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Sunday, May 1, 2011
Pregnancy During Residency: A Retrospective
When I was pregnant with my daughter, I had a laundry list of complaints about being pregnant during residency. These are a few that still stick with me:
1) My chief resident initially told me that I could only take 3 weeks maternity leave.
2) It was generally the resident's job to hold patients' heads during flexion-extension spine films, which would come up maybe every other week or once a month. Most of my attendings understood that I couldn't be in the way of X-ray beams and would generally do it themselves. I had one attending (a mother herself) who seemed baffled by why I didn't want to do it. "But you'll be wearing lead," she pointed out. She refused to do it for me and made me find another resident willing to do it. (And the first resident I asked was a total jerk about the whole thing, immediately asking what I'd do for him in return.)
3) I had to start a new rotation during my last month of pregnancy (our rotations lasted several months). That meant the call cycle reset, so they tried to squeeze several months of call into that month for me. And the rotation itself, while not one with long hours, was physically strenuous, involving walking all over a hospital that was several different buildings spread out over maybe half a mile. I begged for any clinic rotation that would involve less walking and more sitting. No dice.
4) I had this conversation with my program director. Except we actually had the conversation via email, so the whole ridiculous exchange is saved in my inbox for posterity.
5) The tremendous guilt trip laid on me. Notably, an email was sent out by the chief saying that nobody was allowed to take vacation while I was on maternity leave. (This did not happen.) I envisioned that everyone hated me and made myself miserable over it. I don't think everyone actually hated me, although I think a few people did, and they were probably not the same people I thought hated me.
Now I have the perspective of time and I realize that my program, at the time, was just ill prepared to deal with a pregnant resident. The residents were mostly men (I was temporarily transported back to the 60s for residency) and there hadn't been any maternity leaves in 2-3 years. Nobody was entirely sure what to do. I do know there were people who stood up for me and tried to make my life easier. And in retrospect, I should be grateful to those people rather than pissed off at everyone else.
Also, I feel like I could have been a little (lot) less whiny. I think I went overboard with the "poor me" routine. Yes, I was a pregnant resident, which sucked. But it could have been worse. I could have been a pregnant surgery resident.
I think back then I lacked a certain maturity (another argument against 6 year MD/BS programs... 24 is WAY too young to be a doctor). In retrospect, I'm a little embarrassed by the way I reacted to certain "unfair" situations early in my residency. I still think the X-ray beam thing was really really wrong, but beyond that, I feel like I should have just sucked it up, realized that it was my choice to have a baby during residency, and been better at accepting my situation. It wasn't great, but it wasn't all that bad either.
51 comments:
thanks for posting your story, that cartoon is hilarious!ReplyDelete
My thoughts on my recent residency pregnancy...
I have the benefit of direct comparison as I started my pregnancy being a regular surgery resident and ended it in the lab. Its doable as a resident but not that easy and not necessarily that healthy. My pre-lab portion of my pregnancy involved two trips to the ER (one for severe cramping that wouldn't stop after standing for 6 hours in a hot OR another for bleeding), a near faint in the OR after coming back from a prenatal visit with lots of blood drawn, and I also had slightly elevated blood pressure.
Once I started in the lab, my blood pressure normalized, I stopped bleeding and had a delightfully healthy pregnancy. I really thought I was coping well before I went in the lab and I felt like of the people who knew I was pregnant, more often than not, were supportive and tried to help when I needed it. However, I had also worked with these same people as they complained about other pregnant residents. When I started in the lab and worked near normal hours it was amazing what a difference it made. So, you can do it in residency, but obviously its easier if you can find a way to lighten the load without compromising your fellow residents. Residency programs are just not designed to deal with resident absences or restrictions. Until we solve this problem, pregnancy in residency will be hard.
Yeah, it seems like practically every pregnant resident I know had an episode of bleeding and cramping. Despite my retrospective analysis, there truly is no comparison between being pregnant as a resident and being pregnant in a job with normal hours, no call, where you can sit or go to the bathroom whenever you want.ReplyDelete
Stories like these make me glad that I'm 99% (the 1% comes from neither of us being permanently fixed) sure my baby-making days are behind me. I fully admit that I am just a terrible pregnant person (I get ridiculously sick and even a zofran/phenergan combo doesn't fix it) and really don't think I could survive residency in that state.ReplyDelete
And that's why I started my baby making days very early. Hopefully I'll be long since done by the time I am a resident.ReplyDelete
Of course, between you and me, there are distinct down sides to having the responsibility of a child throughout residency.ReplyDelete
Ideally, the best time to have a baby is after retirement.
- AnonymousMay 1, 2011 at 11:38 PM
I always commended women that had kids in any residency program. In my husband's program, several women had kids during residency and people were just sort of dicks to them. Granted, they sort of bullied the peds director into 3 months of maternity leave and still being able to finish on time, but still -- I thought it was a little over the top.ReplyDelete
But, I have to say I'm a little puzzled by the x-ray thing -- I had to have a few x-rays during pregnancy and my OB said that they were pretty safe, which I would think is particularly true if you were wearing the lead coat.
Anon - really? I was in a car accident when I was pregnant, and they were like no way are we going to x-ray you to see if anything's wrong, we might harm the baby.ReplyDelete
Fizzy - true. I've always thought that maybe that Benjamin Button movie had it right. When we are young and stupid, why not have a feeble body so we don't do anything stupid? And the best time to have a youthful body is when you have gathered the wisdom of the years and the experience to appreciate it, and then we can have the babies then.ReplyDelete
hmmm... I've been sternly told, repeatedly, to X-ray the pregnant woman if I suspect something. And there's no way in hell I'd be allowed in that lead coat and near an X-ray, if I were pregnant.ReplyDelete
Anonymous at peds... Really? Finished on time? I mean, we have it cushy in that I can take the same maternity leave as anyone else, if I want to, so up to a year, and the chief happily recombines the call schedules which vary wildly every month anyway. But 1 month or 1 year, our rotations are stopped, and we have to make up all the time we miss.
I absolutely knew somebody was going to comment and chime in that the X-ray wasn't a big deal.ReplyDelete
I know there are women who work in radiology and wear lead during their pregnancies, and that a single X-ray isn't *that* much radiation, blah blah blah. But it certainly IS a risk, and to be asked to have X-ray exposure up to two times a month during pregnancy is a fairly big risk. It's one thing to abuse ME, but it's another thing to risk harming a fetus because you can't be bothered to waste 10 minutes of your time. If there were some emergency situation where I needed the X-ray for my health, then we could weigh the pros and cons. But why take that risk when there are tons of non-pregnant people around who could do it?
Incidentally, there was one situation when I was supposed to go hold a patient's head for an X-ray when I *wasn't* pregnant, and the very nice attending stopped me and told me she'd do it because while I wasn't pregnant, I was still in my "childbearing years."
Snarky: I agree... I never heard of anyone getting to take off 3 months and not make it up. My university had rules that any time over 6 weeks taken off for any reason during the year had to be made up.ReplyDelete
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I would imagine that being near an xray with lead on (even 2x per month) probably isn't a big deal.... but it was still obnoxious for your attending to make a stink about holding the patient's head. Is it REALLY that important to you not to do the resident's job for like 10 seconds? She sounds like a primadonna.ReplyDelete
OMDG: There's a lot of radiation in Pain Medicine, so I know that X-ray techs used counters while pregnant and the lead does seem to protect them. But for them, that's their entire job. For me, it was a totally unnecessary risk, which absolutely nobody else asked or expected me to take. Other attendings would just go down and do it themselves without even mentioning it to me.ReplyDelete
That attending wasn't a bad person, but she was horrible to work with while pregnant (or otherwise). She would spend the entire day, literally 8 to 6, rounding and sometimes not even manage to see all the patients or accomplish anything really. And when I had to leave a little early to get my diabetes screen, I let her know a month in advance and every day leading up to the test.... then suddenly, on that day, she decided she needed to leave early too for an appointment. Come on!
- AnonymousMay 2, 2011 at 8:49 AM
Re: x-ray - I wouldn't have volunteered to stand in for you, either, because my sister had thyroid cancer. As a result of her diagnosis, my siblings and I are very careful about our radiation exposure.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousMay 2, 2011 at 9:27 AM
@Snarky -- I swear to god, both of the women got three months off and were completely done with residency on time. They had their kids during their second year and the agreement with the director was that they would "try" to publish something and they couldn't get any vacation their 3rd year. (This program allows 4 weeks of paid vacation per year.) The director is literally the nicest man on earth, but residents really took advantage of this.ReplyDelete
- sunnidayMay 2, 2011 at 10:22 AM
There really is no ideal time for baby in Medicine. I did not have the opportunity during residency: no partner but I am still glad I waited until after fellowship, mainly for my maturity. The Xray thing sucks Fizzy....ReplyDelete
- AnonymousMay 2, 2011 at 10:42 AM
I started fellowship 2 months late, and was hated by my new peers from day one, b/c they had to cover my half clinic day per week and calls from home.At the end of first fellowship year I was pregnant with #2, and the last month was given double amount of calls, even though I was on call 12 months like the rest of them, only with dated shifted 2 months forward. My fellows did not even take into consideration that while I was doing double calls from home, I was saving them/us all to cover for a new woman-fellow who was starting her first year 2 months later due to baby too. So, she was not so hated, b/c I was there in my last weeks of pregnancy to take her calls(an then some). When I took my 3 week maternity leave, them made me pay all my calls back. Yeah, and people who hated me were single or childless women. What's with integrity these days?ReplyDelete
- CardioMomMay 2, 2011 at 11:16 AM
i had my second child in third yr of fellowship.I had a completely different experience than you did. My co fellows were very supportive (all male crew) as were my attendings. for me, the ground work was laid long before. i got 8 weeks off after my csection, i frontloaded all my calls and essential rotations so that none of my other fellows did an extra hr of work ....if anything, i ended up doing more than they. i was routinely standing with at least 15 pounds of lead over me for 3-6 hrs at a time, rounding, doing clinics, taking 24 hr call with no post call relief, and covering for other absent fellows....i did it all so that when i left to give birth, no one had a leg to stand on with complaints . it worked.ReplyDelete
we work with a lot of radiation as cardiologist . i was leaded for all my procedures and got very educated about radiation exposure and risks to the unborn. at the doses that the operator is exposed to, with correct shielding it is small. the studies done on fetal exposure were done on atomic bomb survivors who were exposed to much higher doses than that used in medicine. if despite the evidence of a small risk of exposure i had refused to do my procedures, there would have been a lot of resentment. Plus my education would have been compromised.
