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The bizarre naming of the streets and avenues of urban sprawl. We destroy habitat that once supported hundreds of species of Midwest wildlife, and then name these concrete and asphalt deserts Quail Avenue, Pheasant Lane, Badger Road.

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That looks amazing--thanks, Derrick!

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So true!

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A wonderful weaving together of observations in your patch. It all sounds so exotic to me in rural England! That’s why I love about Substack, the chance to be utterly immersed in someone else’s place and their relationship with it.

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Thank you! 🙏

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A great read from start to finish, I like how you jumped from you topic to topic like a spider.

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Ha! Thanks so much 🙏

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Oct 15, 2023Liked by Christopher Brown

Loved this one.

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Thanks, Gwenda! 🙏

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Oct 15, 2023Liked by Christopher Brown

Wonderful post, Christopher. Since this article was mostly about the etymology of Des Moines, you might be interested in the book of place names in your adopted state of Texas: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1477320644/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1697377530&sr=8-2

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Oct 15, 2023Liked by Christopher Brown

another wonderful quilt of observation! i tried but couldn't get a link to work (404 error) so found this one instead https://www.nashersculpturecenter.org/art/exhibitions/exhibition/id/1940?groundswell-women-of-land-art

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Thank you! Will correct that

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