In the heart of Lower Manhattan, an unusual 29-story skyscraper, devoid of windows, stands tall and mysterious. Its code name is Titanpointe, and it is located at 33 Thomas Street. This building has baffled New Yorkers for years.
The building, constructed in 1974, was designed to withstand atomic blasts and was initially intended to house vital telecommunications equipment. It was envisioned as a communication nerve center, fortified against nuclear threats, by the architectural firm John Carl Warnecke & Associates.
This imposing structure, a gray tower of concrete and granite soaring 550 feet into the New York skyline, remains, unlike any other building in its vicinity. Unlike neighboring residential and office buildings, it does not have a single window and remains unilluminated. At night, it takes on an eerie presence, and by day it casts a giant shadow, its square vents emitting a faint hum, often drowned out by the city’s bustling sounds.
For decades, 33 Thomas Street, also nicknamed the “Long Lines Building,” has captured the imagination of New Yorkers as one of the city’s weirdest and most iconic skyscrapers. But the true purpose of this enigmatic structure has remained largely concealed, shrouded in secrecy.
The Secret Behind 33 Thomas Street
Beyond its enigmatic exterior, 33 Thomas Street conceals a deeper secret. This building appears to be more than just a telecommunications hub. Evidence from documents obtained by NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden, along with architectural plans and interviews with former AT&T employees, suggests that 33 Thomas Street served as an NSA surveillance site, code-named Titanpointe.
The NSA’s involvement goes beyond mere speculation. Inside the building, there’s a major international gateway switch that routes phone calls between the U.S. and countries worldwide. The NSA is believed to have tapped into these calls from a secure facility within the AT&T building. This covert surveillance program has targeted not only international organizations like the United Nations, the International Monetary Fund, and the World Bank but also numerous countries, including U.S. allies.
While AT&T has cooperated with the NSA on surveillance, few details have emerged about the specific role of facilities like 33 Thomas Street in carrying out top-secret programs. The Snowden documents, however, provide unprecedented insight into how NSA equipment has been integrated into AT&T’s network in New York City. This integration reveals the methods and technology employed by the agency to gather communications data from the company’s systems.
The NSA’s presence within this iconic skyscraper raises questions about the boundaries of surveillance in the modern world. As Elizabeth Goitein, co-director of the liberty and national security program at the Brennan Center for Justice, points out, “This is yet more proof that our communications service providers have become, whether willingly or unwillingly, an arm of the surveillance state.” The deep integration of the NSA within domestic communications infrastructure challenges the notion that such surveillance can be neatly confined to non-American targets.
It’s on her hands!
When you’re on a record-breaking world tour, you have to keep performing even if you feel like you could get a cold. Taylor Swift showed her professionalism over the weekend as she handled a runny nose during her performance in Edinburgh.
Taylor Swift’s Unstoppable Performance in the Cold
The Pennsylvania-born pop singer was seen blowing into her fingers several times during the Scottish event before smearing it over her sparkling frock. This occurred on the first leg of her UK tour. The 34-year-old Taylor Swift’s three performances at Murrayfield Stadium last weekend drew almost 219,000 spectators.
The frigid air in the stadium did not help the singer’s plight, even though summer is just a few days away. Particularly when the pop star was seen wiping her nose while playing the smash song “Don’t Blame Me,” some have blamed the incident on the cold. The temperature fell below 46.4 degrees Fahrenheit on the night of the show. In the video, the singer can be seen pumping snot into her palms, letting it drip, and then wiping it on her skirt.
Different Reactions from the Viewers
Some fans have even accused the musical sensation of flicking mucus in their way while she braved the conditions that turned her nose red. Many on social media expressed their disgust, despite the fact that several people offered their sympathies. Someone said, “Taylor Swift blew her nose and snot on her skirt on stage.” Additionally, fans have seen Taylor licking the snot out of her nose.
Another person looked horrified and yelled, “Someone please give Taylor Swift some tissues.” I’ve observed her clean her nose with her hands so many times in the previous few days that it’s absurd. I get that she’s performing, but there has to be a method to make sure she always has Kleenex.
Help from a Select Group of Fans
However, other people backed Taylor Swift with the remark, “I’m not even a Swiftie, but I seriously don’t get why anyone would be mad or disgusted by someone wiping their nose.” Really, people? What was she supposed to do? Even if it’s unlikely that she had a tissue close by, at least she wasn’t wanting snot all over her face.
The UK Tour Continues
Taylor Swift gave three performances in Edinburgh to kick off the British singer’s tour. Eight nights at Wembley and evenings in Cardiff and Liverpool will follow. where 720,000 fans will be present alone in London. Following the European tour, Taylor will make nine more stops in the United States, including Miami, New Orleans, and Indianapolis. 53 US dates have already been completed by her. She has committed to performing in fifty cities across Europe.
Fan Loyalty and Its Impact on the Economy
Several ardent Taylor Swift admirers began to create lines 48 hours before the celebrity even made it to the city for her tour. A whopping 220,000 individuals are waiting impatiently to see and buy things. However, a lot of individuals in Edinburgh had trouble getting housing due to the quick reservations made for hotels. Despite charging three times as much for the superstar’s three-night stay from June 7 to June 9.
Her Eras tour is predicted to boost the British economy by about £1 billion. Apart from the ticket price, supporters are required to cover the expenses for accommodation, travel, a pre-concert meal, and official merchandise. Many will also buy new clothes specifically for this historic occasion. According to research, each Swiftie who sees their idol perform live in the UK will pay, on average, £848.
Ticket Controversy: Excessive Demand Worldwide
Since her Scottish premiere this past weekend, UK fans have been grumbling about how tough it is to get tickets. This is a result of Americans buying UK television series. Fans expressed their dissatisfaction with some of the guests’ flights on social media after the performance, given that the artist hasn’t performed in Scotland in eight years.
Americans countered that they couldn’t get tickets in their state and remarked that dates in Europe are far less expensive because of the strong currency. 4.35 million tickets have been sold to Swiftie fans worldwide, but due to the extremely high demand, fans have had difficulty obtaining tickets to shows.
Leave a Reply