i did not have health issues in contrast to my first when i had bleeding, pre eclampsia and abruptio. At that time, i was 25, married to a fellow doctor, graduated from a 6 yr med school at 23, worked in primary care as a GP for 2 yrs and VERY mature....my life then was compltelty stressless but the pregnancy sucked.
sure pregnancy is possible, safe and do-able during residency/fellowship. The most important thing is to have no fear, be a hardworker all the time, pray for a healthy pregnancy and go for it. every pregnancy is different but being prepared is the key.
- AnonymousMay 2, 2011 at 12:22 PM
I was pregnant as a 3rd year med student, and I still had just as much trouble with the xray thing. Mostly because I had to go with my surgeon to spine surgery and they had so much darn fluoro running. I tried to stay out of the way, but since that was the surgery of the day, I had to do it. It sucked. That whole experience really cast a bad light on surgery for me.ReplyDelete
And I agree with the cramping/bleeding thing too. I had tons of preterm labor and I know it was from standing up all day and not peeing. And the late nights from front loading all my call for the year (which I did appreciate after having my little one).
But hey, at least I got 3 weeks off! Our dean said she came back on Monday when she had her kid Friday....yeah, that wasn't going to happen for me.
All and all while 3rd year sucked a lot, my little one is totally worth it.
Oh, and if you are pregnant in medicine, everyone will assume it was an "oops baby", or at least they did with me. Mine wasn't. It was IVF. And those jokes about "didn't think med students had enough time at home to get pregnant" were even funnier since I got pregnant in a lab...
- AnonymousMay 2, 2011 at 1:13 PM
CardioMom - I was covering for all sorts of abcent residents when I was very pregnant (noone paid me back or I expected them to). And I always worked hard (er than most) in my fellowship. That still did not save me from their resentful feelings when I was inconviniently abcent for 3 weeks. I was taken aback when during my last month of pregnancy, calls were added to my schedule. It depends where you train. I noticed that the higher up your institution is, the more ruthless they are on you.ReplyDelete
Anon@8:49AM: I knew a med student who tried to get out of radiation due to family cancer history. No dice on that one. I can sort of understand it too because a lot of people have family cancer histories and it really would exempt way too many people.ReplyDelete
CardioMom: Re the radiation, it might have been a different story if there were any learning value associated with the exposure. It was basically just a liability thing for us. I held other residents' patients' heads during procedures where there was no radiation involved as a favor to them, but they conveniently forgot about that. I'm not thrilled about radiation exposure in general, so I avoided it as a career, but I was always willing to do it during training except for those 9 months.
During my last year of residency, there were several residents who were out due to babies. There was one resident that I was supposed to be on a service with who had to take a family leave and instead I ended up doing the work of 2 people. But I wasn't upset about it at all-- just the opposite. I actually felt grateful for the chance to pay it forward.
- AnonymousMay 2, 2011 at 9:08 PM
>>I knew a med student who tried to get out of radiation due to family cancer history. No dice on that one. I can sort of understand it too because a lot of people have family cancer histories and it really would exempt way too many people.>>ReplyDelete
Actually, that is not what I said: I wouldn't have refused my fair share radiation exposure because, after all, that would have been part of being a resident. What I meant is: I would have refused to cover for anyone, including you and any other pregnant women, because that would have meant increasing the risk to me. Why should I put myself at risk just to decrease risk to your baby? Not happening.
Anon: For the record, the residents who refused to help didn't do it because of radiation risk, but because they didn't want to take 10 minutes out of their day to help. When it came to the fluoro lab and doing injections, the residents were only too happy to jump in for me and take on the much higher levels of radiation, because fluoro injection experience was very coveted.ReplyDelete
But if there were a pregnant resident who needed me (while not pregnant) to get that bit of radiation exposure in order to spare her baby, I *absolutely* would have done it. Fetuses exposed to radiation can either die or have gross congenital malformations, which I think is much more horrible than increasing my cancer risk a teeny tiny bit. So I'd take the radiation to spare the baby.
- AnonymousMay 3, 2011 at 8:03 AM
Properly shielded pregnant women are at very low risk for giving birth to fetuses with congenital malformations. As you said yourself, radiology techs are exposed to radiation while pregnant and don't seem to have problems - even though, "that's their entire job".ReplyDelete
After seeing what my sister went through, avoiding thyroid cancer is more important to me than the health of anyone else's fetus.
I think, while low, the risk to the fetus, especially in the first or second trimesters, is still higher than the risk to a non-pregnant person. Plus the risk is more immediate. Most people have some family history of cancer (I do, in my immediate family). I'd feel selfish if I made a pregnant woman expose herself to that when I could have helped out.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousMay 3, 2011 at 9:30 AM
Well, I'd feel selfish if I asked someone else to assume risk I accepted by choosing to enter residency training that required radiation exposure just because I am at increased risk for developing thyroid cancer.ReplyDelete
I wouldn't feel selfish at all for declining to accept additional risk just because someone was pregnant, (or had increased risk of cancer, for that matter). I also might not tell you why I wouldn't do it, or I might white lie (say I'm TTC, for example, which seems to be one of the few excuses you'd accept).
Others offering to accept additional risk and EXPECTING others to accept risk on behalf of your fetus are two different things. Furthermore, my mother would be very upset if she found out someone like you expected me to accept additional risk just because you were pregnant. She's terrified of losing my sister, and her other children. Actually, she'd also think you were selfish for not taking time off from training - thus avoiding all radiation exposure - because she blames herself for my sister's cancer, because she had dental x-rays taken while she was pregnant. Not rational, but fear isn't rational. If your fears were rational, radiology techs would commonly give birth to deformed babies.
You keep telling me my fear isn't rational, yet then you say that you're afraid of taking that risk yourself. I do think the risk is small. But if there is a risk, it's commonly thought that this risk is higher for a fetus than for an adult. (Obviously no controlled studies could ever be done.)ReplyDelete
It wasn't like I was in a radiology residency. I specifically asked to put off my fluoro rotation till after my pregnancy. Holding patients' heads during X-rays was not something I had any idea I'd ever have to do, and was something that didn't come up that often. And 99% of the attendings and staff members wouldn't let me near the radiology department while I was pregnant... when I even mentioned it, they seemed horrified. And when I went to do this task as a non-pregnant resident, the radiology tech asked me like five times if I could be pregnant first, so it's not like this is some weird thing that only I'm worried about. Nobody asked me if I had family members with cancer and there's no checkbox for that on every x-ray form (like there is for pregnancy). So obviously there's a difference.
(That said, if you were in my residency program and tried to use radiation fear as an excuse, I'd have to call bullshit because PM&R residency has a good amount of radiation exposure. One afternoon in the fluoro lab is probably way more radiation than covering flex-ex films for every resident on the service for a whole year. Honestly, even though we're arguing over this, I do understand you being worried and I probably wouldn't have asked a resident who had a sister with thyroid cancer and seemed genuinely nervous about this. My gripe was just that nobody wanted to do it because they couldn't spare the 10 minutes of time, not because they were worried about radiation.)ReplyDelete
- AnonymousMay 3, 2011 at 4:24 PM
As I said already, I probably wouldn't tell you my family history, because 1. it's really none of your business and 2. assuming I'm in the program, I've accepted the risk inherent in performing required tasks (but NOT additional risk, like covering for you). I do know the risk to me is small, but I also know, the more radiation, the more risk. My thyroid will be exposed over the course of a lifetime, after all.ReplyDelete
I still wouldn't cover for you. As to why very few others would, I think you answered this yourself in your original post: you were whiny, cried "poor me", immature and reacted badly to "unfair" situations (probably because you could not see the other person had a valid point-of-view). You were exactly the sort of person I avoid at work.
- AnonymousMay 3, 2011 at 4:43 PM
Re: checkboxes on x-ray forms:ReplyDelete
Yes, there is a difference between pregnancy and family history of cancer. That difference is lawsuit potential. Checkboxes on consent forms are all about preventing lawsuits, not necessarily protecting patients.
Defective infant? Must have been those rads of the mother's fractured tibia during the first trimester!!! Sue everyone!!!
