result of the horrific accident, Massport improved Logan's safety protocols, requiring drivers to shut off the engine before getting out of a cab.
Labyrinthine fiscal structure
Tutunjian's determination to protect his business and his wealth is epitomized by the firm at the center of his empire — EJT Management. EJT maintains bank accounts to handle daily cash flow, and has dozens of employees who buy and repair taxis and hand out keys to drivers.
But it is not, Tutunjian has repeatedly argued in court, a taxi company.
EJT itself owns no medallions and has no responsibility for what those drivers do on the road, he contends. It just rents taxis to "independent businessmen," in Tutunjian's words, who present a valid hackney license and safe driving record.
Tutunjian is so adamant that EJT and Boston Cab bear no responsibility for accidents that, in the aftermath of the lawsuit by Wiseman's widow, both companies filed counterclaims against her. The companies asserted that they neither own nor control vehicles and "owed her nothing,'' and accused her of suing them "falsely and maliciously.''
The elaborate structure of Tutunjian's cab business isn't just confusing to people injured in taxi accidents. Sovereign Bank, which has loaned Tutunjian millions of dollars, also couldn't keep it straight after interviewing him and analyzing his businesses. When the bank approved a $19 million loan in 2001, it said in a memorandum that "EJT is now the largest medallion owner in Boston.''
And Tutunjian himself has had difficulty at times staying on script.
Although he says cabbies are not his employees, he has spoken at times in a proprietary way about "my drivers," and he once testified that a particular driver who was in a serious crash "still drives for me."
Connolly, the now-retired Superior Court judge, in 2011 described Tutunjian's two-pronged legal strategy in personal injury lawsuits this way: "If Tutunjian does not succeed with his 'independent contractor' ploy, his and his other corporate and personal assets may be hidden and protected by the corporate veil of the small corporation.''
If plaintiffs can prove that Tutunjian's corporate setup is a facade, the law allows them to pursue his larger business empire for damages. But it is a high legal hurdle to clear, one that requires marshaling detailed evidence about how the company operates.
When Tutunjian settled Wiseman's and Rideout's lawsuits, as well as that of Lozano, the cabbie who lost his legs, it was only after judges signaled some sympathy for that argument.
However, the judge in the case of the South Boston woman who broke her neck in a cab in 2000 examined whether Tutunjian's corporate structure was a facade and found the evidence inconclusive.
Still, the jury in that case awarded the woman and her family about $2 million in damages in 2008. Because Tutunjian had greater financial means, he was ordered to pay most of the award even though the jury concluded that the driver of the car that hit the taxi bore most of the blame.
Another jury awarded Metcalf, the Mass. Pike worker whose truck was struck by a Boston Cab taxi in 2001, $1.4 million, for debilitating back injuries. That didn't sit well with Tutunjian, who then sued his own attorneys of many years for malpractice. That case was settled out of court.
As Tutunjian pointed out in a statement to the Globe, juries have sided with him in several cases that went to trial. Last fall, for example, a jury rejected a claim by a Boston University student who suffered a brain injury when she was struck by a cab as she jaywalked across Commonwealth Avenue on Halloween night in 2008.
The Globe found nearly 100 personal injury lawsuits filed against Tutunjian's companies in the past two decades.
Despite the raft of cases, there is no reason to think that Boston Cab drivers are more accident-prone than those of other cab companies. But there is no way to tell. Boston police do not track accidents involving cabs.
It's also likely that the number of lawsuits understates the number of people injured by Tutunjian's cabs. Numerous lawyers told the Globe that many more victims cannot get an attorney to take their cases because it is so difficult to penetrate Tutunjian's legal fortress. Others are discouraged by the 20/40 insurance limits for cabs, unaware that behind those low coverage limits are wealthy owners.
Rijsberman, who was riding in the cab that slammed into a guardrail on Storrow Drive in 2007, suffered a concussion and broke her cheekbone and eye socket. Her daughter's face was badly cut. Both required surgery.
A resident of the San Francisco area, she says she was able to get a good lawyer only because the potential insurance payout was higher with two victims.
Still, Rijsberman and her daughter had to file suit and endure emotionally painful depositions.
Her daughter, a student at Yale, emerged from hers in tears. At Rijsberman's deposition, a lawyer for the cab company suggested that Rijsberman was opportunistic because she had pictures of her facial injuries taken soon after the accident, she said.
At a subsequent mediation session, she recalled, one of Tutunjian's nephews, attending on his uncle's behalf, was barely civil and scowled at her.
Her lawyer, Joseph B. Green, said he believes that Tutunjian decided to settle the case in part because Green threatened to conduct a forensic audit of the taxi magnate's finances.
Rijsberman said the state could help other families avoid a similar ordeal by insisting that cabs carry higher insurance.
"It would have saved a lot of pain if there had been sufficient insurance,'' she said. "Just being sick is bad enough. Having a head injury and having to sue people is terrible.''
On the road again.


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subset: commoncrawl


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Bandits: LocationsAway
Berea Soccer Complex
Field 1
Kroger Complex Van Meter Rd Winchester
Field 2
Kroger Complex Van Meter Rd Winchester
Field 3
Kroger Complex Van Meter Rd Winchester
High School
GRC High School inside the track
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Take I-64 Exit 94. Turn like you are going to Shell Station. Turn right just past Shell onto Van Meter Rd. The Kroger Youth Soccer Complex is 1.5 miles out Van Meter Road. The entrance is just past the WMU Wastewater Treatment Plant. Enter at stone house on right. Follow road behind house for parking. See Handouts for Complex Map.
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Songwriter Linda Perry is engaged to actress Sara Gilbert
The 4 Non Blondes rocker, who has penned hits for Pink and Christina Aguilera, began dating the former "Roseanne" star in 2011, and now the couple is set to wed after Perry proposed over a picnic in Los Angeles.
Announcing the news while co-hosting "The Talk" on Monday, Gilbert said, "We go to a park, and we have food and we're eating it, it's really sweet and there's this guy sitting playing guitar, like a street musician, and he starts playing this song that we love… I'm like, 'Oh, that's so weird, this is so magical and amazing.'
"So that ends and she's like, 'Oh, I'm gonna ask him to play this other song,' but this other song is really obscure and this guy wouldn't know it, but magically he knows it… And suddenly the people picnicking next to us pull out string instruments from under the blanket and walk over and they start playing 'Love Song' (by the Cure)…
"Then she goes to her backpack and she pulls out some T-shirts and the first T-shirt says, 'Will,' and then she puts on another T-shirt that says, 'You,' Marry, Me and the last one is a question mark. And then she goes to her backpack and gets a ring."
And Perry even called on her pal John Waite for a surprise private performance of "their" song, "Missing You."
She adds, "So then she says, 'OK, turn around,' and I turn around and our moms are there and a couple friends… So I think that's it and it's the most amazing proposal ever and then… this guy walks up and she's like, 'This is John Waite,' and he starts playing 'Missing You.'"


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4:19 p.m. | Updated
WellPoint agreed on Monday to buy Amerigroup in a deal valued at $4.9 billion in cash, as one of the country's biggest health insurers seeks to take advantage of an expansion of health care coverage instituted by the Obama administration.
The proposed acquisition demonstrates the increasing consolidation of health insurers at a time of significant change as the federal health care law, the Affordable Care Act, has put enormous pressure on those in the industry to better control costs.
WellPoint is already a giant of the health care industry, providing insurance under the Blue Cross and Blue Shield brands in 13 states. Buying Amerigroup will significantly bolster its presence in the government-financed markets of Medicaid for low-income individuals and Medicare for the elderly and disabled.
