Recent experiments at Illinois have generated laser fractal modes and literally thousands of microlaser beams from a single resonator. The application of this rather unusual optical source to speckle-free imaging of Drosophila (the common fruit fly) and other fast-moving objects will be described. Photolithography at 172 nm, demonstrated in the past 1.5 years, has opened the door to an exciting new world of optical components and devices, including water optics. These and other delightful developments, such as the realization of quantum beating at 18 THz and its ability as an atomic frequency standard to detect weakly-bound molecules, will be presented.