Cancer 10 (or 20 or 30) years from now? Unlikely to be connected with earlier radiation exposure, though undoubtedly, it sometimes is. In any case, much less lawsuit potential.
As I said before, 99% of the people in the program covered for me without even questioning it. It was just that one instance when I had a problem. Most people are incredibly understanding about pregnant women not wanting to expose themselves to radiation. On one occasion, we were taking a film in a patient's room, and my attending just leaded up and said to me, "Get out. You can't do this." Actually, that happened more than once.ReplyDelete
There was one med student I remember who had some reason she was more worried about cancer for some reason (not pregnancy) and refused to expose herself to radiation. She was skewered by the residents for this. And prior to that, she was known for being kind of "high maintenance" and always finding convenient excuses to get out of work. I guess that's why I reacted to your comments that way... because your attitude reminded me of that med student. Nobody wants to expose themselves to a higher cancer risk, obviously, but there's a reasonable amount of radiation exposure during medical training, and you seem unreasonably hyper about it. As I said, I have a family history too, but I covered for residents in the fluoro suite many times when I wasn't pregnant. I don't know what you're training in, but that attitude is going to bring up red flags.
We can argue about this forever. But the point is: you're sensitive about radiation because of your sister. And I'm sensitive about someone saying, "Screw your unborn baby, I'm looking out for myself." It's understandable we're both getting riled up. I do think we both have some valid arguments.
- AnonymousMay 3, 2011 at 8:45 PM
>>I don't know what you're training in, but that attitude is going to bring up red flags.>>ReplyDelete
I'm finished with training, and have been practicing for several years, but thanks for your concern. In case you're interested, I never made a big deal out of my situation. My private business stays private, and most people, other than a couple of close friends, didn't know.
As for being "high maintenance": I do not understand how being unwilling to cover for someone could be considered "high maintenance" (asking to be exempted: yes, but I never did this). On the contrary, I'd consider your expectation that everyone be willing to assume extra risk on your behalf to be high maintenance, especially when you casually dismiss the much greater risk to pregnant radiology techs ("that's their entire job"). For this reason, I'm not at all shocked you had a somewhat miserable training experience about which you still feel bitter.
>>But the point is: you're sensitive about radiation because of your sister. And I'm sensitive about someone saying, "Screw your unborn baby, I'm looking out for myself.">>
Think about it this way: I wouldn't expect you to be more concerned about me than you are about your baby. Why should you care about me? Why should I care about your baby? It cuts both ways.
>>It's understandable we're both getting riled up.>>
You may be riled up. I thought we were having a rational discussion. Apparently not.
>>I do think we both have some valid arguments.>>
Good. Just remember: those who refused to cover for you may have had valid arguments, too. Sometimes it is reasonable to say "no" without any explanation, though you apparently find this hard to accept.
Of course, if you were the type of person who flounced off and whined and gossiped and trash-talked the person who said "no" to you, I can also understand why certain people weren't motivated to help you... and maybe why some people might have, out of fear.
"You may be riled up. I thought we were having a rational discussion."ReplyDelete
When people are having a rational discussion, they don't get personal. You were getting personal. You said to me, "you were whiny, cried "poor me", immature and reacted badly to "unfair" situations (probably because you could not see the other person had a valid point-of-view). You were exactly the sort of person I avoid at work."
Do you think that's a nice thing to say? If we were having a discussion at a conference or even a dinner table, is this really something you would say to another person? You don't know me and you got personal and pretty nasty. You have no idea what I was really like in residency or what I am like at all.
From your comments, you sounded like someone who was still early in training, maybe even a premed, who had no kids.... so that shows you how much you can tell from words written on the internet about someone you don't know. But I thank you for taking my mind temporarily about something else I was worried about.
Incidentally, the way I found out about the "holding patient's head" rule is that I volunteered to help another resident who seemed busier than me. He told me this needed to be done and I was on my way down to radiology until a nurse stopped me and told me not to go because I'd actually have to be in the way of the X-ray beam. The resident who asked me hadn't realized this either. Instead I took out some sutures for him. Residency involves helping other people and covering for them when they need it, whether or not they're pregnant. That's why I was surprised you had gotten through training and didn't seem to realize that.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousMay 3, 2011 at 9:49 PM
>>You have no idea what I was really like in residency or what I am like at all.>>ReplyDelete
I simply repeated words you'd used to describe yourself. Did I misquote you?
I'm quite aware that residency involves helping other people, but not at the cost of putting myself at increased risk. As I said, several times: I never asked for special consideration. You expected and asked for special consideration. Not only that, you continue to dismiss risks taken by pregnant radiology techs because "that's their job". Obviously, the risk to a properly shielded pregnant woman is low, just as the risk to a properly shielded person at increased cancer risk is also low. Neither pregnant women nor people with my family history should subject themselves to more radiation than is absolutely necessary. Obviously, we shouldn't have been covering for one another, because the question of whose life is more important cannot be answered impartially.
I chose not to disclose my personal situation, and didn't expect to be exempted from any duties (obviously - my situation is invisible). You, being pregnant, had an obvious situation after a certain point. You expected others would cover for you. Some did. A few didn't. I'm saying the few that didn't might have had good reason. You don't know for sure, and you don't have any right to know others' private business.
I think it's sort of funny when people say something obviously bitchy, then I call them on it, and they're all innocent and like, "What? What are you talking about?" Yes, you quoted me but also twisted what I said. I'm willing to admit I said some bitchy things to you. Why won't you admit it too? If you really don't recognize that what you said to me was nasty, then you would be the sort of person I'd avoid at work too. (And my saying that is totally part of our "discussion" and not a personal attack at all :)ReplyDelete
I am sympathetic to radiology techs who are pregnant but I just don't see a way out of that situation. If you have one or two X-ray exposures a month, that can be worked around. If that's your entire job, then how can you do anything but find a new job?
By the way, you never addressed whether or not you have children and were ever in a position where someone asked you to put your fetus at risk. Putting my baby at risk was so much more awful than putting myself at risk. I could care less about myself.
- AnonymousMay 4, 2011 at 4:49 AM
I have no doubt, based on reading many of your posts over a period of months, that you're the type of person I'd avoid at work. To start, we have very little in common.ReplyDelete
>>If that's your entire job, then how can you do anything but find a new job?>>
Or take precautions and continue to work, because the risk when one takes precautions is very low.
>>Putting my baby at risk was so much more awful than putting myself at risk. I could care less about myself.>>
Putting myself at risk would mean I'd risk leaving my child without a mother, not to mention leaving my husband without a wife, and my mother without a child.
"I have no doubt, based on reading many of your posts over a period of months, that you're the type of person I'd avoid at work. To start, we have very little in common."ReplyDelete
That's too bad. I thought we were going to be best friends and hang out all the time. Oh well.
- Sierra93May 4, 2011 at 10:15 AM
I have been a long time reader of MIM and have truly enjoyed reading all the posts as a silent observer.ReplyDelete
However after reading this most recent discussion something has been bothering me all day...I cant seem to get it out of my mimd and hence have finally decided to post!
Anon- no offense but your attitude is whats wrong with the world.
You opinion that you wouldnt cover because of whateverwhatever is yours, and you are entitled to it as Fizzy is entitled to hers.
However, if you value your privacy that much and dont like disclosing stuff then maybe you should just stay off public blog sites. I refuse to beleive that a person not plagued by serious personal issues could be that bitchy.
Pregnant residents generally stayed out of the rooms of those kids who had confirmed or suspected influenza or CMV. Other team members/residents/fellows/attendings would typically step up to care for these kids without any complaint or problems whatsoever. Is that because so many peds programs are woman heavy? Or was it was my good luck that I worked with people who were fine with it? I'm not sure.ReplyDelete
- sunnidayMay 4, 2011 at 1:26 PM
Wow Anon! Fizzy's original post actually said that she had regrets about some of her reactions during her pregnancy. this was actually one of the most even-toned blogs about residency I have seen her write.ReplyDelete
We all work hard to avoid risk to our baby. I am a coffee-addict but gave my cup of joe.(and wondered about that when I gave chemo to my pregnant lymphoma patients) I think Fizzy was in her rights to want to limit exposure if she could. I do think she does not know why certain people refused so we cannot make judgements. However, one of the saving graces of my residency was that we took care of each other and helped each other through.
- AnonymousMay 4, 2011 at 1:41 PM
Sierra93: Walk a while in my shoes. You have no idea what my family went through. You also have no idea what I went through personally to even finish high school and get to college, never mind what came next. My co-workers don't know, and you can bet my classmates didn't, either. Why? Because my classmates and co-workers have no clue how privileged and fortunate they really are. I'd venture to say: neither are you. Grow up. People sometimes aren't what they seem to be.ReplyDelete
sunniday: Yup, this was one of Fizzy's more evenhanded posts. She took responsibility for choices she made. She also continued to judge those who refused to cover for her. I have an excellent idea of why some may have refused, hence my comments.