The combined company will offer Medicaid plans in 19 states.
"Scale is very important," Angela F. Braly, WellPoint's chief executive, said.
WellPoint is paying a significant premium to embark on such an expansion. Under the terms announced on Monday, the company will pay $92 a share in cash, a 43 percent premium to Amerigroup's Friday closing price of $64.34. WellPoint expects the deal to add to earnings beginning next year, adding more than $1 a share by 2015. It is expected to close in the first quarter of next year.
The deal is one of WellPoint's largest since the company was formed from a 2003 merger, according to data from Standard & Poor's Capital IQ. The company has been a serial acquirer in recent years, having bought 1-800 Contacts, a contact lens retailer, and CareMore, a provider of managed care for the elderly, over the last 12 months alone.
Shares of WellPoint rose 3.4 percent on Monday, to $61.95, while shares in Amerigroup soared 38 percent, to $88.79, but they remained below WellPoint's offer, suggesting some investor uncertainty over the prospects of the transaction.
Both companies said the deal made sense regardless of the fate of the health care overhaul, which the Supreme Court upheld two weeks ago. But the court's decision was mixed on Medicaid.
"Medicaid is going to be a big growth market for the big health insurers," said Edward Kaplan, a senior vice president of the Segal Company, which advises employers on health benefits. "Fifteen to 20 million lives will be up for grabs in 2014, and WellPoint wants some of those lives."
The Supreme Court decision also appears to give states more latitude in deciding whether to participate in the Medicaid expansion, and some governors have intimated that they may pursue shrinking their enrollment rather than growing it.
"The motive of the states to reduce enrollment is considerable, both in budget and political terms," said Richard Evans, an analyst at Sector and Sovereign Research in Stamford, Conn.
Mr. Evans said that while federal officials were likely to try to find an eventual compromise with recalcitrant states, he estimates that as many as 13 million people live in states where Republican lawmakers could opt out of the federal expansion and reduce the number of individuals who are enrolled.
Company officials discounted the possibility that state officials would make good on their threat to turn down significant federal money, emphasizing that the merger made sense even without the expansion.
"We have an expectation and belief that the opportunity in Medicaid will continue no matter what," Ms. Braly said.
WellPoint executives also said the acquisition made sense in light of the law's creation of state exchanges, where low-income individuals are expected to be eligible for subsidies to help buy coverage in 2014.
On a conference call on Monday, Ms. Braly cited estimates of about nine million people who are "dual eligible" for Medicaid and Medicare, a group that accounts for some $300 billion in spending.
WellPoint also did not rule out offering plans in states where it is not licensed to use its popular Blue Cross brand.
WellPoint was advised by Credit Suisse and the law firm Linklaters. Amerigroup received advice from Goldman Sachs, Barclays and the law firm Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom.


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Panama is a country in Central America with coastlines on both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, with Colombia (and South America) to the southeast and Costa Rica (and North America) to the northwest. It's strategically located on the isthmus that forms the land bridge connecting North and South America. It controls the Panama Canal that links the North Atlantic Ocean via Caribbean Sea with North Pacific Ocean, one of the most important shipping routes in the world.
The ease of travel and wide array of experiences are making Panama one of the most attractive emerging tourism destinations in the world. In just one week, visitors can enjoy two different oceans, experience the mountains and rainforest, learn about native cultures and take advantage of vibrant urban life. The capital, Panama City, is a modern, sophisticated metropolis that resembles Miami and has established commerce, arts, fashion and dining. Fodors, Frommers and National Geographic have all recently began publishing guides for Panama, only the second country in Central America, behind Costa Rica, to have such extensive travel coverage.
Panama is known as the "Crossroads of the Americas" due to its privileged position between North and South America. The indigenous meaning of the country's name, "abundance of fish", reflects Panama's reputation as a paradise for water sports enthusiasts and eco-tourists alike. As the isthmus connecting two massive continents, Panama's flora and fauna is incredibly diverse. For example, Panama was recently named the country with the most bird species in the world; over 900. Panama's many indigenous tribes are still thriving, living in the same ancient manner as their ancestors, making its cultural fabric exceptionally rich.
Panama's government has strong ties to the United States and strongly supports business, development and tourism. The International Monetary Fund applauds the country's diversified economy and predicts it to have one of the strongest GDP growth rates in the world for the next several years. Panama is known for its highly developed international banking sector, with about 80 banks from several countries establishing local branches, including HSBC, BBVA and Citi Bank. Currently undergoing expansion, the Canal continues to drive Panama's service-based economy and remains one of the most important transportation links in the world. In addition to the country's strong economic base, Panama's physical infrastructure, including modern hospitals, airports and roads, is much more highly developed than its Central American neighbors.
Panama boasts a large expat community; about 25,000 US citizens live in the country. It is worth spending some time reading up on Panama and communicating with locals, expats and fellow travelers alike before arriving in the country. Consider joining some local forums or blogs for expats or the Central America Forum. Many of the local blogs can give you the most current info on: floods, earthquakes, trail closings, and the best restaurant reviews.
What the travel experts are saying about Panama:
Less than 9 degrees north of the equator, most of Panama enjoys temperatures that are fairly consistent year round, with daytime temperatures in the 90s and nighttime around 70. Tropical maritime; hot, humid, cloudy; prolonged rainy season, called winter or invierno (May to November); short dry season, called summer or verano (December to April). The most popular time to travel to Panama is December through March, when lack of humidity and nearly zero percent chance of rain make it ideal for travelers.
During most of the rainy season, mornings and early afternoons are usually sunny while late afternoons and evenings have intermittent rainfall. Take an umbrella as officials have recently banned the canopies due to health and safety they are therefore not easily available apart from dodgy-dealers called Bob or "ninja", as he is called on the streets. watch for out for that bad boy.
Most areas are quite warm, but a few places, such as Boquete, Cerro Punta and El Valle can get a little chilly at night. You definitely want a heavy rain-proof jacket if you're going to the top of Barú since you will be above 3000m for a little while.
Natural hazards (apart from the umbrella) : Occasional severe storms and forest fires in the remote Darien area. Hurricane-strong winds are only a very small possibility in Panama. Because of its geographic position, it is very unlikely that Panama could be in the path of any hurricane, unlike the other Central American countries.
Interior mostly steep, rugged mountains and dissected, upland plains; coastal areas largely plains and rolling hills Highest point : Volcan Barú, Chiriqui Province 3,475 m. On a clear day they say you can see both oceans from the peak.
With US backing, Panama seceded from Colombia in 1903 and promptly signed a treaty with the US allowing for the construction of a canal and US sovereignty over a strip of land on either side of the structure (the Panama Canal Zone). The Panama Canal was built by the US Army Corps of Engineers between 1904 and 1914.
On 7 September 1977, an agreement was signed for the complete transfer of the Canal from the US to Panama by the end of 1999. Certain portions of the Zone and increasing responsibility over the Canal were turned over in the intervening years. The entire Panama Canal, the area supporting the Canal, and remaining US military bases were turned over to Panama by or on 31 December 1999.
