A light-emitting golf ball is provided. Methods are disclosed for detonating a plasma generator, the detonation forming a plasma conduit within a body perforation hole, and connecting a power source to the plasma conduit, the power source configured to provide electrical power through the plasma conduit. The substrate has certain long sides and short sides. A digital clock is then used to establish predetermined time intervals for counting the spike outputs to create the digital data stream. Another method observes an output signal from an optical detector detecting one or more optical signals, accesses a characteristic curve of detector response, compares the observed output signal to the characteristic curve, and calculates at least one characteristic of one or more optical signals based on a relationship of the observed output signal and the characteristic curve. The first surface electrode may be placed substantially proximal to the styloid.