- AnonymousMay 4, 2011 at 4:34 PM
It is very sad that in medicine there is no back up for personal emergincies, sickness, etc. I hope one day to see that eevry training program, institution, hospital, routinely has float MD's, PA's to allow people to do what they can at work without jepordizing their health/fetuses/employment. In my med school women who had kids, would drop out for a year, same in training and at work. Temporary help would be hired. It is sad in this country that in need we have to ask for help facing rejection, it hurts. Work environment should be protected from such hurts. Pregnancy should automatically involve coverage on institutional/employer level. How come we do not see it will save us from burn out, loosing staff and will be more productive. Fizzy, I too covered for anyone without a second thought, and when on maternity was faced with coverage rejection. Does not always go both ways. I love your bitterness, and sharing it here. But am also glad I am no holding anything against anybody. It (hurt) is over.ReplyDelete
Sierra93: I appreciate your support, really. I kind of stopped taking that anonymous poster seriously when she said she didn't want to hang out with me because we wouldn't have anything in common. What a strange argument. Like, I guess she thinks we'd like different movies or something? :) Seriously though, I think she's been through something awful and she's having difficulty dealing with it.ReplyDelete
Kelly: There was a pregnant ID fellow when I was an intern and I think it limited her a lot that she couldn't go see certain patients. But she never took the risk. If we're going to give up eating sandwich meat and drinking caffeine, the least we can do is avoid exposing ourselves to radiation and influenza.
Sunniday: I think there were many people in my residency who were awesome about covering. I post about negative things because I think it's more interesting, but there are also so many people who I am grateful to for the help they gave me. When I was really sick and about to drag myself to work, the resident who I had worked with the day before actually called me at home and offered to cover my clinic without my even having to ask. I mean, that was awesome. I'd like to think I tried to help and cover for people too. I once even covered for a resident so she could pick up her boyfriend at the airport.
Anon that I've been arguing with: I'm sorry you went through an experience that was so horribly emotionally scarring. A lot of people have been through similar things (one of my classmates admitted that she herself had lymphoma prior to starting med school). It obviously affected you a lot and hopefully you've been in counseling to deal with the trauma.
Anon@4:34: I agree strongly. In residency, our vacations weren't built into the schedule so we had to ask permission from fellow residents for coverage in order to have any vacation. We ended up feeling guilty just taking vacation.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousMay 5, 2011 at 8:23 AM
>>What a strange argument. Like, I guess she thinks we'd like different movies or something?>>ReplyDelete
Actually, you are the one who said we wouldn't hang out. I said the type of person you were during your residency - per your description of yourself - is the type of person I avoid at work. Which I do. Don't know what you're like now, but I don't make a practice of socializing with co-workers.
The fact is, your life prior to medical school was nothing like mine. The majority of my classmates came from backgrounds like yours: both parents college-educated (many children of physicians), comfortable income, excellent high school, health insurance, etc. They took it for granted they'd finish training and go on to live comfortably. I had the expectation I'd have to work hard for everything I got, because there was no safety net.
Like I said, you have no idea where I'm coming from. Thanks for your concern, I guess.
Fizzy -- Is anonymous someone who HAS to have the last word or something? I thought of all your posts, this was one of your most even handed and self deprecating. And, while maybe we all are spoiled rich brats who've never had to really work hard or worry a day in our lives (puh-leeze), none of us should have to apologize for where we came from.ReplyDelete
Hanging out with a person who has a big chip on their shoulder is no fun, even if they did have to work harder to get there. I have some acquaintances like this and sometimes want to tell them: Maybe you started in a more disadvantaged spot than I did, but congrats, you're exactly where I am now. That means you're probably smarter AND harder working. Now that we have that out of the way, can we please get on with interacting like normal people again?
OMDG: I don't even entirely know what I'm arguing with Anon about anymore. We were talking about radiation and pregnancy at first, but now for some reason out of nowhere she's talking about her parents being poor? Um, okay. I don't get it. What am I supposed to say to that? What in the world does it have to do with radiation during pregnancy?ReplyDelete
Good heavens, all that spleen being vented. Thanks for sharing your POV Fizzy.ReplyDelete
I was asked several weeks ago to (unshielded) bag a patient in CT. Luckily I wasn't asked by anyone senior (I flatly refused) or in any authority over me, and the option of hooking up to a portable vent was the best one (particularly as the CT tech was 10 minutes off being ready). I wasn't pregnant but I think that family history (i.e having a specific gene) could actually be a good argument for stepping out. The feasibility of this (and likelihood of other people covering for you) is another matter completely though.
Nobody should have to do that unshielded!ReplyDelete
I think the family history thing is a slippery slope though. If you exempt people with a family history from radiation, then maybe anyone with a cardiac family history should be exempt from any kind of lifting or whatever. Pregnancy is a very specific, temporary condition. I do think if you feel you have a higher risk than the general population, it's a good idea to avoid a career where there's much radiation exposure.


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text:
Nov. 23, 2012
The John Carlos Story, with Dave Zirin, Haymarket Books, 2011
Veronica & the Case of Mumia Abu-Jamal as told to Valerie Jones, Xlibris, 2012
Two books – very different and yet with a common thread of courage. If the names do not immediately resonate with you, it is only because time and political circumstances are always changing.
John Carlos is the man and track star who electrified us when he and Tommie Smith and Peter Norman registered their protest to the USA's denial of black equality from the winners' podium at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City. Veronica Jones (now deceased) is the witness to the shooting that Mumia Abu Jamal was convicted of, who came forward after lying at his trial, to clear her conscience and the record in 1995. I was struck by the fact that the two subjects, both African Americans, of these books were so different in outlook and upbringing but who in the crunch elected to stand up. Both suffered afterward for their acts of courage and that is an important part of these stories as well.
Veronica was raised by her mother and ended up in Camden, New Jersey, a dying industrial town across the river from Philadelphia. The mother of three daughters by the time she was 18, she found herself hanging out in the seamy side of Central City Philly with a group of women who earned money by turning tricks. She also became part of the "life" and so found herself on December 9, 1981, in proximity to the spot where Police Officer Daniel Faulkner was shot to death. Interviewed by homicide detectives subsequently, Veronica said that what she saw were two black men, that she thought she recognized as "vendors" (street sellers), jogging away from the scene after she had heard three shots at the location.
I know from my professional experience as a defense lawyer who has handled a goodly number of such cases, that cop shootings are "different." This is especially true if it is a white cop and it is a black/revolutionary person who has been chosen to take the rap. The rabid intensity of the police and prosecutorial investigators to "get" the person who they have agreed upon as the "perp" is unparalleled. Like sharks at a feeding frenzy, they descend upon the potential witnesses and twist and tailor their testimony to fit their official version. They make untoward promises and if that doesn't work, they resort to intimidation. The "Blue Line" of silence of the fraternity of police is invoked.
Veronica tells us first how her first interview conformed with what she saw that December night. Thereafter, while arrested on what was undoubtedly a weak if not non-existent case of accessory to armed robbery, she is visited by detectives at the jail who threaten her with double-digit jail terms and worse – separation from her children. When she, without any preparation by either defense or district attorney is brought directly from her cell in jail clothes to the court to testify as a defense witness at Mumia's 1982 trial – she believes she is going for her own case. When she gets there, easily intimidated, this 20 year old testified that she had not seen two black men running away from the scene. She admirably would not finger Mumia as even being there. We will never know the impact of her lack of testimony on the jury but we know the result of that trial: Mumia was convicted and he has been fighting back ever since.
Veronica's charges were subsequently dismissed and she wasted no time disappearing. Only through the untiring efforts of Rachel Wolkenstein, a lawyer on Mumia's defense team and her investigators, was she discovered in time for the 1996 post-conviction relief act hearings in Common Pleas Court in Philadelphia, hearings that the original trial judge, Albert Sabo, made a mockery of justice.
By this time, Veronica had made up her mind to clear the record of her previous lack of truth and she did so only to have an old warrant enable the district attorney to have her arrested by New Jersey State Troopers while she was still on the witness stand.
Her outrage and pain at this, reflected in her book, is indicative of a fundamental difference between her and John Carlos. While both were born into and raised in the black community, Veronica Jones never "got it," the fundamental understanding that in this United States there was and is an enemy and that enemy – white police and their black toadies – is unrelenting. They must always be viewed as totally without scruple where black people are concerned, and even more so when a white cop was alleged to have been killed by a black revolutionary like Mumia. Her book made me sympathize with this street-smart but hopelessly naive girl/woman who ultimately found the strength to tell the truth and then become a supporter of Mumia and MOVE.
John Carlos was a man of the same color but who had race consciousness stamped into his genes. Growing up in Harlem of the '50s and '60s, his book tells the story of a young resister who from his exploits as a would-be Robin Hood taking cartons off the freight trains in the Bronx and distributing them to the people back home in Harlem, his devoted attachment to Malcolm X, his political confrontations with the power structure over minor but telling obstacles (bugs in the trees, food served in his cafeteria) he was always aware. Marrying while still in high school, he went to Texas on a track scholarship and learns the bitterness of living in a southern society where racial inferiority is a given and permeates even the utopia of competitive athletes.
It was at that time that there began the rumblings of an Olympic boycott by black athletes of the 1968 Games in Mexico City. In the organizing for that, John met with the later, and more militant metamorphosis of Martin Luther King Jr. who was willing to support the boycott and coined for him the idea that we go out to fight not only for ourselves but for the people who can't fight and those who won't fight.
John Carlos also accurately portrays the racist control by Avery Brundage, the chairman of the U.S. Olympic committee and the threat that was implicit for any athlete who might dare to participate.
