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.
John Travolta’s tears of sorrow
The news of Lisa Marie Presley’s passing was received with immense sadness. The devastating news was revealed by her mother, Priscilla Presley, in a sorrowful social media message.
John Travolta heightened the gloom by sharing an emotional statement and a photo of his daughter, Elvis Presley’s only child. He sent notes to Riley, Priscilla, Harper, and Finley, wishing them all the best of luck and hoping to see each other again soon.
The artist and actress was being transported to a hospital in Los Angeles with admirers from all around the world prior to her untimely death. Throughout this difficult period, a lot of people have expressed their condolences and prayers to Lisa Marie’s family and close friends, who are grieving her loss.
Lisa Marie Presley’s timeless appeal across generations means that she will always hold a special place in our hearts and continue to have a big impact on popular culture.
Everyone whose lives her songs have touched will deeply miss the singer-songwriter, who was a renowned presence in music alongside her father. Among the many legendary figures from theater and film who honored her life was John Travolta, who sent a tribute to her on Instagram.
When word spread of Lisa Marie Presley’s passing, a lot of individuals experienced grief and sadness. Her mother called her the most loving, brave, and passionate person she had ever met, and when the family quietly sought time apart to process the terrible loss, they did it with humility.
Presley allegedly had a heart attack and died there, however the precise cause of death is unknown, according to TMZ. Upon their arrival, the paramedics immediately began performing cardiac resuscitation and giving her epinephrine drugs in a desperate attempt to revive her.
Despite their best attempts, the cherished 54-year-old woman passed away on that awful day due to her heart ailment.
In 1968, Lisa Marie Presley bought the Memphis house known as Graceland, which had been inhabited by her late father, Elvis Presley. Lisa Marie was just nine years old when the King of Rock and Roll passed away at Graceland in 1977.
“To Whom It May Concern,” her 2003 solo debut album, peaked at number ten on the Billboard 200 albums chart. Two years later, in 2005, another song called “Now What” also got the same spot on this list. Her third studio album, “Storm and Grace,” was released in 2012.
Presley also tied the knot in some well-known ceremonies, such as those involving pop sensation Michael Jackson, actor Nicholas Cage, and two musicians, Danny Keough and Michael Lockwood. Her mother Riley Keough is an actress who has made a name for herself and is the most well-known of her three daughters. The son of Lisa Marie Keough, Benjamin Keough, sadly died away suddenly in 2020.
At the Golden Globes on Tuesday in Beverly Hills, Austin Butler won the Outstanding Actor in a Dramatic Film prize for his portrayal of Elvis Presley in a biography that was released the previous year. In front of Priscilla Presley and Lisa Marie, Butler received his medal. During his speech, he thanked them and vowed to love them forever.
Butler’s devotion to and intense respect for two women who were steadfast pillars of support in the lives of two of the most significant individuals in rock ‘n’ roll captivated the audience. Priscilla Presley and Lisa Marie Presley have supported Elvis Presley through all of his challenges and triumphs, from his early success to his final legacy.
Since Austin Butler’s highly regarded depiction of the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll, future generations have been able to commemorate and remember their story.
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