To understand the small Isthmus of Panama, it is best to view it by its provinces. Panama has a tropical climate, but temperatures change dramatically between the coasts; and from the low lands to the mountainous region of Boquete. Temperatures are uniformly high—as is the relative humidity—and there is little seasonal variation. Diurnal ranges are low; on a typical dry-season day in the capital city, the early morning minimum may be 24°C and the afternoon maximum 29°C. The temperature seldom exceeds 32°C for more than a short time. Temperatures on the Pacific side of the isthmus are somewhat lower than on the Caribbean, and breezes tend to rise after dusk in most parts of the country. Temperatures are markedly cooler in the higher parts of the mountain ranges, and frosts occur in the Cordillera de Talamanca in western Panama. Climatic regions are determined less on the basis of temperature than on rainfall, which varies regionally from less than 1.3 to more than 3 meters per year. Almost all of the rain falls during the rainy season, which is usually from April to December, but varies in length from seven to nine months. In general, rainfall is much heavier on the Caribbean than on the Pacific side of the continental divide. The annual average in Panama City is little more than half of that in Colón. Although rainy-season thunderstorms are common, the country is outside the hurricane track. (The information above was written by Wikipedia Panama )
For ease of reference, Panama's many provinces can be grouped as follows:
Countries whose citizens have passports valid for at least 6 months upon entry do not require a visa to enter Panama include Andorra, Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Germany, Ireland, Israel, Malta, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Switzerland and Uruguay.
Citizens of some countries, Australia, Canada, Japan and US citizens included, may enter Panama with a tourist visa that is stamped on arrival (the cost is automatically included in your airfare and is valid for a 180-day stay as of August 2010). The cost is $13 (US) for a visa stamp to enter at Bocas del Toro, when arriving by airplane, as of May 2008. Entry requirements are proof of:
In practice, border officials may be lax about checking clean-cut travelers coming from the USA or other developed countries.
Also, because your tourist visa will be stamped in your passport, it is important to carry at least a photocopy of the ID page AND the page with the tourist visa stamp at all times.
International flights arrive at Tocumen International Airport (PTY), which lies about 20 miles east of Panama City (from all countries) or David Airport (from Costa Rica in AirPanama ). Panama City's PTY is well connected with the Americas and has non-stop flights to almost 20 countries in the region. Neighbor Colombia is specially well served with daily flights to more than 7 cities, including Bogota, Medellín, Cali and [Cartagena].
From Tocumen, you will have to taxi, bus, or rent a car to get to the city. Airport taxis use set rates, and can be shared--the transportation information booth in the lobby will help you make arrangements. There are a couple of hotels near the airport where you can spend the night at relatively high prices (US$60).
If you are short on cash you can catch a bus to the downtown of the city for .25 balboa. Just walk towards the highway and cross the street towards the bus shelter. Make sure you get the bus that says "Via España".
The country has more private airstrips per square mile than any other country in the world, and it is technically feasible for the adventurous private pilot to fly to one of them, either directly or through country hopping through Central America. Many of the remote interior regions of the country are best accessed by private plane, although a combination of hiking and canoeing can get you to most places, too. If you are flying a private aircraft into Panama, it is important to verify where you can clear customs and immigration--not all airstrips are equipped to clear you.
Business jet FBO services are available in Panama City (Albrook and Tocumen), David (by appointment), Howard, and Bocas del Toro.
There are also road crossings at Rio Sereno (Pacific side) and Sixaola/Guabito (Atlantic side). The Rio Sereno crossing sees very little traffic, so make sure all your papers are in order, as police can be very strict.
You will not be allowed to leave the country without your car (i.e. change your mind, abandon the car, and fly home) without getting a stamp on your passport proving that you have paid the proper impuestos (importation taxes) on your vehicle. Expect to be stopped frequently by police, but don't worry, they are usually more curious about seeing a foreign car than interested in a bribe.
If you have car trouble in Panama, you will find dealers with service departments for almost all of the major car manufacturers from the USA (All), Europe (almost all) and Japan (All). Most of them, like in the USA require appointments to service your car. Most of the service personnel in all of the car dealers are manufacturer certify. If you need car repairs and do not want to go to a dealer to save some money or you have an emergency repair, you can find good independent mechanic services/shops in all of the major cities by looking in the yellow pages(paginas amarillas), in addition to towing services. If you need parts for your vehicle, you can find a great number of autopart stores for all major car manufacturers in the yellow pages (paginas amarillas)too.
The use of "shade tree mechanics" and parts from junkyards are the same as in the USA; these options are for do-it-yourself type of persons.
You can't cross from Panama to Colombia by bus--the Darien Gap begins at Yaviza, where the Interamericana runs out.
If you're coming in from Costa Rica, however, things will be a bit easier. There are three possible entry points, the main one being Paso Canoas closing at 11PM (Panama time) or 10PM (Costa Rica time). Panaline and Ticabus, among others, can get you straight from San Jose, Costa Rica to David or Panama City. The trip from San Jose is quite cheap, but takes about 18 hours. If you want to see things in between, you can also go by local buses, although the trip will take much longer.
If you want to save time yet not pay US$280 or so for a SJO-PTY airplane ticket with COPA or TACA, you could consider taking the bus from San Jose to Changuinola and fly from there to Panama city. That flight takes about one hour and costs US$70 (Jun. 2007). Check the website of Aeroperlas.com for flight schedules.
Keep in mind that Panamanian law requires you to have a return ticket to get into Panama. The border guard may not check, but you never know. A return flight from San Jose, Bogotá or Abu Dhabi won't work. The return ticket has to originate from within Panama. If you run into this problem, you can always buy a return ticket from the bus driver. In general, if you're having a hot-tempered day, it may not be a good day to cross any borders. Some border officials in Central America seem to love being sticklers about their crazy rules if they decide they don't like you.
Many cruise lines have the Panama Canal on their itineraries. You can make tours on Panama City or Colon City and take part in many packages. Recommendation is to take the Panama Canal Railway from Panama to Colon or vice versa. This train goes back since 1855 and it was the first interoceanic train in the American Continent. It has been rebuilt recently and it has very nice carts.
It is possible to arrange for passage on banana boats traveling from Ecuador, Colombia, and Venezuela, but such passage is recommended only for the truly adventurous, as the boats are often structurally unsound, terribly over-burdened, and are very likely to be smuggling drugs as well.
Private sail boats also provide service between Panama and Cartagena in Colombia. Fare can vary from US$385-400, and the trip takes usually four nights/five days including a 2 days stopover in San Blas Islands ( Carti Islands). The best way to find a boat is to ask around in hostels in Panama City or Portobelo popular with backpackers. Or see the boat section here.
The cheapest way to reach Panama by boat from Colombia is by ferry from Turbo to Capurganá (COP$ 49000, daily around 8AM) and by small boat from Capurganá to [[Puerto Obaldia]] (COP$ 20000). From there by plane to Panama City (USD 85) or by boat to Colon and Carti Islands (USD neg).
It is possible to hike across the Darien Gap from Colombia with the help of trained guides, but this route is generally considered one of the most dangerous in the world. A large percentage of attempts have ended with the trekkers dead as victims of Colombian guerrillas or the oppressive jungle environment, which is considered the densest and most difficult to breach in the world. Despite the bravado-filled tales of backpackers who will try to convince you that real travelers aren't afraid to cross the Gap, it really is a very dangerous trip and the Panamanian police are not interested in going in to look for you if you get into trouble.
The guidebook "Getting to Know Panama," by Michele Labrut, gives the following advice for surviving in the Darien.
"Do not go naked into the water, some very undesirable protozoans can get into you. Do not drink untreated water. Never stray from the group, you can easily lose your bearings and get lost. If this happens, stay right where you are, do not panic. Shout or scream at intervals.
It must be noted, however, that the rest of Panama has delicious, drinkable water.
