Cubans Build Boats From Facebook Parts, Come To Florida Keys
More than 8,000 migrants have arrived since 2022.
It’s a new way to get to the shores of America, and it involves Facebook Marketplace.
In a bizarre twist, the saga of Cuban migrants trying to get to the United States has gone high-tech. It involves Facebook Marketplace, private Facebook groups and boat parts. Some Cuban citizens have opted to buy various boat parts online and have them sent to Cuba so they can assemble the parts into a viable watercraft there. Private groups that have foremd on Facebook are filled with people who are trying to get to America. They place ads in search of engines, navigational equipment and more. Once the parts are shipped and arrive in Cuba, they are utilized in a boat that will hopefully get them safely to the United States. Since the current U.S policy dictates that migrants will be turned away from our beaches, many have decided to take their chances and make the dangerous trip themselves. In the past, many boats that were used to cross the 100-mile stretch were frail and unsafe. Add to that, unpredictable weather and you’ve got a treacherous journey on your hands. Buying the proper parts online ensures that passengers have a better chance of surviving the trip.
The Facebook message boards often feature pictures of Cuban migrants who made the trip successfully, smiling and embracing one another on the shore in the florida Keys. Other posts, however, show pictures of loved ones who have not been seen since their attempt to make the journey. People who have made the trip say they had to leave the hunger and desperation of Cuba, saying they just wanted to have a chance at a good life. A U.S. law from 1966 says that a person from Cuba can become a permanent citizen if they are a resident of America for at least a year. But those who enter our country by illegal means are not eligible for the program, which can leave them vulnerable to exploitation. More than 8,000 migrants have been reported off the shores of Florida since 2022, which is a huge increase from previous years. Source: WFLA.com
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7 Classic Rock Marriages That Continue to Go the Distance
Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo got married on February 20, 1982. They remain one of the longest-lasting marriages in classic rock. They’re also among the most successful.
Benatar and Giraldo were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as part of the 2022 induction class. Interestingly, Benatar was asked in a 2021 interview with CBS Sunday Morning whether it bothered her to not be in the Rock Hall. She said then that it didn’t and noted, “Listen, when you win things, it’s really fun. But the point is, does this validate, not validate what we’ve done? No.”
Together, they’ve sold over 35 million albums worldwide. Benatar has also won countless honors, including four Grammy Awards. The husband and wife pairing even collaborated on a stage musical called Invincible — The Musical. As previously reported, Invincible — The Musical is a new reworking of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. The production features versions of many of the songs Benatar and Giraldo have written and performed together for over 40 years.
In a September 2013 interview with the Arizona Republic, Benatar fondly looked back on meeting Giraldo. She said the first song they recorded together was the hit “Heartbreaker.” Benatar said she and Giraldo clicked instantly. Even though there was a definite attraction from the beginning, Benatar was still married, and Giraldo was also in a relationship.
” … We made [1979’s ‘In the Heat of the Night’] not romantically involved, which was a challenge,” said Benatar. “Which is what made it so much fun, and I think you can hear all that on that record.”
Needless to say, Benatar and Giraldo have more than defied the odds against them. However, Benatar and Giraldo are far from the only music marriage that has gone the distance. In honor of Benatar and Giraldo’s anniversary, here are some of classic rock’s other longest-lasting marriages.
Sean Roberts was conceived in the Corvette Assembly Plant in Bowling Green, Kentucky by two passionate, panel aligning, third shifters who had grown bored with the same ole same ole. Upon birth, he was placed in the trunk of a new Stingray and sent off to find his destiny.
That destiny included several stints on radio stations across the United States. Some played punk country gospel, while others focused on Croatian death metal played backwards.
After many years and many adventures, Sean wound up on The Shark, where he does shots of tequila while playing the most badass tunes ever created by humankind.
He remains humble, however, never forgetting about the lean years...the street corners and dark alleys where he played songs on his car stereo for food and sex.
He's on top and he's never gonna stop LIVING THE DREAM!