It sounds like you are talking about Xenon headlights, but those started to appear years ago. Is there a new and even brigther headlight technology out there I didn't hear about?

Same thing, I think, Xenon HID. If there was any pre-HID Xenon bulb type (there are fake Xenon blue bulbs, but that doesn't count) I'm not aware of it. I think it's just that there are many more of them now, some of them very poorly fitted.

Oh, a HID link and links from howstuffworks.com.

Oh, and what am I doing in the horn thread??? Actually using your horn in Seattle is punishable by death, hissing, or both.....I think I have only used my new horns twice....but it is nice to have ones that really work.