There are two kinds of buses in Panama. The ones you find on the highway, and "city buses". The highway buses are constantly making journeys from terminals in Panama city to different destinations along the Pan American Highway, and back to the terminal. They're pretty frequent, and the buses will pick you up or drop you off at any point along their route, and most of them are air conditioned. The roughly linear shape of the country makes it ideal for a bus system, so ideal in fact that you don't really need to rent a car to get around most areas. Take a bus to the intersection on the Pan American highway that you want. You can get on a bus any place on the Pan American highway going towards Panama City, but all trips originating from within the city require a ticket. The Grand Terminal in the city is large and modern, and will remind you of an American shopping mall or airport (it actually is a shopping mall, Albrook Mall, too). Schedules for all Panama are listed here .
If you want to get on a bus, stand by the side of the road, hold you out your arm and make obvious pointing motions toward the ground. If you're on the bus and want to get off, yell "parada!" or tell the driver in advance. You'll get the hang of it pretty quick. The locals are very helpful with tourists on buses, and may offer help.
The highway buses are very cheap, count on a fare of about US$1 per hour traveled, sometimes less. One exception is fares from Tocumen airport, which both buses and taxis charge through the roof for (by Panamanian standards), simply because they can.
City buses are different. in which is call "Diablos Rojos" or "Red Devils" They are crowded, decoratively painted school buses, often without air conditioning, with a flat rate of 25 cents to any location in Panama City. They can be fun, but have a reputation for being dangerous, both in driving and the likelihood of encountering criminals. They can be fun to take a couple of times, but once you've done it, best to take a taxi, which won't be that much more expensive anyways. They definitely have a particular style apart from other Central American countries. They look as if a bunch of 60's hippies decided to drive as far south as they could go in school buses, and when they could go no further, they stopped and started a bus company. If you like Salsa Music, you'll be happy as a clam on these buses. Most locals aren't.
However, beginning in December of 2010, a new government regulated public bus system utilizing modern air-conditioned buses will go into effect called MetroBus. The old and dangerous "Diablos Rojos" will be outlawed and slowly replaced by the new Volvo buses.
If your destination actually happens to lie far off the bus route, or if you just want to be lazy, taxis are also a decent way to get around in Panama. Taxi rates are negotiated and vary depending on location. Most short taxi rides are $5 and going across town is about $10. Unlike the urban taxis you may be used to, they can take you way out into the country. A taxi ride from Tocumen airport to Panama City, at a minimum of US$20, can easily exceed your taxi fares for the rest of your trip combined. If you share a taxi ride with other passengers going from the airport to the city, your fare per person can be cheaper, at around US$12. You can save quite a bit of money by taking the bus to the Gran Terminal, but even the bus fares will be higher than normal.
Panama is in the south of Central America and can easily be discovered independently. The road system of Panama is in very good condition (for Central and South American standards). You can rent a car and drive it around the country if you are an excellent defensive driver. While traveling by car you can discover attractions which are hardly or even not to reach by public transportation.
Panama City is more difficult to navigate than any big city in the United States, with terrible traffic jams at rush hours, few signs for names of streets, poor street design, and a lack of traffic lights at busy intersections. You must be aggressive about positioning your car to get anywhere, yet highly alert to erratic and irrational behavior by others. Drivers have little respect for or even knowledge of traffic laws, and drivers from North America or Western Europe will be stunned by their recklessness. In the rest of the country, driving is mostly stress-free.
The Pan American Highway is paved for the entire length of the country, and has many roads which branch off to towns off the highway, most of which are paved, and most of the rest are still easily navigable in a sedan. However, road engineering standards are low, so be on the lookout for off camber turns, deep potholes, and sharp turns with no warning. It is highly recommended to drive well informed about your route. Use the detailed information which cochera andina provides on its site when planning your trip and check out road conditions, distances and travel times. On the road, don't forget to take also a good road map with you.
For driving in Panama you need the driver's license of your country but to avoid trouble at police controls it is better to have an international driver's license with you as well. The traffic rules are almost the same as in Europe or the U.S. Road signs are frequent. The speed limits are 40 km/h within cities, 80 km/h outside and 100 km/h on the highways. You will find gas stations all over Panama. A lot of stations are open around the clock. You get gas of three types: unleaded, super and diesel.
Local airlines serve many airports in Panama. Aeroperlas and AirPanama being the two local companies. Flights leave Panama City from Marcos Gelabert Airport in Albrook.
Booking private aircraft charters are available through online and local companies.
It is advisable to check the tail number of any aircraft chartered in Panama. All registered aircraft authorized for public charter work (air taxi) will have a letters after their numeric tail number (e.g. HP-0000TD). This signifies the aircraft is insured for charter work and is subjected to more inspections and increased maintenance requirements.
If you cross the border from Costa Rica into Panama, you will notice a large change in the dialect. True to its Caribbean orientation, Panamanian Spanish sounds much closer to Puerto Rican than Tico or Nicaraguan Spanish. For students of Mexican or European Spanish, it may take a little getting used to. However, it is very easy to understand and it is by no means more difficult than other Spanish-speaking countries. Panamanians tend to pronounce "h" instead of "s" and to not pronounce certain D's at the end of certain words. It is part of their dialect but Panamanians are fully capable of speaking Spanish in a manner more intelligible to students of Mexican or Castillian Spanish, and they are aware of their regional idiosyncrasies.
Panama City has a different dialect in which they mix English words with Spanish. Although educated Panamanians try to speak proper Spanish, they are very proud of their dialect and would rather use it unless it is a formal conversation or public speaking.
Panama has a lot more indigenous culture than some neighboring countries. In Kuna Yala you will hear the native Kuna language spoken. In the Ngöbe-Buglé Comarca, as well as in Chiriqui or Bocas del Toro, you might hear the native Ngöbe-Buglé (Guaymí) language, although the Ngöbe and the Buglé are very quiet around foreigners. If you ask directions from one of them, you will probably just get a hand or lips pointed wordlessly in the right direction.
Much of the Caribbean Coast of Panama was settled by people from Jamaica and Barbados. More recently, the descendants of those settlers seem to be speaking more Spanish, but a lot of them still speak English, albeit a very Caribbean variety, called Guari Guari.
Until only a few years ago, the canal was controlled by the USA. The US has given the canal back to Panama, but many people in Panama City and other areas near the canal still speak English as a first or second language. Surprisingly, English is not as common as you would think for how long the Americans spent in the country. It's not so common for people working in shops or people in the street to speak English. There are a number of English News and Blog sites to help with your travels.
Panama´s strongest attraction is its diversity. In less than five days you can visit it all: beach, mountain, modern city and historic ruins. While in Panama city don´t miss the four "must do": the Panama Canal, Panama Viejo, Casco Antiguo (also known as Casco Viejo) and the jungles surrounding the Canal area.
Panama Viejo was the first city of Panama, founded by the Spanish back in 1519. It was the first city founded at the Pacific and it became rapidly a prosperous point where gold from the southern colonies would make it to the Caribbean and later on to Europe. It was attacked by pirates several times, the last of them by Pirate Henry Morgan who destroyed it forever in 1671. In 1673, a new city was built, but this time using the knowledge painfully acquired by experience. The Spanish by then knew well the risks of settling cities in tropical swamps: mosquitoes, tropical diseases and difficulty to defend its territory. The second city was founded at the opposite side of the bay in very different conditions: a rocky peninsula easy to defend and with crossed winds that would ensure the health of its inhabitants. This city is known today as Casco Antiguo, and it is here where the Republic of Panama was born as it is known today.
Currently a UNESCO protected site, Casco Antiguo (or Casco Viejo) is Panama City´s second touristic destination and the reason is that its buildings reflect the diversity of Panamanian society. Although a Spanish colonial city, because of several fires and the influence of merchants from all around the world, it became a vibrant city with styles ranging from Caribbean to French and even Art Deco. Today, Casco Antiguo undergoes an interesting revitalization process. Boutique hotels have started to appear, and some of the best bars and restaurants of the city can be found here. It has also become Panama City´s artistic center with the recurrent art events and shows such as the Panama Jazz Festival, the Music Festival, Sobresaltos Dance Festival and many others.
