This is somewhat tangential to my usual type of Picnic offering, but I was struck the other week by the wonderful attention to language and context in the 'What If?' post Hotter than Average

When the sign at the hot springs told you that the water there was "hotter than average," it wasn't just saying, "This water is hot." In a sense, it was saying, "This water, unlike all the springwater most of us ever encounter, isn't tied to the average summer/winter day/night air temperature for the area. This water is hotter than average."

[image of sign with text:]

Warning: The behaviors you've developed, guided by our collective experiences in a world dominated by the warmth of sunlight, will not safeguard your life when you enter.

YOU ARE LEAVING THE DOMAIN OF THE SUN.