Ultimately the boycott was abandoned but when so confronted, (as have been so many of us activists by thwarted plans,) John Carlos knew he had to do something and enlisting his teammate Tommie Smith, they knew after finishing first and second in the popular 200 meter run, that they would have the victors' podium to showcase their resistance to the treatment of black people in the United States. They appeared barefoot to symbolize the poverty and with beads around their necks to echo the African ancestry. They donned the black gloves and raised their fists and bowed their heads during the Anthem. It was a moment of history! It electrified all of us back in the day when struggle was an everyday, recurring dedication and confrontation.
To learn more about or to buy a copy of Veronica & the Case of Mumia Abu-Jamal as told to her sister, Valerie Jones, go to: www.veronicajonesandmumia.com


text:
Bored now.
That the iPhone looks pretty much the same this year as it did last. Of course, this meme is unburied, reanimated, and set to lurch following every new device announcement. Never mind that the iPhone 5 has been completely rebuilt at almost the atomic level, it's still a rounded rectangle. Apple's not designing by dice roll. They're relentlessly working towards something they've had in mind since 2005. Something inevitable. Something unmolested by the whims, vagaries, and expectations of kitsch and chaos. But before anyone utters "bored now"...
Let's look at how much Nokia has changed their design every year, from the N9 to the Lumia 900 and Lumia 920.
Samsung from the Galaxy S to Galaxy S II and Galaxy S III.
HTC from the EVO 4G and Thunderbolt to the One X.
And, of course, Lamborghini's from the Murciélago to Gallardo and Aventador.
Calling the iPhone 5 boring is easy. It's a talking point. A tag line. It's the first ten words. What are the next ten? Tell me those. Tell me how the new manufacturing process with metal back and chamfered edges is in any way the same and I'll admit to being "bored now" as well.
Chances are nobody can. And that's the real "bored now".
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Rene Ritchie is one of the most respected Apple analysts in the business, reaching a combined audience of over 40 million readers a month. His YouTube channel, Vector, has over 90 thousand subscribers and 14 million views and his podcasts, including Debug, have been downloaded over 20 million times. He also regularly co-hosts MacBreak Weekly for the TWiT network and co-hosted CES Live! and Talk Mobile. Based in Montreal, Rene is a former director of product marketing, web developer, and graphic designer. He's authored several books and appeared on numerous television and radio segments to discuss Apple and the technology industry. When not working, he likes to cook, grapple, and spend time with his friends and family.
I you recall, the Lumia design imitates one of the discarded Apple designs (other than colors) that came out during the Samsung trial.
Don't you feel like Don Quixote charging up against windmills? Or like Bill Murray trying figure what set of actions would get him out of the time loop in Groundhog day? Hopefully this boring meme will burn out in another couple of days. If the sales are really good, Apple could just say "Scoreboard!" and call it a day.
"If the sales are really good".... Stock for the pre-orders was allocated to customers in a matter of a few hours... how's that for "if"? :)
Why revolutionize something that isn't broken? The iPhone updates aren't going to be as "dramatic" as they used to be, unless Apple decides that the iPhone design isn't good anymore. But the design is fine, so why go out and totally change it?
In fairness, RIM used to say the same thing. There is some danger of being left behind if you do nothing but iterate rather than innovate, but I don't really see anyone completely overtaking Apple in the next year or so.
Give it a few more years, Apple could very well trail in the footsteps of RIM. Besides, it will take that long (at the least) for Apple to wake up and realize that they can't go on brand or reputation alone. They need to be innovative, but of course, they say they are to all the blue shirted geniuses who work for them.
I'm not sure RIM is the best analogy. The difference was that RIM really was broken, as evidenced by how many people stopped buying their product, due to their refusal to innovate. And if you listen to the rhetoric of Lazaridis and other RIM peeps during the time, thats exactly what the goal was: avoiding innovation and keeping BlackBerries as much the same as possible-this even after the future of smartphone trends were clearly evident. I mean, you can find apple saying weird self aggrandizing stuff etc., but there is no comparison between that and the stuff coming out of RIM all the way up through 2010. When RIM's 2010 market strategy is to build the best speaker-phone in the world, because "that is what consumers truly want in a phone," you can't compare that to Apple at this point. Apple isn't avoiding innovation. They are just not worried about reinventing their phone every release cycle. Their game is consistant iteration and progression, with a magical new feature every twice in a while. The demand for their phones is evidence that their system is not broken but is actually serving the needs of customers better and better. Will somebody else develop and execute a better strategy? Perhaps. But the Apple-RIM analogy doesn't really hold water at this point in time.
Yeah we all know about the tick-tock release cycle. The thing is, where was the tock when everyone was looking for one this round? The way I see it, the 5S better be made out of rainbows and unicorns.
@darrenlowq, Amen, bro. But let's talk with one another this time next year. ;-)
I'm not saying they'll never revolutionize the iPhone ever again. I just meant that for now, it works. The iMac/Macbook lineup hasn't changed that much over the years lately, just the necessary tweaks and upgrades here and there, and that's kind of how I see the iPhone at this point. I hope when the time comes to revolutionize, Apple will do just that. But for now, the iPhone is just fine. At least, that's how I see it.
I, for one, love the new design. I hope that the next iPad shares the same beautiful design. I'd even go as far as to say the Macs should come in Slate or Silver (I'm not sure if the silver = aluminum), but that's just my opinion.
In other words, you love the design from 7 years ago! Lol. Why is that the iPhone is like that pair of Levis 501 jeans that are quite durable but offer no cosmetic or wow factor any more?
Do you really need a renewed wow factor for your jeans every year?
I don't get people. I want my smart phone fast, small and capable. Take race cars, jets, guns and DeWalt 18v drill. A smart phone is a tool to get things done. Great it entertains you too and keeps you connected. The iPhone has gone thru amazing iterations to get where it is at. Visually I think the Gallaxy III is very apealing. But people, thats not why you buy a phone. As quoted by someone else, what form factor factor do you want? An octagon, ninja start, circle phone? Toasters are boring too but the damn things does what I need it to do, MAKE TOAST!
I want a Sabre Pyramid http://www.sabre-corp.com/products.shtml
Yes, but Apple is supposed to be different from those other companies. They are supposed to lead by amazing design. They have a long history of wowing, and inspiring its fans. They always unveiled at least one major surprise at almost every event. This event had no surprised. Not one. The iPhone 5 looks like a nice upgrade, but it isn't exciting. iOS 6 was a retread. The iPod nano was beyond bizarre. I hate to bring up the "Steve Jobs" red herring, but I just felt better hen he was at Apple. Like I KNEW surprises were in store. I'm not sure I feel that way anymore. I hope I'm wrong.
Did RIM ever have lines around the block at each launch? Did they sell out in less than an hour? I am baffled at this. What was the iPhone missing? A gargantuan screen? Very few people who still have an iPhone after all this time are wishing the screen was huge. NFC? Why. It's not an adopted technology. What else? What else should be done? They're perfecting a design that works and that people love. Increasing the screen size, changing the details, improving the screen, the back, the weight, the thickness, they're perfecting and moving toward what they originally set out for. The only thing I see Apple needing to really innovate is their OS. There is a lot they can do with it now, but no one thinks that Apple is focused on supporting as much as they can, going crazy with their OS will alienate people using older devices, and apple has always stood behind doing that as much as possible, clearly, with the 3GS getting iOS 6. They're getting there. But at their own pace. They Don't allow crazy customization with their devices because it then makes them unstable. I have seen what happens when jailbreak tweaks get out of hand, the device bogs down and it no longer operates perfectly. Apple prides themselves on never giving out something that could sloggishly perform, something that's easy to happen with Widgets, I've seen it. Lots of people are happy with how apple is taking it. Like the old saying goes, slow and steady wins the race. No sense innovating just to say "ooh we innovated!" When that happens, we get Ping...
Ask your partner or spouse if increasing your length by 0.5 inches is really considered an increase and if it feels any different or functions differently? It's pretty obvious the supporters of the latest iPhone are praising it on a very granular level which is completely ridiculous. In fact you probably wouldn't even notice the difference between the 4S and 5 as youtube video on Jimmy KIMMEL's show has proven. You can't keep pressing your luck and not become innovative. Don't be surprised if this is the beginning of slow and low sales for Apple, especially how everyone else is moving at almost light speed with innovation.
BS - th gets of this thing include a new SOC that no one has managed to produce yet that's faster and more power efficient on a new CPU process node. New screen tech, single chip to handle LTE, HSPA, GSM, CDMA. The new unibody design is impressive. This isn't coasting, this is iterating.
Also bonus points for Willow and Eillow-quotage!
Finally got it. I was trying to remember that scene from Buffy. That was the quote.
What innovation? People keep tossing this word around with Android devices and I have no clue what that is in reference to. I can't think of any innovations. Surely a large screen isn't the innovation...
@Andsoitgoes, quite true about Android widgets -- for the most part they are incredible resource hogs. You have only to run a test, nuke your widgets and run it again. But Apple needs SOMETHING beyond their admittedly nice folder scheme to make their home screen more useable. As is, I've go row after row of folders that can't be read at a glance. What's the answer? Over to you, Sir Jonny.
The answer is have Siri open apps for you. In iOS 6 Siri opens all apps and she does it quickly. Make sure also that you organize your apps better so you have a sense of what app is in which folder.
I totally agree. I've had Androids with all of the customizing and it was not stable I'd call it simply crash-tastic. I've also jailbroken an iPhone and the tweaks cause the phone to slowdown and do things that it was not programmed to do. The beauty of apple is that it just works. The only think I want is a better notification system where you can see at a glance what notifications are awaiting your response I.e. android with the icons at top of menu bar. Other than that I love my iPhone to pieces. So glad to be back and off the droid!