Parque Soberania, Parque Chagres and Parque Metropolitano: fifteen minutes away from modern Panama City, you´ll be able to hike primary and secondary tropical rainforests. There are several activities you can do here, from birdwatching at Gamboa´s Pipeline Road to fishing at the Gatun Lake or visits of the caves at Madden. For those interested in research, the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute offers visitors educational tours to Barro Colorado Island, one of the most studied jungles in the world.
A visit to the Panama Canal is probably the most important item in the traveler´s list. There are several ways you can experience the canal, it will depend on your level of interest. For the curious visitor, there are two museums devoted to it: the Canal Museum at Casco Antiguo, featuring Panama´s history as a crossroads of cultures, oceans and a bridge between continents and a second museum is located at the Miraflores Locks. This museum shows the technical aspects of the Canal. You can observe the transits at the balcony of the restaurant on the top.
Another way to experience the Canal is to cross it. Either partial crossing which takes four hours or complete crossing which might be done in eight, in both cases it is recommendable to hire a guide that is knowledgeable in history of the Panama Canal.
Although the Panama Canal is the most famous destination in Panama, travel outside the City is growing in popularity. Adventure travelers can take a bus or short flight, and in just a few days, can see both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts.
Panama is home to the hemisphere's largest free trade zone, the Colon Free Zone . There are also a number of large, American-style malls, such as Multicentro , Albrook Mall , and Multiplaza Pacific . However, prices vary widely from mall to mall - Albrook is quite cheap, while Multiplaza is home to designer boutiques and very high prices. Generally Panama is a good place to buy consumer electronics, clothing and cosmetics.
Traditional Panamanian crafts can be found most cheaply at artesania markets, such as the YMCA in Balboa and the market in Panama Viejo. In Panama City, the best handicrafts can be found at REPROSA. Panama's best-known craft is the mola, intricate reverse-applique handwork made by the Kuna. Molas can also be bought from vendors on the seawall in Casco Viejo. Other Panamanian crafts include carved tagua nuts, cocobolo carvings of animals, and woven palm-fiber baskets. There is a smaller craft market in El Valle, which specializes in soapstone carvings and other central Panamanian crafts.
Panama has used the US Dollar as its only currency since 1904. If you're from the US, the only oddity about Panama will be change. Panama mints its own coins in the same weights and sizes as US coinage, but with Panamanian stampings. Because a legal treaty (1904) between US and Panama the Panamanian coinage is completely interchangeable with standard US coinage in Panama. You may get a handful of change back with a conquistador on the quarter and an Indian on one of your pennies, but Lincoln on the other penny and Roosevelt on the dime. Panama also still mints half dollars. You may hear these half dollars called pesos, so don't think you've accidentally ended up in Mexico.
Panama's coins are made by the US Mint. Incidentally, if you run short on change in the United States, Panamanian coins work in parking meters, payphones, vending machines, etc.
You can typically use a credit card at all hotels in the capital, as well as medium-sized regional cities (David, Las Tablas, Colon, Santiago, Bocas del Toro, etc.). Restaurants, grocery stores, and department stores in major cities will also usually take credit, or even debit cards. However, outside the capital using your card could be difficult.
Though Panamanian ATMs function on the Cirrus/Plus system, they may not take cards with the Interlink symbol. Make sure you're carrying a lot of cash (especially small bills) and understand how to take cash advances out on your credit card. Traveller's checks are not widely used.
Many businesses do not accept US$50 or US$100 bills at all. Most of those that do will ask for your passport and store your data/serial numbers of your notes in a special book. The reason is that many US$50 and US$100 bills have been counterfeited.
There are 80 banks in Panama . Opening hours vary widely from bank to bank. On weekdays, all banks are open until at least 3PM, and some until 7PM On Saturdays many banks are open until noon, and some branches located in shopping centers are also open on Sundays. Note that most banks will not allow you to enter wearing shorts and/or flip-flops.
In the larger cities you can find all types of food ranging from the French haute cuisine to the freshest sushi. There are Arabic restaurants, Italian, Chinese, Indian, Mexican... whatever you're in the mood for.
Outside of the cities, the selection is largely Panamánian with bountiful seafood and beef due to the abundance of cattle farms and the fantastic fishing in the area. Panamanian cuisine is a mix of several cultures. Reminiscent of the country's Afro-Caribbean, French and Spanish influences, the dishes take on a complete character of their own. If you get tired of eating beans or gallo pinto in the rest of Central America, you might want to head towards Panama. Since Panama has a little more Caribbean influence than other Central American countries, you'll see a lot more plaintain than beans here. Most dishes are served with coconut rice and a type of squash or other native vegetable. If Panamanian food has to be summed up in one word, that word would be culantro, which is a local plant that tastes like cilantro, except that it has a much stronger flavor.
A typical plate in a humble, family restaurant can range from $1.25 up to 5.00, including your choice of meat: mondongo (beef intestines), fried or baked chicken, pork, beef and sometimes fried fish; rice, beans, salad: cabbage, carrot & mayonnaise; beet salad; green salad; potato or macaroni salad; and patacones (fried green plantains). The Panamanians also enjoy their "chichas" (fruit, water & sugar), of which there is always a selection, ranging from tamarindo, maracuya(passionfruit), mango, papaya, jugo de cana(sugar cane juice), or agua de pipa(juice from young green coconuts). If you like your food picante, Panama may not be the place for you. They definitely have several hot sauces, but the emphasis is not on the heat.
You can get excellent food really cheap if you look around. A quick and cheap lunch can be found at the so called Fondas, which are small eateries located near schools, sports stadiums and in industrial areas where workers and students will have their afternoon meal. There are often several of these Fondas clustered together so just look for the one with the longest line and you can count on it having the best food for the money. A full plate of rice and beans with a large piece of chicken and a small salad will cost around $2-$2.50 plus the cost of a Coke (Squirt is very popular with lunch). If you chose to eat your food at the Fonda you will be given a real plate and actual silverware as well as a glass bottle of soda with a straw (be sure to return the empty bottle). The local food is far more tasty than the typical Subway sandwich, Whooper or KFC meal and a lot cheaper. If you eat at the same location often enough you will move from the status of a crazy gringo who must have gotten lost on the way to the Burger King to just another one of the locals enjoying lunch and casual conversation (in an industrial area the patrons will be mostly men and the subject of conversation mostly football and women).
The equivalent of a 5-star meal with drinks can be US$8-30 in some places.
National beers are produced (Balboa, Atlas, Soberana, Warsteiner, Panamá), but don't measure up to a good import. Balboa is probably the best of the domestic brands, however, Atlas is the most commonly purchased; many women favor Soberana. Beer can cost as low as .30/cents per 12 oz. can in a supermarket or anywhere from $ .50 in a local town bar up to $2.50 in upscale bars.
Carta Vieja and Ron Abuelo are the main domestically produced rum. Seco , a very raw white rum, is the national liquor. Seco con leche (with milk) is a common drink in the countryside.
Music is definitely one of the highlights of Panama. Salsa music seems to permeate everything in the Latin parts of the country. Reggaeton originated in Panama and is also very popular and is known by the name Plena. There are over 100 radio stations in Panama broadcasting online, some in English . In Bocas del Toro, you will hear a lot of Reggae with Spanish lyrics. Check out the summer music festival in Las Tablas.
