The Coolidge Corner Box

On my way to work this morning, I ran an errand, and discovered the following box sitting on the Beacon St. "island" between Pleasant St. and Waldo St. in Brookline:

Coolidge Corner Box Photo copyright ©2008 by Michael A. Burstein.

It appears to be a rather large wooden box. Inside it's lined with what appears to be aluminum foil, and there's a wooden log just sitting there.

Inside the Coolidge Corner Box Photo copyright ©2008 by Michael A. Burstein.

Anyone have any idea what's going on? If I had to guess, I'd say someone is doing an experiment with using sunlight to set the log aflame. But who is doing this, and why? Did they have to get permits? There was no sign explaining this at all.

[IRTF] First Light in Brookline

Tomorrow evening the town of Brookline will have its annual First Light Festival from 5 pm to 8 pm.

The festival includes local authors reading from their work at Brookline Booksmith, and it so happens that I've got the first slot, from 5 pm to 5:15 pm. The website of the Brookline Public Library Authors' Collaborative currently lists all the authors who will be reading, and when.

I'll be reading the interlude sections of the title story of I Remember the Future. Come hear me read if you can, and you can also pick up a signed copy of the book.