Took the words right of my mouth .....could not agree with you more!!!
Take the Lumia 920's screen though. Incredibly fast refresh rate and the ability to use it with a glove on. That's a useful innovation that actually provides a benefit to users, versus the new screen tech the i5 offers.
Apparently, this was the last design of the iPhone Jobs worked on. So you can say the success or failure of the iPhone 5 is his doing. In Job's mind, he probably felt from now on, the iPhone just needs slight tweeking. People will flock no matter what Apple produces. Clearly, bigger is not better to him. One could say his thought process and even logic was impaired in the final few years due to his illness. Nonetheless, even the leaks or rumours of the 5 were spot on. This is genuinely unprecedented in the Apple world. Apple's empire will soon start to crack. Whether or not those cracks are visible to others, make no mistake, they will occur. And when the empire crumbles, it shall all be recorded in history.
Were you surprised when Samsung went from S2 to S3? Every other android phone that comes out has a new name but looks exactly the same as the previous one. Go to Best buy and take a look and see if you can point out which android phone is which by just looking at them. If Apple could throw in a toaster for your bragging right then they would.
I think you need some glasses. They don't look the same. Plus they have better cameras, faster processors, new features, and the Android OS is improving, however it's still not their yet in it's efficiency, simplicity, and how everything works together compared to the iPhone. However, when people upgrade many people don't want something to look virtually identical to what they had before. They expect significant differences and improvements especially from an inventor who has had a history of wowing consumers for several years up until the last few. then again, if you have low or no expectations then any change is a big change.
Apple just did the same thing my friend, better camera, faster processor, better OS and still very easy to use. Why call one phone changed and other virtually the same?
So going from square corners to round corners on S2 to S3 is different but having a bigger screen from 4S to 5 is virtually the same. Apple doesn't have to come up with something totally new because they have a phone that works and works well. They keep improving the user experience.
+1 for Vampire Willow!
Um, hell yes!!!!!!!
Can somebody PLEASE explain where the Willow reference is hidden? Maybe I didn't watch enough episodes?
Evil Willow would say "bored now" before swatting away, or flaying, annoyances.
AH! Thanks, get it now and photo too. Buffy dabbler but not buff.
I guess the way to be surprised next year is to stop reading sites like these :) But thats not something I plan on doing.
For this device being referred to as "Steve Job's last project" this device doesn't seem to have the wow factor that Apple products have brought in the past. But whatever. They will sell millions of these things so it doesn't matter.
You may not believe this, but Apple is a leader. They don't even march to the orders of their customers. They trust that their customer can appreciate quality and refinement. They will dramatically change the design when they believe that have something worthy of the change. The competitors approach is "Oh crap! Apple may come up with something new, so let's pump out as many designs as possible and cover all bases before the next new iPhone comes out". The great news is you have a choice. If you're bored, move on. I will choose top quality over popularity or trendiness anytime.
All leaders eventually fail and become followers. Apple may still be the leader, but they are just catching up in most but not all areas compared to the competition. This strategy may prove to be Apple's undoing.
@Spaz888, that's just plain wrong, The competition has only just begun doing its own innovation beyond "copy Apple." That's great and I'm enjoying the results, but there are SO many areas where Apple is innovating like crazy. Comparing my Galaxy S3 with the iPhone 5, I truly believe the iPhone 5 has passed Samsug once again. The unprecedented event came when the S3 truly lapped the 4s -- a sign that Apple must pick up the pace. But to say they Are "just catching up" is just plain wrong. Aside from screen size and NFC, I can't think of a single area where iPhone has not surpassed the flagship phones of Samsung amd HTC.
"I will choose top quality over popularity or trendiness anytime." That just might be the most ironic statement ever made by an iPhone user... congrats!
Agreed! Translated that says "I will always let Apple dictate what I think. As long as all of my friends have it, I will too." There's quite a bit of irony their because if that statement was true, that person wouldn't be an iPhone user.
It's an evolution not a revolution. What were people expecting. I think it looks stunning, like with all great design the beauty is in the detail. I'm looking forward to picking up my 16GB Black & Slate next week.
Think Different...like 400 million other iOS users.
Hahaha! This joke has never been done before! You're the first, congratulations!
The iPhone is being saturated in the market. I see it in almost every movie, TV Shows. A lot of people (Including teenagers and senior citizens) have the iPhone. I would think that its cool factor has got to die off soon. Time will tell.
@UndergroundWire, this reminds me of a quote from Yogi Berra, speaking of a once-cool NY restaurant: "No one goes there anymore. It's too crowded." But for Steve Jobs, COOL was the ability to deliver fantastic design to everyone in earth who could appreciate it, at a fair price. I agree. Just because Miles become amazingly popular doesn't make his music any less cool.
The thing people fail to realize is that the iPhone is more than being cool. It's an inter generational device that anyone can use. Coolness be damned it just works. My 55&56 year old Aunty and mother are getting iPhones now because they want functionally phones that work. I took the to the store to play with droids before they bought and both were disinterested. Ease of use and functionality are important. My aunt who doesn't own a computer is brand new to smartphones, and she is really liking her new phone and finding it easy to use. My mom loved how easy it was to book her flight to Cali on my iPhone, the ease of use and typing. Coming from a blackberry she is happy to make the switch. In the last 6 months I've gotten 4 new people using he iPhone and they love it!
I have been an iPhone user for 5 phone generations now. But I held in my hand a Galaxy SIII this week and was thoroughly impresses, wishing it were an Apple product. But Apple now is doing the safe upgrade strategy, don't want to piss off grandmas by changing the UI, or making the screen usably larger and having 9 year olds complain about not being able to reach. And because of the costs and business practices that have alienated carriers, heavy enterprise users like me no longer get annual early upgrades without paying $449, even though my monthly bill is north of $200. So as the autumn arrives, I await the Microsoft Surface, and if it delivers what I think it will, not only will my iPad be for sale, but when my contract expires, by then I will most likely opt for a Windows 8 phone and go 100% windows integration. Lots of friends and coworkers are in my same mode of thinking. Time to move on.
"IF", the biggest word in the English language.
It WILL happen...they said the same about XBOX.
They also said the same about the Zune....
You got a point there, lol
Yes because MS has such a strong history of innovation in the mobile space. WP7 flopped hard and MS shafted every user they managed to get when they announced WP8 wouldnt run on any existing handsets. At least Apple gives you 2+ years of OS updates with your hardware.
Yeah and what does android give you in software updates? About 6 months to a year if you're lucky!
SP1 is already being worked on for the Surface. Full OS = lots of patching.
@Hammer, if I may offer some observations -- I own an iPhone 4s (biz), Samsung Galaxy sIII (personal) and my wife has a Nokia Lumia 900 (business). Guess which phone impresses me most? The Nokia, because it's a gorgeous piece of design and engineering with the most advanced OS in the world. My technophobe spouse hated iPhones, Androids and Blackberries, but adores this. Unfortunately, the app selection stops me from considering the Lumia 900 for business use. It just doesn't have enough of the apps I need every day from my Apple gear. Now to the Samsung. Like you, I also have wished that my iPhone could have the same awesome, 4.8 inch display as my Samsung sIII. I keep reaching for this Android phone because it's so fun to look at. But again, the Android app selection, uh, inhales mightily -- if you're a business user. You can customize the crap out of it and make NFC tags, and you cannot beat the alarm sounds on the Samsung, but when it comes to PDF markup software or WebDAV clients or word processing or voice-to-text, yes, there are a very few apps, but the experience stinks. It takes me two or three times as long on my Samsung to do something that's duck soup on iOS. It's better than it used to be, but I'm not ready to swap my iPhone 4s for the Galaxy sIII -- not for business use. Now to the iPhone. First, I think Apple made a very serious mistake to stick to the "Seldon Plan" in the last two update cycles. They should have rolled out iPhone 5 LAST October, and they could have -- but sales were so strong they felt they didn't need to. As a result, they let Samsung lap them with the Galaxy sIII, which STILL feels a generation ahead of iPhone 5. I strongly feel they need to come up with a more ambitious, riskier design next year -- NOT just iPhone 5s -- or they may see a sales decline in fourth-quarter 2013. More on that later, elsewhere. But right now, I just ordered a fully loaded iPhone 5 for my business, because it's going to be the smoothest, most powerful, most app-laden phone On the market, and will easily pay for itself in enhanced productivity. PLUS its AirPlay capabilities really make it untouchable right now for people like me with AirPlay-capable equipment and Apple TVs. My Samsung has several apps that aspire to be AirPlay compatible, but so far they have proved so tempermental as to be useless. If Apple licensed the technology to them, I have to wonder if they secretly crippled it. Not
Iikely, but sure feels that way. So there you have it. YES, the Nokia has a better OS, YES, the Samsung Galaxy S3 has a bigger, more colorful screen. And I enjoy them both -- LOVE the s3, actually -- but for now, I need the apps and ecosystem that only the iPhone can offer. Next year? Who knows. Android is catching up on the app front and if Google can come up with a worthy competitor to AirPlay, the whole game could change. I kind of doubt it will. But I dearly hope Apple will put as much effort into the NEXT iPhone as Samsung will with its Galaxy sIV. If not, well, I'll just reach for a different device. We don't really depend on Apple as much as they do on us. And they know it.
@kingofkats - thanks for the info and I agree with your comments. Like lots of others I just liked it better when Apple pushed the envelope more. I'm just really bored with the stale old springboard and phone form factor. I feel like I'm running DOS.
I rofl-ed so hard when I got to the Lamborghini photos.
Some Porsche picts would have been even more on point! The 911 is still the sports car to beat for many, and yet it's looks haven't changed from the beginning.
http://www.imore.com/saturday-fun-leaks-16x9-iphone-video Seems this article was right, 3 years later lol
LOL, nice find.
that's probably because 3 years ago Apple was already designing the iPhone 5
People are so dumb... The revolution occurred with the Apple II, the Mac, IPod, iTunes, Apple Retail, App Store, IPhone and iPad. Yet for many years Apple has EVOLVED many of these products, making them better and better until new technology allows for another revolution. Like the iMac before it and like iPod and every other Apple Revolutionary product, the launch of the iPhone in 2007 changed the landscape of smartphones forever. Now it is time for the market to grow and mature until technology allows for another amazing innovation that will enhance people's lives. hopefully... Apple can be the trailblazer in taking us down that path and like all of their previous revolutions, impact consumers in a positive way.
Bingo. Improve your product that sells. When the time comes someone (not just Apple) will come up with a product that amazes and sets a new standard. What else can you ask for from the iphone 5 these days?
Rather than reinventing the iPhone, Apple should add something new, like they did when they added iPod, then iPhone, then iPad. There are so many things for the taking: -Get into automotive entertainment. Like Ford using "powered by Microsoft", iOS based car entertainment&communications could revolutionize many things.
- Revive Apple TV by buying TiVo. TiVo is still the leader in providing TV when you need it, apple could build on top of this to own the living room. Run apps on the living room box, make it the game console/home entertainment server/home automation server/etc. Simplify everything in the living room: TV, receiver, remote, etc. Right now this stuff is still so last century.
- Buy a major online company, such as Facebook or Yahoo. With the drag of the devices, this could be a powerhouse and rival Google.
- Provide a hybrid iPad - Laptop combination. If Apple doesn't, this will be the way Microsoft will hurt them. Also a subtle way to draw in those iOS lover/MacOS haters, like myself.
- Reinvent iTunes. Such a looser software compared to iOS.
Actually apple is involved in the automotive side, Toyota uses the iPhone for their Bespoke system
Come on Rene, if you are gonna use photos of other phones as reference points, don't manipulate the photos like you have. You clearly show the iP4 and iP4 as being the same size and then showing the iPhone 5 as larger, which it is. On the other hand, when it comes to the One X and the S3, you have them displayed as they are the same sizes as all the previous phones. The One X is 12mm taller than the Thunderbolt and the S3 is 11mm taller than the S2. My problem with the "Bored Now" is that yes, the new iPhone does look very similar to the previous two years of iphones but not only that, is the lack of things they have been holding back on. Many say NFC is a waste, I disagree but it WOULD of been nice if it was included. Apple knew they should of added another radio so CDMA iPhones could talk + surf. but I'm sure they are waiting for the 5S to give individuals those features when they should been included in the 5. It's all the little things that add up that give many people a bad taste in their mouth about Apple.
I wish they'd included an espresso maker. Honestly, that would have changed my life more than NFC :-/
Thanks for the smartass remark.
Or maybe some hair clippers for your monstrous eye brows Rene, you loser!
That was very rude. Who is the loser.
The funny thing is, if Apple makes it, we all know you'd buy it.
People's expectations towards Apple are insane. I keep making fun of Tim Cook with how many times he uses "Only Apple" on stage but that's why! That "boring" situation doesn't happen with other companies. People want to be wowed every year, maybe even every 6 months if we include the iPad! Man, it can't be done that quickly!
It's still too early, but I can see Cook resigning or changing positions within Apple in the next few years.
So what happens when they feel they have achieved that 2005 goal?
They will promote it as the best iPhone ever! Oh wait a minute, they just did that.
So, to counteract the complete lack of excitement, we're sticking with the 7 year old design theory eh? Perfection was achieved in 2005, now we just have to get there? I wonder what would be the excuse if this "purple" nonsense had never come up at the lawsuit. BTW, project purple looks exactly like the iPhone 4, not the iPhone 5, so we can argue that inevitability was achieved two years ago, and now we're into the muddy waters of the post Jobs era.
It's still the best looking out of all the other even after 3 variants. The s3 is ugly. The lumina is nicely designed and the one x is not something I'll aww over. I think people will have a different view once they have the phone in their hands and get to see the detail and work that went in to this phone. It's not Just a bunch of plastic pieces put together.
With the Samsung phones you can very much tell they have different design language yes they are slabs but they are defireent shape to one another have different screen size different button size and the design language of the s3 is all curves with no straight line of course putting them as a flat pic it is hard to tell. The Iphone 5 from the the front looks just like a taller 4 and 4s where as the galaxy phones and HTC phones from the front are obviously have to different design... All the lumias look the same too.
Nokia is just starting to get their feet wet, Give them time. They'll be a great alternative to the horrible warranty and customer support Samsung provides.
Taz89, Lighten up. I love my wife and see things in her perhaps nobody else will notice. Same thing with you and the sIII. I agree it's cool my sIII is all curves, but don't expect others to notice. And they don't. Not even friends who hold it and play with it.
The Iphone 5 looks good but I think it's elongated shape looks wired and if they had kept it similar aspect as the 4 and 4s it would look much nicer... So far everyone I know they have said the stretched out Iphone doesn't look right.
Finally why are the galaxy phones made to look like they are all the same size when they clearly are not... See how the Iphones show there correct size to one another but the rest they resized so to be the same size lol
You don't know why? All you have to do is look at who wrote the article. Rene has become one of those writers (and I use that term loosely) that has become laughable to read. Unfortunately, nobody in the other Mobile Nations sites have set him straight because they are too nice to embarrass him.
I think the article was making a facetious point and y'all ate it up as fact. Point is as much as the iPhone is being called boring, other manufacturers haven't changed much either but they're called exciting. Stop trolling and get a grip.
Exactly what is being said. All of those other "Great" cell phones have basically minimally changed (hardware wise) since the conception of its original flagship phone. The iPhone was created. It was a hit. It took what was "imperfect" about it, and changed it. etc etc etc. The iPhone 5 will be the hottest phone ever released in more ways than one. I've owned an android top of the line phone. I was quickly bored. I rooted it. I became bored. I switched to Apple. I have been forever happy. Was the 4s a HIT!! No--- it wasnt GAME CHANGING... but it was successful. We should all expect a 5s--- which will basically be faster.. 5 is the realest. Anything else is clown music
The 4S was a hit to me because it was the first iPhone on Sprint. I waited a long time to get an iPhone on Sprint. Got rid of my Evo and made the switch, haven't regretted it one bit. The whole iOS vs. Android argument is BS. If you want more functionality with iOS you jailbreak, the same thing happens on Android, they just call it rooting. Some people will not buy anything Apple, I can understand that. I held that same sentiment as well, until I purchased a MBP some years ago. All the whining and back and forth is useless. If you don't like a company, don't support them. It just so happens that a lot of people buy Apple products and support them, they all can't be sheep (I'm no sheep).
Perhaps apple should take some notes from Tony Stark, and Stark Expo.
Its like saying a TV set is boring. The most important thing about a TV is the movies/shows. The most important thing about the iPhone is using its apps (including the phone app). I used Android phones with "exciting" widgets running on top of live wallpaper. The only excitement that caused was the phones constantly crashing, running out of battery in a few hours, and being slow to respond. After switching to the elegant, easy-to-use interface of iPhone, I can finally enjoy more and better apps without crashes or lag or confusion.
love how rene did not choose to show the back of all the other phones but did for the iphones. if anything, the back design are vital components of what consumers wish on a phone for they wish to show to people what device they are using. the person above has a point. design usage is similar to its purpose on tvs. all have the basic color pattern and shape yet you do not see tv companies suing each other for infrignments on squares shapes. as for the previous poster's statement on widgets, how about u dont use widgets if u dont want to bud? to criticize android for how u use ur phone is like criticizing ur car for how u drive.
Excellent point (on all counts). But let me add, the iPhone is good for people like the previous poster's statement. Some people just need boundaries and limitations. Kinda like kids do.
I think that the phone itself, the hardware, is fine. Its still one of the best if not the best looking phone out there. Its the software that's getting boring.
Yeah I actually like the two tone look. And I am a die-hard Android user. But iOS it self has not really changed. At least Windows and Android have changed the UI (for the better).
I think the iPhone could use some widgets and NFC. I find it strange that their Mac line has widgets, but their iOS line doesn't...
Those two HAD to make UI changes, the status quo wasn't working with the introduction of iOS. Android was a copy and not matured in it's introduction. Both Windows and Android have gotten better, but it wasn't out of progress but necessity to remain competitive.
Tell me how hot the back gets when watching movies or playing games.
I hate phones that get hot.
The answers are always the same, if the I-Phone doesn't have the ability to do something it is no big deal I can live without it, Apple didn't feel it was time or whatever, If the I-Phone has something others do not have it is always ground breaking innovation and they are just looking into the future. Smoke and Mirrors, Apple spent all their $$$$ on litigation because there wasn't any innovation. Still waiting to see just how big this miracle battery is, 8 hrs on LTE, ought to be at least 3000 mAh. Maybe 3300 mAh.