How the Panamanians love their "fiestas"! They know how to let loose and have a genuinely good time, dancing, conversing and drinking.
Carnaval is the main celebration in the country. It is held 40 days before the Christian Holy Week, running through the weekend and ending on Ash Wednesday (February 21-24 in 2009). The largest celebration being held in the province of Azuero, in the town of Las Tablas, where two streets compete with separate queens, activities, parades and musical performances.
The party begins on Friday with a presentation, parade and crowning of the queens, a fireworks show; with drinking in the streets legal, the party begins and doesn't stop until 5AM.
Every carnival day has a theme: Friday is the Opening, Saturday is International Day, Sunday is Pollera day, Monday is costume day, Tuesday is the Queens day and on Wednesday is the "entierro de la sardina"(the sardine burial) before 5AM.
Many discos and bars fill the Capital City. The area known as "Calle Uruguay" has probably a dozen or so nice discos and bars within a 2 block radius, and is the best place for partying.
Calle Uruguay bar area is a very trendy scene. You will find here many restaurants such as La Posta, Peperoncini, Habibis, Tomate y Amor, Madame Chang, Burgues or Lima Limon, which make up a great pre-party event. After diner you can cross over to Prive, Pure, Loft, Guru or People for a more fashionable club scene. If you want a more relax bar, Sahara or The Londoner both offer retro music and pool tables.
Another great spot for "bar hopping" is Zona Viva in the Amador Causeway. Zona Viva is a closed off area so it is very easy for you to find everything in one place. You will find here clubs such as Jet Set Club, the Building, the Chill Out Zone, X Space, etc.
Casco Viejo is a more cultural zone of Panama. Art galleries in the area coordinate Art Block parties once a month and there are always exhibits. The National Theater offers ballets, opera, and concerts weekly. Restaurants in this area are highly recommended. After dinner you can cross over to Relic, La Casona, Mojitos sin Mojitos, Platea, Havana Cafe or Republica Havana.
Panama's hotel accommodations are as diverse as its geography. Panama City has as much glamour and glitz as New York City, without the high price tag. You can find 5 star high rise hotels in the heart of downtown; or you can venture out to the smaller neighborhoods, where old Canal military barracks have been converted into B&B's. Bocas del Toro has your typical island cabanass and small hotels, some literally right on the water (similar to the cabanas in Bali). The Chiriqui Province, in the western lowlands, has small hotels on some of the outer islands, and an Eco-Preserve in Chorcha where you can spend the night in Jungle Hammocks with the monkeys. In the western highlands, around Boquete, there are hostels for $5 a night, and 5 star hotels for $300+ a night. No high rises here, but small very artsy boutique hotels and casitas. Recently, David Panama, Capitol of the Chiriqui Province has become a destination as well as a hub for backpackers criss-crossing from Panama City to Bocas Del Toro and Costa Rica. David, Panama which is ideally located near beach, hot springs, rain forest, Boquete and Vulcan mountain villages, has two backpacker hostels, Purple House Hostel and the newer Bambu Hostel & Tours which has a pool. There are also higher range hotels like the brand new boutique Hotel Ciudad De David , as well as more modest hotels that ring the Central Park or 'Parque Cervantes'.
Panama offers many universities and high schools that are bi-lingual and world class. There's an ongoing project called City of Knowledge , that consists of several educational programmes in the old installations of a former US military base (Clayton). There is also a school at Justo Arosemena who teaches mainly to German speaking people, but it might be worth a glance at the UDI-Universidad del Istmo
There's also a Florida State University branch , as many other alternatives.
Universidad Tecnológica de Panama (Technological University of Panama, the best University in Panama in Engineering and Logistics programs) has a Language Center where you can learn Spanish, English, French, German, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, Italian and many other languages. You can find people from these countries teaching in this Center.
In the western part of the country, such as in Bocas del Toro and in Boquete, there are other well reputed Spanish language schools which cater to university students and young professionals traveling to study abroad.Habla Ya Spanish School (Habla Ya Spanish Immersion School), Los Establos Plaza, 20 - 22, Boquete, Chiriqui, Panama, ☎ +507-730-8344 (email@example.com), [25]. Mon-Sun 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.. $7.25 - $15 per hour. and El Paraiso Spanish School have a vast experience in teaching Spanish to students from all over the world.
Most of Panama is very safe. People in rural areas are generally extremely friendly and very helpful. If you want to visit Latin America, but are paranoid about security, Panama might be a good place to cut your teeth. One exception is the border region between Panama and Colombia, which is considered extraordinarily dangerous due to Colombian rebel groups and drug traffickers. Most of the city of Colon is considered dangerous , and some neighborhoods in Panama City are a bit sketchy, in particular El Chorrillo, Curundu and El Marañón, poor and crime-ridden areas. The old colonial quarter, Casco Viejo (also called San Felipe) has a lingering bad reputation among travelers and some Panamanians, but is gentrifying rapidly. During the daytime, San Felipe is perfectly safe for foreigners. At night, the main streets and plazas, as well as the district of bars and restaurants toward the point, are also safe, but visitors should exercise caution as they move north along Avenida Central towards Chorillo.
Panama is well known for its excellent medical care, making it a recent hot spot for medical vacations.
Yellow fever vaccination is recommended for all visitors over 9 months of age travelling to the provinces of Darien, Kunayala (San Blas) and Panama, excluding the Canal Zone. Most countries require proof of yellow fever vaccination before permitting travellers to enter from Panama.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control state that risk of malaria exists in rural areas of Bocas del Toro, Darién, and San Blas provinces; no risk in Panama City or in the former Canal Zone. NB: Chloroquine is no longer effective for San Blas Province.
Dengue fever is endemic, particularly in the province of Darien.
Tap water is safe in virtually all cities and towns, with the exception of Bocas del Toro, where bottled water is recommended.
Female travelers should be aware that the moisture and heat of the tropics can encourage yeast infections. 3-day and 5-day treatment courses are available in pharmacies, but must be purchased from the pharmacist.
There are many hospitals that can give tourists first class attention. Many can take international insurance policies, though your insurance company may require you to pre-pay and submit a claim form. Verify with your company prior to travel what the requirements are for filing a foreign claim, as you will not typically be provided with a detailed receipt (one that includes diagnosis and treatment codes) unless you ask for it. Here are some of the best ones in Panama City:
Farmacia Arrocha, a drugstore chain, has branches throughout the country. Gran Morrison department stores also often operate pharmacies.
The new 911 system is now operational for medical emgergencies only. Most coverage is in and around Panama City. However, during major holidays or national festivals, 911 units are stationed around the country especially in Las Tablas, David, Chitre, and Santiago.
Medical evacuation flights are not as organized as in the EU, Canada, and the US. Until a dedicated helicopter emergency service is operatonal, the only choice for fast evacuation from the interior is to charter either a small plane or helicopter capable of holding a litter. Charges are billed to a credit card or paid in cash. Contact charter aircraft companies for a quotation. Typically, a medical flight on a small twin-engined plane from David to Panama City will cost $4,000. Helicopters are significantly more. A new private membership air medical transport service is now available. Tourist memberships are $10 for 90 days coverage.
Evacuation flights out of the country are normally provided by air ambulance services from Miami and range from $18,000 to over $30,000 depending on the patient's medical needs.
Travelers with a prior medical condition, or who are at risk, should check their insurance coverage for these flights. Do not assume that a credit card's travel insurance will cover the cost. Many only cover up to $1,000.
Panamanians appear to care about their appearance. Don't try to dress to 'fit in', just be yourself.
