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RIP Sally Ride


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It was kinda public, in that they didnt hide it, but they never cared to "announce" it because why should they?

 

The only reason we should care, is this: http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/548987_3980635831097_1077822130_n.jpg

 

I wanted to point out, in response to that "Sally Ride's lesbian life partner doesn't get federal death benefits!" crap that it has nothing to do with sexual orientation. The needlessly complex rules governing such boil down, in Ms. Ride's case, to the simple fact that she has 9 years of government service, which wasn't enough to convey death benefits on any life partner, gay or straight.

 

Thanks, dev. You can close the thread again.

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Is benefits really the issues at the heart of it (hetero vs. homo recognition)? We are already going broke as a country... That is why I feel NO (homo & hetero) relationships should be recognized for tax purposes.

 

And DC... Gov't service is vested after 3 years. What benefits would she get? Anyway, in a marriage... All they have to be is married for 9 months to get survivor benefits.

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Is benefits really the issues at the heart of it (hetero vs. homo recognition)? We are already going broke as a country... That is why I feel NO (homo & hetero) relationships should be recognized for tax purposes.

 

And DC... Gov't service is vested after 3 years. What benefits would she get? Anyway, in a marriage... All they have to be is married for 9 months to get survivor benefits.

 

So when you pre-decease you wife do you want her to pay taxes on your IRA she inherited or should she enjoy it's tax deferred status?

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do you have a reference for that? I am not disputing it..i simply want to read it and convey that to people that are up in arms over this 'abomination'

 

I wanted to point out, in response to that "Sally Ride's lesbian life partner doesn't get federal death benefits!" crap that it has nothing to do with sexual orientation. The needlessly complex rules governing such boil down, in Ms. Ride's case, to the simple fact that she has 9 years of government service, which wasn't enough to convey death benefits on any life partner, gay or straight.

 

Thanks, dev. You can close the thread again.

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Is benefits really the issues at the heart of it (hetero vs. homo recognition)? We are already going broke as a country... That is why I feel NO (homo & hetero) relationships should be recognized for tax purposes.

 

And DC... Gov't service is vested after 3 years. What benefits would she get? Anyway, in a marriage... All they have to be is married for 9 months to get survivor benefits.

 

 

do you have a reference for that? I am not disputing it..i simply want to read it and convey that to people that are up in arms over this 'abomination'

 

I had to dig through several documents from OPM. Try googling "OPM FERS," which should get you to some.

 

Although EII is partially right...at the risk of oversimplifying, survivor benefits don't vest until much later than employee benefits, depending on length of service, age, sometimes nearness to retirement, the benefits program they're enrolled in. As near as I can tell, Ride's government employment was a year short of the point where survivor death benefits convey to a spouse, which makes it a pretty much irrelevant argument.

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yeah i was on that site briefly but only saw the 18 month of credible service and 9 month of marriage criteria...i'll look deeper. thanks.

 

I had to dig through several documents from OPM. Try googling "OPM FERS," which should get you to some.

 

Although EII is partially right...at the risk of oversimplifying, survivor benefits don't vest until much later than employee benefits, depending on length of service, age, sometimes nearness to retirement, the benefits program they're enrolled in. As near as I can tell, Ride's government employment was a year short of the point where survivor death benefits convey to a spouse, which makes it a pretty much irrelevant argument.

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Wow :blink:

 

First American woman in space. A NASA Pioneer

 

I figured this was someone whose accomplishments and contributions we could all cheer and celebrate

 

But then this quickly devolves into hating on the Tea Party and arguing Gay Rights

 

Forget I mentioned it guys.

 

:censored:

 

Well, this wouldn't even be a topic if she had come out during her lifetime, instead of posthumously. Seems like it was poor planning to me. Wouldn't you want all the talk be about all she accomplished and what a role model for girls she was at this time?

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Great quote, I hate when freedoms and liberties are taken away for our safety. The most dangerous trend in the US today. That and the tea party.

Everything you said was great......except for those last five words. <_<

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I had to dig through several documents from OPM. Try googling "OPM FERS," which should get you to some.

 

Although EII is partially right...at the risk of oversimplifying, survivor benefits don't vest until much later than employee benefits, depending on length of service, age, sometimes nearness to retirement, the benefits program they're enrolled in. As near as I can tell, Ride's government employment was a year short of the point where survivor death benefits convey to a spouse, which makes it a pretty much irrelevant argument.

 

She might not have been FERS... She could have been CSRS... FERS came in around 1984... That is where the federal employee pays into Social Security and 1.5% into their pension. CSRS employees do not pay into SS and kick in about 7.5% into their pension.

 

She was with the class of 1978 going into astronaut training... I take all the trainees become gov't employees... ??

 

Now... Unless she converted to FERS, which I think is unwise for CSRS employees to do... You can always work somewhere else to get your (which she did) SS credits.

 

I bet she was CSRS... You can go to OPM's website and look up the FAQ's... I thought the minimum for survivor benny's was only 9 months (for FERS employees)...

