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TIL about Haboobs. Derived from the Arabic word haab, which means wind or blow, haboobs are massive dust and sand storms that move through hot and dry regions, common in the desert southwest.

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wLG5J TIL General George Thomas was arguably better than both Robert E Lee and Ulysses S Grant. He never lost a battle and once completely destroyed a confederate army, earning him the nickname "sledgehammer". History has forgotten because he was too modest and always downplayed his own accomplishments
d8gy8 TIL The Anti-Masonic Party, was the first third party in the United States. The party was founded in the aftermath of the disappearance of William Morgan, a former Mason who had ultimately become a prominent critic of the Masonic organization.
y7ge TIL Monty Python’s Life of Brian was mainly financed by George Harrison after EMI withdrew their funding. Harrison put up the money for it as he “wanted to see the movie” (this was later described by Terry Jones as the “world’s most expensive cinema ticket”).
oR5XL TIL Heath Ledger was inspired by ventriloquist performances for his Joker voice and aimed to make his fighting style appear erratic. Also, Ledger spent months creating a "Joker diary," with images and elements he believed would resonate with his character, such as finding the disease AIDS humorous.
p86KQ TIL that Star Wars has several easter eggs reverencing a 1963 short produced by the National Film Board of Canada and directed by Arthur Lipsett.