That being said, there is no need to wear a suit everywhere, either. Just dress conservatively and nice. For men, a clean pair of jeans and ironed collared shirt will do nicely for most excursions, you could dress more casually or more formally depending on the situation. Shorts are considered extremely casual wear suitable only for the beach, although this attitude has begun to change in some areas. Also, the longer Bermuda shorts made of nice fabrics are viewed as appropriate in many places.
However there is a dress code to follow to enter in all banks and governmental institution as well as many stores and supermarket. If you enter these establishments with inappropriate dress like wearing Bermuda or skirts above the knee, security will probably refuse access and ask you to leave.
Think nice, neat, and clean, and you will already be showing a great deal of respect for locals.
If you are making a side trip to Boquete, especially during the rainy season (April thru November) please dress in layers, bring a light rain jacket, and waterproof hiking boots.
Panama has one of the most advanced telecommunications systems in Latin America. this is due to the fact that most major submarine fiber cables cross the Panama Canal, either by land or water. Calls to the USA and Europe are between 4 and 10 cents a minute. The best way to make international calls from Panama is to buy prepaid telephone cards that are sold at every corner. The most popular is the TeleChip card. These cards work from everywhere and they even work from the USA, Mexico, Europe, Brazil, Costa Rica, Colombia etc.
Panama's country code is 507. All cellular numbers start with the number 6 and have 8 digits. Land line phone numbers have 7 digits.


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Trey Songz - Takes Time To Love
Video for Trey Songz "Takes Time To Love" off of the Confessions Of A Shopaholic soundtrack.
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"Paul and Victor brilliant Lecturers"
"A good introductory course, thank you"
"Highlight of the course is the quality if the instructors"
"Wonderful course, thank you!"
"Thorough explanation of standards and terminology"
"The whole course has been really interesting, well presented and enjoyable"
"Stephanie was great. She kept us engaged. Excellent material!"
"All sections of the course were really useful"
"Fun course!"
"I think it is quite effective as an introduction on physical aspects"
"Teacher's knowledge, course materials and presentation. Refreshments were very good!"
"Great practical's"
"Excellent lecturers, very passionate and well prepared. Excellent material provided! Nice small groups-good discussions! Excellent venue, facilities and catering"


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|Celiac friendly
Nice that they have a gluten free wrap as an option, but it is not the best tasting.
|Not celiac friendly
1 Grand Corner Ave, Gaithersburg, MD 20878
Staff told me very high risk of cross contamination. Various bread crumbs are in baskets hanging directly above salad ingredients so fall in. No separate prep space. They are happy to change gloves but they only recommend ordering food for those without a medical condition.
100 State St, Southlake, TX 76092
I avoid here as I've been exposed to cross contamination on things that inexplicably shouldn't be in contact with glutinous items. I'm not confident the food prep is careful enough, as a result.
|Not celiac friendly
676 N St Clair St, Chicago, IL 60611
Staff not knowledgeable or accommodating.
3208 N Sepulveda Blvd, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
They have gluten friendly wraps for their sandwiches. They won't guarantee a gluten free environment, but I've never gotten sick from eating here.
11000 W Broad St, Glen Allen, VA 23060
They have a nutrition menu but on back easily lists gluten free options. They even have a gluten free wrap!
500 W Madison St #2-22, Chicago, IL 60661
Only Gluten-free item is substitution of GF bread in sandwiches.
301 N Market St #100, Dallas, TX 75202
They have a gluten free wrap for their sandwiches and it's pretty good! I only have a gluten intolerance so I'm not sure how Celiacs would do there. But they have a lot of options.
270 Peachtree St NW #100, Atlanta, GA 30303
Ordered a GF wrap. Had stomach issues all day. Must have gotten cross contamination.
6770 Bernal Ave, Pleasanton, CA 94588
Called to confirm and I was told that they don't have gluten free options, except for salad. My kids don't eat salad. I wanted an app that would help me find restaurant to eat at that are gluten free- EVERY normal restaurant has a salad on the menu.... so not helpful!
|Not celiac friendly
665 Market St, San Francisco, CA 94105
I can't rate the food because I couldn't eat it. My husband says the food was "perfectly good for a diner". They said their GF food was "gluten friendly" because everything is made together, and it's a bakery. So, safe if you are not sensitive but not celiac or allergy safe. If you are this close I would just go to Mariposa if you are sensitive.
|Not celiac friendly
610 Foothill Dr, Salt Lake City, UT 84113
Corner Bakery foothills Dr... the worst. No respect for people who order to go. Then when u get ur order of soup, there is no spoon. If you paid for extra rolls, there is no bread. The worst of all is that if u r the only person who ordered 1 item to go . they will take care of every person who comes in who is staying before you will get your order . Although I am only 1, I hope that many" single order" people orders will add up to enough to either change the management or close the place down!!!!!
1147 16th Street Mall, Denver, CO 80202
food came out with toast on it after I said it needed to be gluten free.... not celiac recommended. good food just not very safe.
360 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60601
There "gluten free bread" is a wrap, it is the worst wrap I have ever tasted in my life. If I were to describe how it tasted I would say that it tasted like turkey wrapped in play-do.. just awful, don't eat here. I paid almost ten dollars to eat play-do, the best part was the pickle they gave me on the side. I'm not a picky person, but they would have to pay me at least two hundred dollars to eat that wrap again!
|Not celiac friendly
610 Foothill Dr, Salt Lake City, UT 84113
My twin and I were both told different things about what was gluten free by two different workers who clearly had no idea. Then after specifically ordering gluten free meals both mine and my twin's salads were brought out with rolls on the salads. The whole experience was very uncomfortable and the staff seemed annoyed that we were even asking.
|Celiac friendly
56 W Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60601
Came here for breakfast all week and great for GF. Can have any of the breakfasts with GF flatbread. Staff appeared well educated. Nobody got sick. Will keep coming back.
5225 Belt Line Rd #258, Dallas, TX 75254
Gf wraps for sandwiches. Excellent!
13786 Jamboree Rd, Irvine, CA 92602
very few gluten free options.
9761 Great Hills Trail, Austin, TX 78759
I had chicken salad in a gluten free wrap with chips and a pickle. It was so good that I went back the next day for another.
|Not celiac friendly
6100 Topanga Canyon Pl #1330, Woodland Hills, CA 91367
I have gone to other Corner Bakery locations without a problem. I went to this location at the Promenade yesterday and it was a nightmare. I asked the person at the counter if they had a gf menu or allergy list. She said no but they have gf wraps they can make any of the sandwiches with. So I asked which sandwich meats were gf. She said "the only gf thing we have is the wraps" so I asked what goes in them and she was confused. Again I asked if they had an allergen list. She pulled out a book and proceeded to read a list of "gf items." It sounded weird because she was listing croutons. I asked if I could see it. She was listing every item where there was a check for "contains gluten" as the ones that were gluten free. I spoke to the manager and he did not seem much clearer on it. If this was an anaphylactic allergy, they could have killed someome...
|Not celiac friendly
19500 Plummer St, Northridge, CA 91324
Would give zero stars. While they do have an allergy list on their website, I wouldn't recommend if you have celiac. I opted not to eat with my party. Seems the staff doesn't care if you have celiac or an allergy at this location. Eat at your own risk.
|Not celiac friendly
1144 N Yarbrough Dr, El Paso, TX 79925
This should not be on here, unless lemon water is what you want.
140 S Dearborn St, Chicago, IL 60603
gabe me 3 different plates none where GF as I asked and all where different, I finally just acceoted one and it was cold, very bad
35 E Monroe St, Chicago, IL 60603
told the cashier I was allergic and she said "well I dont know you can just have fruit"
3150 S Hulen St, Fort Worth, TX 76109
I was a bit confused, so I called. No bakery items are GF. Only sandwich wraps and maybe soup. I skipped this place
1019 Westwood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90024
Had gluten free bread which I was happy about, but no deserts!:(
|Not celiac friendly
610 Foothill Dr, Salt Lake City, UT 84113
No GF baked goods. They offer a "gluten conscious" wrap but my daughter worked here and said everything including the salads get contaminated. Don't eat here if you are celiac or v gluten sensitive.
529 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20045
No gluten free options that I could see.
610 Foothill Dr, Salt Lake City, UT 84113
They have little or no gf foods so don't go here at all
|Not celiac friendly
110 Interstate 35 #180, Round Rock, TX 78681
Not GFiendly at all. All they have is a GFree wrap but couldn't tell me ANYTHING else at all was GF. Lousy service. I didn't eat. Went somewhere else.
|Not celiac friendly
56 W Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60601
You can order any sandwich on a gluten free wrap.
610 Foothill Dr, Salt Lake City, UT 84113
The staff claims no gf options
3375 El Camino Real, Palo Alto, CA 94306
So, very recently ate here with my kids. Very little in the way of options for me (Celiac with a dairy allergy too). I got the only thing I could which was a flat-bread style sandwich. I ended up having the most meat in my sandwich of the 4 of us. And I'm usually the vegetarian. But that option was practically nil as well. Okay pricing for this area and typical. About $9/person for sandwich and tiny soup. Thin sandwiches for all 3 kids. (we were all hungry about an hour later) Only dairy or gluten soups available, no options without GF/DF. No desserts were GF nor DF. Lack of a substantial sandwich will not bring us there again, although they tasted good, the value wasn't there, honestly.
665 Market St, San Francisco, CA 94105
Stopped in yesterday to ask about their gf-ness after seeing them listed here. Server was super knowledgeable, said gf pastries are made on separate equipment, handled with different tongs, etc.
4021 South Mooney Boulevard G-1B, Visalia, CA 93277
They do not have gluten free option any more except for breakfast
|Not celiac friendly
301 N Market St #100, Dallas, TX 75202
Staff have told me that they're not appropriate for celiacs.
240 Oakbrook Center, Oak Brook, IL 60523
They will do any sandwich in a gfree wrap instead of bread or bun. The wrap was not very good at all. They don't have a separate prep area. I'm not celiac or extra sensitive so I was fine, but this place is not for celiacs.
3640 Justin Rd, Highland Village, TX 75077
They used to have GF bread but they stopped carrying it. Now there aren't many options.
|Celiac friendly
1147 16th Street Mall, Denver, CO 80202
Nice location. Friendly, clean and delicious
|Not celiac friendly
5369 W Touhy Ave, Skokie, IL 60077
They have no gluten free desserts.
|Not celiac friendly
529 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20045
My daughter had scrambled eggs with bacon and GF bread which she thoroughly enjoyed. The person who took our order was Gluten aware. I was a bit nervous about cross contamination, but she experienced no Gluten reactions and she is super sensitive. The only GF bakery option was bread.
|Not celiac friendly
1901 E Woodfield Rd, Schaumburg, IL 60173
No gluten free options.
7621 Edinger Ave, Huntington Beach, CA 92647
the worst spent a few minutes talking to the person at the counter about gf prep. Felt like it might be safe, get my food and found out she didn't even mark it gf. it looked to good to be true and was. stay away might ruin your day
1019 Westwood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90024
Horrible they don't understand anything about what gluten is
270 Peachtree St NW #100, Atlanta, GA 30303
Gluten free wraps available
1350 George Dieter Dr, El Paso, TX 79936
Scrambles with potatoes and no toast a a good breakfast choice.
|Not celiac friendly
2326 W Brandon Blvd, Brandon, FL 33511
Not sure about other locations but the only the only GF option that they have at the location I went to is a GF wrap for sandwiches. Very limited and I'm skeptical about cross contamination since there are no dedicated GF menu items.
|Not celiac friendly
9761 Great Hills Trail, Austin, TX 78759
Specifically stated gluten free at least a dozen times, yet no one seemed to understand. In the end, wheat toast was on my plate.
|Not celiac friendly
2973 Cobb Pkwy, Atlanta, GA 30339
My food came out covered in breadcrumbs and my husband's omelette was way undercooked. Sent it back, respecified gluten free, and got a new scrambler for me and it still came back with toast on the plate. I tried to remove all the crumbs. In the end I got really sick.... Like the sickest I've been in years.... and my husband (who is not celiac) didn't enjoy it either.
35 E Monroe St, Chicago, IL 60603
The chopped salad was good. I asked for it without the bread since I needed it GF and it came with their GF flatbread instead.
11 E Main Rd, Middletown, RI 02842
Had the gf quesadillas and it was pretty gross. The chicken wasn't seasoned at all and they were super plain. Tortillas were dry and had a bad after taste.
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uberbrew needed a new logo design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 131 designs submitted by 42 freelance designers.
We're a small but dedicated team, developing the online centre for coffee lovers online – uberbrew.com
Our target audience is primarily office workers and city dwellers who want to;
> Locate the best coffee in their vicinity based upon a voting system
> Learn more about making the 'perfect coffee'
We are looking for the logo and brand identity for UberBrew.
The brand should be fresh, dynamic and contain character. Just like a good coffee.
1. The logo should contain the domain name "uberbrew.com" – captialisation is open to designer expertise.
2. Work MUST BE ORIGINAL. Break the mold.
3. The contest runs for 10 days.
4 .The Typeface used should be clear and legible.
5. All work will receive feedback. Do not submit revisions of your work before initial feedback.
6. Please feel free to experiment with colors! Although coffee is our product, we're not restricting our brand to 'coffee' tones.
7. Any supporting application of the brand will be considered in our judgement.
8. Logo should be capable of working at a low resolution.
The files we will require are:
Vector Formats (.eps, .pdf or .ai);
Web file format - .jpg and layered .psd (RGB)
Please do not use any stock images or clip art in the logo.
Find out how a design contest works or learn more about our logo design services.


text:
Our mission declares our purpose as a company and serves as the standard against which we weigh our actions and decisions in order to continue achieving sustainable,
quality growth.
To be the leading business broker and developer in Singapore
We commit to these values to guide our attitudes, decisions and our behaviors that
will be required of us to make our vision a reality. Our values serve as a compass
for our actions and describe how we behave in the world.


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Our global resources and local relationships create world-class results for clients. As a top 10 global insurance broker, HUB International offers property and casualty, life and health, employee benefits, investment and risk management solutions. With offices across North America, we are uniquely positioned to tailor solutions to meet local needs.
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© 2019 HUB International Limited. All rights reserved.


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Lady Te - Hit Em Hard (J Kwon Hood Hop Beat) [Unsigned Hype]
L reports "LADY TE IS HITTIN EM HARD AGAIN!!! OFF UPCOMING MIXTAPE "IT'S GRIND TIME IN 09" DOWNLOAD SONG HERE.... http://www.zshare.net/audio/60111366d247f1c6/
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Quote of the Week: Rahm Emanuel
"The first third of your campaign is money, money, money. The second third is money, money, money. The final is votes, press, and money."
- Rahm Emanuel, an American politician who serves as the 55th Mayor of Chicago and previously served as Representative of the 5th Congressional District in Illinois from 2003-2009 and as US President Obama's White House Chief of Staff from 2009-2010.
Quoted February 14, 2014 in the Financial Times, "Rahm Emanuel: Mayor America" by Edward Luce
Photo Credit: United States Congress via WikiMediaCommons