Imagine how SWEET my adventures would be if I had a digital camera.

Oh man, that would be baller.

So I bought a digital camera this year. Yes, digital cameras have been around for a long time, and I finally got the scratch together to buy one for myself. Good job Ted.

Anyways, I chose the Nikon Coolpix L18. It's sleek and stylin'. Unfortunately, it's also a piece of shit.

While I was able to finesse it to get it to take pictures, the lens doohickey would jump off it's track to extend itself then the entire camera would turn off and I would have to force it back into place before it would take any pictures. Once I figured out how to make the problem managable, I decided to keep the camera anyway. Why? Because I'm a lazy bastard.

Also because I lost the receipt.

So I'm a lazy irresponsible bastard.

Sue me.

Then I get this email from Nikon:

Dear Nikon COOLPIX L16/L18 Camera Owner:

Because you are a valued customer, we wanted to personally write you to make sure you were aware of a recent technical service advisory issued on the COOLPIX L16 and L18 digital cameras.

While Nikon has taken great measures to assure the high quality expected of Nikon products, Nikon has received reports of overheating that has occurred in certain COOLPIX L16 and L18 digital cameras when the batteries have been inserted incorrectly into the camera. More specifically, when batteries are inserted into an affected L16 or L18 digital camera with the positive and negative terminals reversed, and physical shock or impact is applied to the camera, a current may flow backwards in the affected camera causing the unit to overheat, and potentially damaging certain electronic components inside the camera. This can occur even when the power switch is in the off position, and instances have been reported in which the camera’s top cover has deformed. Please note that this issue does not occur when the batteries are inserted correctly into the camera.

There have been no reports of any injuries to persons or damage to personal property, and Nikon does not believe that the problem presents any risk of fire. Nevertheless,Nikon has initiated this technical service advisory as a measure of our commitment to our customers and providing them with only the highest quality products.

To determine whether your COOLPIX camera may be one of those affected, please visit our website at www.nikonusa.com, select the Service and Support Section and then click on the Service Advisory link (left side) and then click on the Service Advisory for the COOLPIX where you will enter your serial number. If your camera is one that is affected, you will be given instructions for accessing a free UPS return label and packaging instructions so that you may obtain free service on your camera.

Should you have any questions, please call us toll free at 1-800-645-6678, 24 hours a day, 7 days per week. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused you and appreciate your continued support of Nikon products.

Sincerely,
Richard Houghton
Senior Manager Customer Relations

Blah blah blah, I don't expect you to read all of that. Apparently if I put the batteries into the camera incorrectly, the camera would explode. I'm sure that all 2 of you who may actually read this blog (Hi mom!) will inform me that my camera would not have exploded but unfortunately we will never know. Turns out the serial number on the ol' Coolpix fell within the range listed on the website and I had to send my camera into Nikon corporate to have it "serviced" eg "destroyed".

It's too bad. I had some good times with that camera...

Here's one I took of myself with that camera. I was in a plastic tub. Good times.

This is what Katie and I do. We take fun self portraits.

This one is surprisingly artsy considering what I paid for the shitty camera.