Standing tall and enigmatic in the center of Lower Manhattan is an odd 29-story skyscraper that is devoid of windows. It is situated at 33 Thomas Street and goes by the code name Titanpointe. For years, this building has puzzled New Yorkers.1.
Promotion
When the building was first completed in 1974, it was meant to contain essential telecommunications equipment and was built to resist atomic bombs. The architectural company John Carl Warnecke & Associates envisioned it as a communication nerve center that was protected from nuclear threats.
Unlike any other building in the area, this massive gray concrete and granite tower soars 550 feet into the New York skyline. It is completely dark and lacks windows, in contrast to the nearby office and residential buildings. It has an unsettling aura at night, while during the day it creates a massive shadow. Its square vents give off a subtle hum, which is frequently muffled by the sounds of the city.
For many years, New Yorkers have been fascinated with 33 Thomas Street, popularly known as the “Long Lines Building,” since it is one of the most unusual and recognizable skyscrapers in the city. However, the real function of this mysterious building has remained mostly unknown and covered up.
33 Thomas Street’s Secret
33 Thomas Street is a mysterious building with a darker side. It seems that this structure serves as more than just a communications center. Architectural drawings, information from documents leaked by NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden, and interviews with former AT&T workers all point to 33 Thomas Street being an NSA monitoring location known as Titanpointe.
There is more to the NSA’s role than meets the eye. A significant international gateway switch that routes phone calls between the United States and other nations is located inside the structure. It is thought that these calls were intercepted by the NSA from a safe location inside the AT&T headquarters. This clandestine monitoring scheme has targeted several nations, including friends of the United States, in addition to global institutions including the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and the United Nations.
Although AT&T has collaborated with the NSA on monitoring, not much is known about the precise function that locations such as 33 Thomas Street play in executing top-secret initiatives. On the other hand, the Snowden documents include hitherto unseen details on the integration of NSA hardware into AT&T’s New York City network. This integration makes clear the tools and techniques the agency uses to extract communications data from the business’s systems.
The NSA’s location inside this famous skyscraper begs the question of where the lines are drawn in terms of contemporary surveillance. “This is yet more proof that our communications service providers have become, whether willingly or unwillingly, an arm of the surveillance state,” notes Elizabeth Goitein, co-director of the Brennan Center for Justice’s liberty and national security program. The idea that this kind of surveillance can be cleanly limited to non-American targets is called into question by the NSA’s extensive integration with the country’s communications infrastructure.
T&T, Security, and Law Enforcement
It is commonly known that AT&T and the NSA worked closely together. Although AT&T and the government have a long history together, it’s unknown if the NSA was utilizing AT&T’s 33 Thomas Street facility or equipment. This uncertainty prompts concerns about the scope of government monitoring inside the structure.2.
In August 2015, the New York Times and ProPublica revealed that AT&T had been praised by the NSA for its “extreme willingness to help” and had a long history of working with the agency. But neither the fresh reports nor the information leaked by Edward Snowden conclusively indicate that AT&T space or equipment was being used by the NSA. As it happens, Verizon owns the remaining portion of the 33 Thomas building, with AT&T Inc. owning the ground but only around 87 percent of the floor area.
There are important ethical and legal concerns about the NSA’s surveillance activities at 33 Thomas Street. The structure might serve as a memorial to the difficulties in maintaining proper supervision in an age of cutting-edge technology and government monitoring, as well as the delicate balance that needs to be struck between privacy and security in our globalized society.
In conclusion, 33 Thomas Street is still a famous and mysterious tower in New York City, encapsulating the secrets of contemporary monitoring as well as the history of telecommunications within its concrete walls. Its actual level of participation in government eavesdropping may never be known, but it represents the fine line that must be drawn in our connected world between security and privacy.
Teens Bully Elderly Woman on Bus, But a Homeless Man’s Unexpected Words Stun Everyone
Two drunk teenagers started bothering an old lady on the bus until a homeless man stepped in to stop them – and it changed his life forever.
Molly, an elderly woman, struggled to climb the steps onto the bus. She was relieved when a strong hand helped her up. But when she turned to thank the person, she cringed.
The hand belonged to a tall, thin man who looked homeless and unkempt. Molly quickly pulled her arm away and stiffly said, “Thank you.” Despite her unease, she nodded politely before finding a seat.
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The man smiled sadly. He was used to seeing disgust on people’s faces and facing rejection. But Tom stayed true to himself. He watched as Molly sat down, taking up two seats.
Something about Molly reminded Tom of his mother. His mother would also have been upset to see him in his current state. Tom walked to the back of the bus and sat by himself.
He closed his eyes, thinking about his daughter, Daisy. Two years ago, his wife Valery was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer, and after her death, Tom’s life fell apart.
For 18 months, Tom used all their savings to pay for Valery’s treatments, even borrowing money against their home. But it didn’t save her, and Valery passed away. Tom sold their house to pay off debts.
Tom lost his job after missing too much work while caring for Valery. With his wife gone, he also lost his home, his job, and all that remained was Daisy.
After selling the house, Tom moved with Daisy to a tiny apartment in a rundown building. The place was awful, with graffiti on the walls and bad smells in the hallways.
When Child Services visited, they took Daisy away. Tom was devastated and could only visit her at the group home. Eventually, Tom ended up on the streets, and the only luxury he allowed himself was a bus ticket to see Daisy.
Tom was deep in thought when a loud voice interrupted him. “Hey, driver! This lady should pay for two tickets!” shouted a drunk teenager.
The teen had noticed Molly, sitting quietly. Another teen joined in, making fun of her weight. Molly held onto her purse, looking around, but no one came to her defense.
One of the teens stepped closer and poked Molly’s chest. “You need to move, lady! We want these seats!” he demanded.
Molly lifted her head. “There are plenty of other seats,” she said.
But the second teen sneered, “We want these seats, and you’re going to give them to us.” He leaned in as if to grab her.
Just then, a strong voice rang out. “Get your hands off that lady, or you and I are going to have a problem,” said Tom.
The teens turned and saw Tom approaching. He was thin and ragged, but he stood tall and firm. “You boys can leave quietly, or I can help you off,” Tom said calmly.
The teens, realizing Tom wasn’t someone to mess with, backed down. The bus stopped, and they hurried off, throwing nervous glances over their shoulders.
Tom turned to Molly. “Ma’am, are you alright? Do you need help?” he asked gently.
Molly, with tears in her eyes, thanked him. “I’m fine, thanks to you. Could you walk me home?”
Tom agreed. When they reached her stop, Tom helped Molly off the bus and walked her to her apartment building. Molly invited Tom up for a slice of apple pie and coffee.
As they talked, Molly learned about Tom’s hardships and his lost daughter. She picked up her phone, made a quick call, and smiled.
“My son has a farm, and he’s looking for a reliable worker. I think you’re the man for the job,” she said.
Tom was surprised. “But I don’t know anything about farming.”
“I told him that,” Molly said, “but I also told him you’re strong, determined, and can learn anything. And I know you have a big reason to succeed, right?”
Tom nodded, holding back tears. Molly explained that the job came with a cottage, good pay, and health insurance. She had a feeling he’d get Daisy back soon.
Six months later, Tom was working on the farm, and Child Services allowed him to bring Daisy home. Thanks to Molly’s kindness, Tom and Daisy started a new life together.
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