ORLANDO - An Ohio man was momentarily blinded yesterday when he accidentally discharged the flash on his digital camera.  According to authorities, Chuck Burrud, 42, was familiarizing himself with the camera's settings when he accidentally triggered the unit. The incident occurred in the parking lot of the Kissimmee Palms Motor Court, where Burrud was vacationing with his family.

   "From what we've been able to determine, this was an unfortunate accident," said Greater Orlando Bureau of Guest Relations spokesperson Pat Troy. "This was one of the newer digital cameras, and Mr. Burrud apparently was unfamiliar with its operation."

    Burrud suffered no permanent injuries but was reported to be seeing spots.

    "He won't listen to me," said Burrud's wife, Trixie. "He buys all the latest gadgets but he won't read the instructions. He thinks he knows everything! So like an idiot, he flashes himself in the face and falls down in the parking lot. With me and the kids standing there!" 

      Burrud claims the incident might not have happened had he not been distracted by his wife's incessent shrill ranting.

   "From the moment we got into the car, she wouldn't shut up!", says Burrud. "Yap, yap, yap--that's all she did, all the way from Cincinnati to Orlando. I couldn't even think! No wonder I pushed the wrong button!"

    No statistics are available, however Troy says such occurrences are rare.

   "We occasionally see people putting the batteries in backward, or leaving the lens cap on, but usually nothing like this. We believe this is an isolated incident."