 

Anway... She paid into it... Either the 1.5% or the 7ish%...

Edited by ExiledInIllinois
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yeah i was on that site briefly but only saw the 18 month of credible service and 9 month of marriage criteria...i'll look deeper. thanks.

 

Now I can't find the myriad charts and spreadsheets I found yesterday (I may have to be at work to see them)...but I did find this now:

 

http://www.opm.gov/retire/pre/election/benefits/survivor.htm#top

 

Scroll about two-thirds of the way down.

 

She might not have been FERS... She could have been CSRS... FERS came in around 1984... That is where the federal employee pays into Social Security and 1.5% into their pension. CSRS employees do not pay into SS and kick in about 7.5% into their pension.

 

She was with the class of 1978 going into astronaut training... I take all the trainees become gov't employees... ??

 

Now... Unless she converted to FERS, which I think is unwise for CSRS employees to do... You can always work somewhere else to get your (which she did) SS credits.

 

I bet she was CSRS... You can go to OPM's website and look up the FAQ's... I thought the minimum for survivor benny's was only 9 months (for FERS employees)...

 

Anway... She paid into it... Either the 1.5% or the 7ish%...

 

But she's a FORMER employee. Important difference. A current employee, I believe you're right.

 

And I looked at both FERS and CSRS (not the OPM FAQ, either...I had the actual spreadsheets). All the numbers I saw, at her age and with her years of service, having left when she did, survivor benefits would not have conveyed in any case.

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Now I can't find the myriad charts and spreadsheets I found yesterday (I may have to be at work to see them)...but I did find this now:

 

http://www.opm.gov/retire/pre/election/benefits/survivor.htm#top

 

Scroll about two-thirds of the way down.

 

 

 

But she's a FORMER employee. Important difference. A current employee, I believe you're right.

 

And I looked at both FERS and CSRS (not the OPM FAQ, either...I had the actual spreadsheets). All the numbers I saw, at her age and with her years of service, having left when she did, survivor benefits would not have conveyed in any case.

 

Ooops... Fair enough... I keep on thinking she was still working for the fed. She branched off and formed her own company, right?

 

Anway... Are astronauts considered civil service or uniformed military (even if they weren't in the uniformed service prior)?

Edited by ExiledInIllinois
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I saw Sally Ride give a speech in San Diego a number of years back. She was and is an inspiration especially to children wondering and dreaming about what they are going to do for a job when they become adults. The thing I remember from her speech is how she casually responded to an ad in a student newspaper that led to her eventually becoming an astronaut.

 

Pancreatic cancer is vicious. Once diagnosed, the remaining time is short.

 

RIP Sally Ride.

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I saw Sally Ride give a speech in San Diego a number of years back. She was and is an inspiration especially to children wondering and dreaming about what they are going to do for a job when they become adults. The thing I remember from her speech is how she casually responded to an ad in a student newspaper that led to her eventually becoming an astronaut.

 

Pancreatic cancer is vicious. Once diagnosed, the remaining time is short.

 

RIP Sally Ride.

 

So true. I wonder if she consumed a lot of high frucose corn syrup?... I know it sounds funny, but they are finding the link between it and pancreatic cancer. It scares the **** out of me because I love that crap! Anyway... She was an astronaut and seemed fit... I find it hard that was her weakness?

 

As I reach for a Dr. Pepper...

 

RIP...

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Ooops... Fair enough... I keep on thinking she was still working for the fed. She branched off and formed her own company, right?

 

Anway... Are astronauts considered civil service or uniformed military (even if they weren't in the uniformed service prior)?

 

Most astronauts nowadays are civil service. I know in olden days some would have been considered uniformed military (e.g. John Glenn was a Marine when he went into space - active or reserve, I don't know), and some even today are retired military (pilots and commanders in particular). But most mission specialists - and most anyone who came through the shuttle training program - have a GS rating.

 

I saw Sally Ride give a speech in San Diego a number of years back. She was and is an inspiration especially to children wondering and dreaming about what they are going to do for a job when they become adults. The thing I remember from her speech is how she casually responded to an ad in a student newspaper that led to her eventually becoming an astronaut.

 

Pancreatic cancer is vicious. Once diagnosed, the remaining time is short.

 

RIP Sally Ride.

 

Usually because it's caught so late. Until you get to stage 4, the main symptom is back pain...which is also the main symptom of being middle-aged. By the time you get any other symptoms, you probably have weeks left.

 

She lived more than a year with it. That's an eternity in pancreatic cancer terms. They must have caught it early.

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So true. I wonder if she consumed a lot of high frucose corn syrup?... I know it sounds funny, but they are finding the link between it and pancreatic cancer. It scares the **** out of me because I love that crap! Anyway... She was an astronaut and seemed fit... I find it hard that was her weakness?

 

As I reach for a Dr. Pepper...

 

RIP...

 

I can't stand that crap. I very rarely drink sweetened sodas. I pretty much only drink soda water....and wine....and beer.

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