Could you not level a similar accusation against........?
Samsung spent all their $$$$ on copying because there wasn't any innovation. Might not be true now but it certainly was. Kind of makes Apple right to sue, no?
Seems like after all this time that Apple could have text wrap on the iPhones. I just don't understand.
This x10000
sorry, it's not without it's strengths like adding lte and a biggers screen but honestly, i was stunned when the 4s didn't have a 4 inch screen and a new design. A year later to still not have a new design and largely playing catch up with android with things like maps to me is truly not that special. surely not enough for me to ditch my 4s as much as i'd like lte. But my 4s was acceptable because i was coming from a pre minus, a phone by the way that for years did exactly the same thing: release pretty much the same hardware with very little difference except a little larger and absolutely nothing softwarewise that wowed anyone but the webos addicted geekset. touch to share? yeah that wasn't something i was asking for. lol. regardless i'm not in favor of change for change sake, but when it comes to ios i'm a big surprised we haven't seen more and better apple made apps. i think navigation looks cool but the podcast app is short on features and a not very intuitive design. And i can't believe the camera isn't the equal, featurewise, of camera plus. my two cents.
The only things shared between the 4 and the 4S are the screen and the case - does something have to look different to be different? Do you think every DVD is the same movie?
Sales will speak for themselves. Though appearance has not changed much on the outside other than getting stretched out and the backing..... as boring as everyone may one to call it... I personally wasn't crazy about the 2 tone at first, but it has grown on me and I actually like alot. As for changes LOL.... well we know a couple things.... Samsung defintely made some changes to their phones in the last couple years (copying iphone). So many tablets and phones want to be like Apple's. The biggest of all.... Why change your phone when it is outselling just about everything out there.... Apple had a vision on the iphone and each year though it may look similar, they try to perfect it. Apple will know when it is time for cosmetic change.... and that will be when sales start declining. Right now, sales are only getting bigger.... WHY CHANGE?
Favorite Buffy quote. You just become my favorite person!
having an iphone either teaches someone to be content or will constantly frustrate you an drive you mad and while i wish the design had been changed i feel like whenever i get my hands on one i will be satisfied... at least until the next one :)
@Rene Ritchie, bingo. You had me howling by the last photo. I truly think the only people who care about year-to-year spec changes are tech writers, geeks and product developers-- but I also gotta say that I think Samsung has been testing more different designs and features than Apple ever could, given its mission. This may either drain Samsung dry and fatigue their user base -- OR give them a critical advantage. I find it inconceivable that Apple could be drawn into an arms race with Samsung, but at the same time I wonder if this means they'll lose the war. Time will tell. We consumers benefit either way. But I do think Apple at very least must accelerate their development cycles, so as to bring us a NEW design every year instead of every other year. Otherwise, next year I'll probably opt out of buying iPhone 5s and treat myself to a truly new, probably 5.1 inch Galaxy sIV.
What a bunch of cry-babies - "Apple delivered the best mobile phone ever but they didn't provide some neat widget or feature that makes the tech media folks scream in ecstasy". Tech media types live in their own little bubble - you guys don't measure innovation but rather you measure some sort of adolescent desire for change-for-change-sake. Why don't you stop being so narrow minded and selfish, and start doing your job by providing useful and insightful commentary to your readers/clients??
Re: "...the iPhone looks pretty much the same this year as it did last." Exactly Rene. That's what people who have never used an iPhone keep telling themselves. As they try desperately to ignore the rave reviews, the industry-leading user experience, the massive content management infrastructure, and the record-breaking sales. Dismissing iPhone 5 because it looks like it evolved from the 4/4S is like saying "Nah, that's just a tiny little iceberg. We'll sail right past it." iPhone is just the tip of the iceberg. The hardware is the easiest component of the whole end-user experience. The hardest part to get right, the part that will sink you as a would-be competitor, is all below the water. The massive app and accessories ecosystem. The content deals. The content management infrastructure. The seamless integration. It's enormous, it's extremely difficult to cultivate and develop over time, and it all supports Apple's devices. Happy sailing.
That taller screen, slimmer body and less weight is gonna feel different in my hand for some time.
I just wanted to chime in to say awesome picture with Willow from Buffy The Vampire Slayer! Oh, and yes, I was bored, too! That's why I bought an unlocked Samsung Galaxy Nexus from Google Play about 2 months ago because I knew the iPhone 5 leaks were real. The GNex is AWESOME! The only thing I can say I don't like about it is there is no "Undo" in Android's OS's and the battery life blows. Other than that, I enjoy it immensely. And just so you all know, I've owned an iPhone from the 3G to the 4, and you can check my history on these forums if you don't believe me.
Wow. Rene you couldn't bring forward a Better Point of View. But I'm always happy when people start commenting after every Apple releases But the Sales shut all the crap.
I actually like the design. I'm happy they stayed with a similar design (new polished edges, new 4 inch screen, thinner screen, metal back, with some glass, centered camera, new charging port, new speakers, ear phone jack on the bottom. I LIKE IT!
Apple's design quality is second to none. They are timeless pieces of industrial design art. Simple improving on the next, like stones sharpening stones. Each has made huge strides in the mobile device's demanding masses.
Apparently you've not seen the new Lumia line from Nokia. You've obviously also not seen a Wired.com poll that showed approx 13,000 out of 25,000 respondents choose the Lumia 920 over the IPhone. Read the comments as well, very telling.
I do own two Ipads and love them.
Now having said that, if the iPhone is soooo good why is Jail breaking so popular? Seems like if you have to JB the phone then there is something fundamentally missing from the OS. I'm just saying. It also seems like it's way easier to JB and iPhone than it is to Root a Android phone and it's simply not needed on a Windows Phone.
Actually it is typically much harder on iPhone, and it is a small percentage (a few million iPhones are jailbroken). As for Windows phone, it hasn't been out long enough for rooting to become popular, but there are definitely tools out there.
It's worth mention that galaxies pics are not correctly scaled. Actually there's a much bigger difference in size and shapes between Galaxy S and Galaxy S3 than showed in the article. http://tinypic.com/r/70hxz6/6
It must be human nature to want whoever or whatever is at the top to fall. It's like Michael Jackson trying to follow up "Thriller" and finding out people will never be satisfied. Apple has left the door cracked open though but I doubt anybody will kick it in.
Whenever I am bored I go to gizmotakeout and rent a new gadget. BTW the Nokia Lumias have an awesome design, the Note is also just awesome in terms of functionality.
Here's the thing- The "minor tweak" approach works for the fanboys and fangirls because they will buy the product regardless of what it is or what it does. If Apple intends to continue to grow as a company, they are going to have to attract new customers who aren't fanboys or fan girls and that just isn't going to happen long term, with the minor tweak approach. How many 4S owners sold their 4S's and are paying full price for an iPhone 5? No carrier is doing annual upgrades any more, so unless you're contract is up for renewal, you're not getting a subsidized iPhone 5. Fanboys and fan girls might part with that much cash for an iPhone 5, but the average consumer isn't going to do that. So Apple will eventually have to realize that the incremental upgrade approach isn't going to continue to provide growth and at some point, it will be shareholders demanding innovation in order to spur continued growth. Apple can ignore what consumers want, but they have a duty to pay attention to what their shareholders want. Stale design isn't going to cut it, long term.
Hm I had only signed up for the iphone5 competition but you do make an interest blog...
And I love this one, although I would like to say the idea to make the iPhone's screen bigger was customer request and nothing else, and now I've already seen polls on "wether it's too big."
The great thing about iPhone screen size is that, people who don't want a 4" screen can stick with a 3GS, 4, or 4S. I think that having the iOS6 software bridges the gap and makes the necessity of getting an iPhone 5 much less. That is, unless the Sapphire over the camera is the real attraction. >:-)
Nice picture of and reference to Buffy the Vampire Slayer lol
I agree with your article 100% Rene, but I wonder this...With the change in staffing that apple has had recently, mainly Scott Forstall no longer in charge of iOS development and Tim Cook replacing Steve Jobs, do you think we're liable to see some major changes to the iPhone and/or iOS 7? This would be the first iPhone and iOS release with either Scott or Steve working on the project at all, assuming they're not using any previously brainstormed ideas from either of them. Also how does Jony Ives play into it? If I remember correctly, he's stepping up and doing more since Scott is gone. If you just listen to any interview or video of Jony, you know he's a very intelligent person with a lot of great ideas under his belt. How much could all of that come into play? That's what I'm curious to know.
Thank you for the "West Wing" reference.


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Morning Minutes: July 12
Word of the Day
asyndeton uh-SIN-di-ton (noun) the omission of conjunctions; the omission of cross references, especially from a catalog. - www.dictionary.com
Website of the Day
Popurls presents the highest-voted stories, photos and videos from popular social media sites and news sites in one page for easy consumption. Categories include Reddit, Flickr and Digg.
Number to Know
200 million: The Rolling Stones, ranked fourth on Rolling Stone magazine's "100 Greatest Artists of All Time" list, has sold more than 200 million albums.
This Day in History
July 12, 1962: The Rolling Stones perform their first concert, at the Marquee Club in London.
Today's Featured Birthday
Richard Simmons (65)
Daily Quote
"Number one, like yourself. Number two, you have to eat healthy. And number three, you've got to squeeze your buns. That's my formula." - Richard Simmons