Are you afraid of being touched?

Hey! Not "that" touch touched! There is this phobia called haphephobia, or the morbid fear of being touched. And that is what I am referring to. Anyway, Merriam-Webster came out with a list of unusual phobias. There are 10 of them but only 3 made my day. I just want to share them with you.

The first one is ergophobia. What it is? Its a fear of or aversion to work. Hehehe. I wonder if Juan Tamad was born with this phobia. I can only assume that since the list actually came from a reputable institution (Merriam-Webster), then, it is a legitimate and scientific one. I wonder if there are any doctors around who'd make this diagnosis on me so I can file a leave of absence from work...

Dear Boss,

Can't work today, experiencing ergophobia since yesterday. Please see attached medical certificate from my physician.

Regards,
Eks

http://www.merriam-webster.com/top-ten-lists/be-very-afraid/ergophobia.html

The next one is taphephobia. Do you guys have any idea what this is? After I give you the description of this phobia, you'll realize how stupid this phobia is. Taphephobia is the fear of being buried alive. Hehehe. Who in this world is not afraid of being buried alive?!?! :-)

Word history: The Greek word taphē means burial or grave. Bonus points: You can see the same Greek root in the English word epitaph (an inscription on a tomb).

http://www.merriam-webster.com/top-ten-lists/be-very-afraid/taphephobia.html

And finally, phobophobia. I have this feeling you already have an idea what this is: phobophobia is the excessive fear of acquiring a phobia. From the Web site itself: "When there's nothing left to fear but fear itself, this word is the perfect double whammy of the Greek word for fear."

http://www.merriam-webster.com/top-ten-lists/be-very-afraid/phobophobia.html

Got to go guys, need to secure that medical certificate. Have a great week ahead.

E = MC2

Nope, not Mariah's album. I was referring to Albert Einstein's formula. Did you know that today is his birthday (http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/physics/laureates/1921/einstein-bio.html)? Well, now you know. :-) So, in honor of the great Albert Einstein, let me post here some (fun) facts about him.

1. Einstein cared little for money. He once used a $1500.00 check as a bookmark and then lost the book. (Imagine how much that check is worth now, considering inflation.) 

2. Never learned how to drive a car. (But he loved riding his bike for scientific -- and I guess environmental? -- reason.)

3. After his death, his brain was weighed and found to be 1.5 kg (2.64 lb). It is now preserved in a glass jar in Wichita, KS. (Mine would probably be 1% of that mass.)

4. Awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1921 (for his discovery of the Photoelectric Effect).

5. An element, Einsteinium, is named after him. (Hah! Beat that, Landon Carter!)

So, Happy Birthday, Dude!

PS: This is not photoshopped: