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.
A father sparks an online debate after rocking his daughter’s head for 45 minutes to help her sleep during a flight
These days, it’s not unusual to see people debating various topics on the internet.
It could be argued that it was unavoidable, as gathering millions of people in one location and allowing them the liberty to voice any opinion, no matter how diametrically opposed, would inevitably lead to spirited discussions.
Although contentious images and films are becoming commonplace on the internet, that doesn’t mean they aren’t worth seeing when they occur. We have discussed a lot of these subjects here at Newsner in the past. We thought it would be worthwhile to share the image of a father and his sleeping daughter on an airplane that had garnered a lot of comments.
The argument started when Reddit user u/therra123 posted a picture of a father and daughter cuddling on the r/MadeMeSmile discussion thread.
An image of a girl curled up in her aisle seat on a flight was submitted by the user. Her father had put his palm under her cheek, preventing her from resting her head on the armrest, which, as anyone who has ever used one will tell you, is a rather crude and merciless pillow.
“This man held his hand in this position for 45 minutes so his daughter could sleep well,” says the caption for the image on Reddit.
We have to say at this point that, in our judgment, this is just a father going about his business. Although the message was appropriately dubbed “heartwarming moments,” some Redditors didn’t agree.
The father was harshly criticized for his behavior; some people just said that he should have done a better job.
With thousands of comments and almost 60,000 votes, the post became viral immediately. Reactions included things like:
“I think there must be a better way to handle this.”
“Don’t you have your blanket?” said another. Bringing a blanket is the most crucial item to remember.
“This demonstrates a clear lack of creativity in problem-solving,” said a third person. forty-five minutes and you were unable to come up with a workable answer. Hey!
A fourth person wrote, “Seriously. Simply roll up a hoodie to create an instant pillow. Alternatively, here’s an absurd suggestion: ask a flight attendant for a cushion and blanket.
However, other people showed the father and his gesture more tolerance. Interestingly, we also find ourselves in this category!
How about you? Did you find it inappropriate that the father used this flight to serve as his daughter’s makeshift pillow? Let us know how you feel by leaving a comment.
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