#13: Flamboyance

🔥 Sooners, Tigers, and Flamingos, oh my!

Hey Friends,

This week was a whirlwind of color, noise, and curiosity. It started in Norman—watching the Sooners chase glory—and somehow ended with a deep dive into flamingos, tigers, volcanoes, and wine. Let’s just say, the theme this week is bold and vibrant.

And just like that Sooner softball lineup, I’m coming at you with a lineup that’s hard to beat.

Let’s swing into it.

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🥎 1. Oklahoma Softball: Building a Dynasty in Crimson & Cream

I had the chance to head down to Norman this week to watch the University of Oklahoma softball team clinch the SEC Championship—a milestone that felt more like another brick in a dynasty than just a trophy.

Let’s put it in perspective:

• OU Softball, under head coach Patty Gasso, has become one of the most dominant forces in college athletics.

• Since 2000, they’ve made 17 Women’s College World Series appearances.

• They’ve won 7 national championships—four of them in the last four years.

That’s right—OU is gunning for a 5-peat.

To compare: the legendary John Wooden’s UCLA basketball team won 7 in a row back in the ‘60s and ‘70s. The UConn women’s basketball team has 11 national titles, but not even they strung together five straight.

This team isn’t just good—they’ve redefined what good looks like.

The energy at the game was electric, made even more so by Love's Field, OU’s brand-new home for softball. Officially the largest on-campus softball stadium in the country, it’s a state-of-the-art symbol of how far the program has come—and where it’s headed.

They’re currently chasing history again in the 2025 Women’s College World Series, kicking off this week in Oklahoma City. I’ll be watching—Boomer.

More Info: 2025 NCAA WCWS Schedule

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🦩 2. Flamingos: More Than Just Party Decor

My niece gets the credit for this one. While we were watching the game, she asked, “Uncle Chance, can you do a section on flamingos?”

So here we are. Flamingos!

Flamingos aren’t just quirky lawn ornaments or retro poolside vibes. They’re evolutionary marvels that thrive where few others dare—and they do it with flair.

Why They’re Pink: Their famous pink hue comes from carotenoids—pigments found in brine shrimp and algae, which make up their main diet. Chicks hatch with gray feathers and gradually turn pink as they mature and build up carotenoids in their skin and feathers. In essence: you are what you eat, and flamingos prove it.

The Ecosystem MVPs: Flamingos live in some of the harshest aquatic environments on Earth—hypersaline lakes and alkaline lagoons in places like the Andes Mountains, East Africa, and the Caribbean. These waters are so salty and caustic, they’d burn most animals’ feet. But flamingos? They thrive there—thanks to their tough skin and specialized feeding mechanisms.

By stirring up sediments with their feet and filter-feeding with their uniquely bent bills, they help balance microbial life and regulate food webs. They’re walking, squawking ecosystem managers.

Fun Flamingo Facts:

• The name “flamingo” comes from the Spanish flamenco, meaning flame-colored.

• A group of flamingos is called a “flamboyance.”

• A flamingo’s knee isn’t what you think—what looks like a backward knee is actually its ankle joint.

• They spend hours each day preening with oils from a gland near their tails—this keeps feathers waterproof and vibrant.

• Flamingos can sleep standing on one leg and often synchronize their movements in flocks—flamboyant and functional.

And get this: In colder regions, flamingos have been seen warming up one foot at a time by tucking it into their body—nature’s original heated blanket.

Whether you see them as aesthetic icons or resilient survivors, flamingos remind us that adaptation can be beautiful.

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🐅 3. Tigers: The Orange That’s Really Green

Since we're talking about animals and colors, we’ll stay on theme...

Ever wonder why tigers are orange?

The answer starts with biology but ends with evolutionary genius.

We see tigers as bright orange because we humans are trichromats—we see red, green, and blue. But many of the tiger’s prey—like deer and boar—are dichromats, meaning they can’t distinguish between orange and green. To them, a tiger blends right into the jungle.

Warriors.

Tiger Truths:

• There are six remaining tiger subspecies, including the Bengal, Sumatran, and Siberian tigers.

• Tigers once roamed from Turkey to the eastern coast of Russia.

• Fossil evidence suggests their ancestors appeared about two million years ago, originating in eastern China.

• They’re the largest cat species—up to 670 lbs for a Siberian male.

• Their stripes are like fingerprints—no two are alike.

Historically, tigers have been revered across cultures:

• In Chinese mythology, the tiger symbolizes power and protection.

• In Hinduism, the goddess Durga rides a tiger, symbolizing divine strength.

• Across Asia, tigers have represented courage, sovereignty, and the wild spirit of the jungle.

In every way, the tiger is a masterpiece—camouflaged for war.

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🌋 4. Trees That Warn of Eruptions

This one feels like science fiction—but it’s real, and it’s brilliant.

Rising magma beneath volcanoes can cause nearby trees to grow greener.

Researchers from NASA and the Smithsonian Institution found that as magma ascends, it releases carbon dioxide, which trees absorb—boosting photosynthesis and causing an increase in leaf greenness. This effect is tracked using a vegetation index called NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index).

In fact, scientists studying Mount Etna found 16 instances where spikes in NDVI precisely matched increased magma activity beneath the surface. This discovery offers a promising early-warning system for volcanic eruptions, particularly in remote areas where installing ground sensors is impractical.

It’s a perfect example of how biology, earth science, and space technology collide.

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🍷 5. Beverage of the Week – Wente Vineyards Cabernet

This week’s sip of choice is a Wente Cabernet Sauvignon, and it has a story as rich as the wine itself.

Wente Vineyards, founded in 1883 in Livermore Valley, California, is America’s oldest continuously operated, family-owned winery. Not only did they survive Prohibition, but they’ve helped shape the landscape of California wine.

Wente’s Legacy:

• They introduced Chardonnay clones that now account for 80% of California’s Chardonnay.

• Known for sustainable farming, they were among the first to adopt “Certified California Sustainable Winegrowing” practices.

Wines to Try:

• Charles Wetmore Cabernet – bold and structured, perfect with grilled steak.

• Morning Fog Chardonnay – a crisp, balanced white named after Livermore’s signature marine layer.

If you’re looking for something bold but familiar, Wente delivers heritage in a glass.

More Info: Wente Vineyards

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🧵 Final Thoughts

From dynasties on the diamond to flamboyance in the wetlands... and jungle camouflage to tree-top volcanology, this week reminded me that the world is full of clues if you stay curious enough to follow them.

Stay bold. Stay vibrant. And when in doubt—blend in like a tiger and stand out like a flamingo.

Cheers,
– Chance