Found this great article(via the sparkfun site) on using a tsl230r light sensor with an arduino.
The guy actaully uses a slick way to measure the pulses. This could be useful for other projects as well.
http://roamingdrone.wordpress.com/2008/11/13/arduino-and-the-taos-tsl230r-light-sensor-getting-started/
As a side, the light sensor mentioned can be picked up at local radio shacks, for those of us that have them around. I think they are just a couple bux. Very worth getting.