Let There Be Light - A New Lighting Idea

Wouldn't it be cool if you could light a room in such a way that it just "glowed?" No visible light source, just light? Here's what I'm picturing: instead of a few lamps, the whole ceiling, let's say, would glow a gentle blueish light - not so much that it was glaring, but enough to see well by. Or you could use a wall. The possibilities are endless.
Electroluminsecence (EL for short). That's the ticket. What am I talking about? EL is a technology that's been around since the early 1960's. It consists of a simple device that has a thin layer in it that glows when you apply electricity, using very little electricity in the process. It was developed by Sylvania, who called it "Panelescent." My dad worked for Sylvania, and I remember him bringing home a Panelescent nite-lite. It was a small disc, about 3 inches, that glowed blue when you plugged it in (See the picture at left). This is, by the way, the basic idea behind the Timex Indiglo watch faces. You can read more about it at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electroluminescence. Apparently, Chrysler Corp. used Panelescent lighting in their dashboards in the 1960s (read more here.)
Well, when I write these things, I usually look around to see if anyone else has already thought up my idea. Check out this website. Apparently, Light Tape Ltd. sells this stuff in rolls of tape - different colors. It looks so cool! I don't know how expensive it is, but this might be just the thing for lighting a room. What do you think? Glow on!

Disclaimer: Dave has no relationship with Light Tape Ltd, Chrysler or Timex. My only connection to Sylvania is that my father worked for them until he retired.

EZ-Pass for parking

I have to say, I like EZ-Pass a lot more than I thought I would. For anyone who doesn't know what this is (both of you) EZ-Pass is a transponder that you attache to the inside of your windshield and it "pays" your toll on a toll highway as you drive through the toll booth - no stopping. You charge up an account and it is debited every time you use it. This is not my idea for this week. This idea has already been thought up and implemented. My idea is this: Why can't we use the EZ-Pass for parking at say, the airport or commuter parking garages? The car has it; your account has money in it; how easy and convenient would that be? Very! So, Mass. Highway people - How about it?