Random Thoughts That Don't Deserve Their Own Thread Go Here

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by Passacaglia

Is there some other advantage? I feel like "so everybody gets to hear it" is a pretty lame reason. This happens to me despite being in the car like 15-20 minutes at most any given day (and other days I'm not in the car at all). So the people listening for several hours a day must be really suffering. It's frustrating to hear that a station could have a good mix of whatever, but intentionally choose not to. Why does everybody need to hear Night Moves *right now*? They've heard it before, and they'll hear it again.

I attribute it to lazy programming tbh. It's supported by volumes of research & focus groups that I don't necessarily believe is interpreted correctly, indeed it's almost the opposite of my own programming philosophy ... although even I have worked "clocks" (the way your music is rotated by categories) that did some of it. The songs you hear most? They're the ones that tested best, at least in oldies/gold/classic based formats. I was never a big "testing" guy, as I (and my mentors) considered the overall sound/vibe/feel of the station to be more important than any one song, tiny subset of songs.

So once a song plays (or in the case of modern formats, plays X number of times) a song is considered sorta ... used up. So you maximize the use of the song. For example, songs that play between 6a-12n are often repeated in the same order (or at least songs from specific categories within your library) from 12m-6a ... because the odds of the same person hearing them is limited but you get max benefit from the most people hearing it.

Depending on the station ownership group and the exact format they're using, I've heard of some libraries for "classic" stations being as narrow as 600 songs. You play roughly 12x24 or 288 songs a day. Meaning that those libraries are turning over completely within just over 2 days. So by "reusing" songs, you can stretch that out some.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by Passacaglia

That makes sense. I guess my question is, where do you draw the line, and how has that line changed (or not changed) over the years?

For the record, I was born in 1977, and because I think a lot of this is regional, I grew up in Grand Rapids, Michigan. In the late 80s, there were certainly classic rock stations then, and you'd hear plenty of late 60s stuff there (Steppenwolf, Buffalo Springfield, etc). Meanwhile, Elvis was in a position the Beatles seem to be in now -- you knew he was a big deal, but you'd never hear him on the radio. Now, here we are 35 years later, and the needle has moved...five years? I looked at the most recent songs on WXRT here in Chicago. They've played Misty Mountain Hop (1971), Killer Queen (1974), Wild Horses (1971), mixed in among more modern stuff. I guess I don't get why the 70s don't get thrown in with the 60s in what you just said -- these songs are all over 50 years old.

It's actually part of their formatting (albeit in a creative way, I must admit). WXRT is actually not a rock station, it's officially Adult Album Alternative (or Triple A for short). They end up cutting a wider swath because they have, baked in, a sort of "be a little different" approach.

They're relative successful with it however never lose sight of the fact that they also exist to try to bleed audience away from The Drive, Q101, WLS FM and Rock 95 (all of which are owned by other companies). Bleeding even a fractional amount from The Drive in particular can be the different in who is #1 overall between them or WBBM-AM.

[Ksyrup]

Originally Posted by Ghost Econ

As someone who listens to pop music mostly due to having a 15 year old daughter, it's been a pretty lackluster year for pop music. I was thinking of how much better pop music probably was 50 years ago, but then I looked at the 1974 year end chart. And holy shit, that was a terrible year for music.

If Bennie and the Jets is arguably the best song on the year end chart, then it's a damning indictment.

Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 1974 - Wikipedia

I'll admit I'm a sucker for 70s pop, even if it doesn't neatly fall into the Yacht Rock category, but there are plenty of songs on that list that I'd take over Bennie and the Jets:

Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
Band on the Run
Jet
Time In a Bottle
Hello It's Me
Radar Love
Rikki Don't Lose that Number
The Air That I Breathe

I suppose I'd put Bennie on the list, but it'd be below any of these songs.

I don't know how the volume of "good" songs from 1974 stacks up, but these are all songs that are still played today, a couple of which are considered great/timeless. I can't believe you'd pick Bennie over Yellow Brick Road just talking Elton John!

On a personal level, I've always loved Please Come to Boston. I'm happy that I hear this song fairly regularly on SXM The Bridge channel.

[Ghost Econ]

I'm burned out on Elton John. It hasn't quite reached The Police level of "I don't want to hear it again," but it's getting closer. Yellow Brick Road is a better song, but I'd rather hear the oddness of Bennie. Otherwise, I enjoy Band on the Run era Wings and Rikki is minor Dan. These being the strongest songs of the year pretty much proves it was an incredibly lackluster crop.

[Passacaglia]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

It's actually part of their formatting (albeit in a creative way, I must admit). WXRT is actually not a rock station, it's officially Adult Album Alternative (or Triple A for short). They end up cutting a wider swath because they have, baked in, a sort of "be a little different" approach.

They're relative successful with it however never lose sight of the fact that they also exist to try to bleed audience away from The Drive, Q101, WLS FM and Rock 95 (all of which are owned by other companies). Bleeding even a fractional amount from The Drive in particular can be the different in who is #1 overall between them or WBBM-AM.

So if I'm following this, the answer to "why 70s, but not 60s" is "because everyone else does?" I just looked at the Drive to see they're most recently played. Of course, they just played "Edge of Seventeen" half an hour ago (this song is by far the worst offender for songs I hear all the time inexplicably, it peaked at #11 for two weeks in 1982, but it's all over these stations). But it also includes Led Zeppelin's "The Ocean" (1973), Maybe I'm Amazed (1970), Steve Miller's "The Joker" (1973), and Fat Bottomed Girls (1978), Two Tickets to Paradise (1977), James Gang Rides Again Funk 49 (1970) and More Than a Feeling (1976). It's just weird that 1970 is the cutoff, and it's the cutoff for all the stations. (EDIT: Oh, they just played Killer Queen. They must have found out XRT played it earlier)

Like I said, these songs are 50 years old. You're telling me that there were stations in the 80s and 90s that played music from the 30s and 40s -- I don't recall that, but I was probably too young to have noticed. There seems to be a difference, though. Maybe it's just AM vs. FM. Maybe it's that DRV and XRT are top 10 stations here (although OTA radio is much more niche, i.e. geared toward older people, now).

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by Passacaglia

So if I'm following this, the answer to "why 70s, but not 60s" is "because everyone else does?" I just looked at the Drive to see they're most recently played. Of course, they just played "Edge of Seventeen" half an hour ago (this song is by far the worst offender for songs I hear all the time inexplicably, it peaked at #11 for two weeks in 1982, but it's all over these stations). But it also includes Led Zeppelin's "The Ocean" (1973), Maybe I'm Amazed (1970), Steve Miller's "The Joker" (1973), and Fat Bottomed Girls (1978), Two Tickets to Paradise (1977), James Gang Rides Again Funk 49 (1970) and More Than a Feeling (1976). It's just weird that 1970 is the cutoff, and it's the cutoff for all the stations. (EDIT: Oh, they just played Killer Queen. They must have found out XRT played it earlier)

Like I said, these songs are 50 years old. You're telling me that there were stations in the 80s and 90s that played music from the 30s and 40s -- I don't recall that, but I was probably too young to have noticed. There seems to be a difference, though. Maybe it's just AM vs. FM. Maybe it's that DRV and XRT are top 10 stations here (although OTA radio is much more niche, i.e. geared toward older people, now).

With the exception of Edge of 17, Ocean, and Amazed, the others are very much staples of every station of similar ilk in Atlanta. Chicago would be a lucrative enough market that individual -- rather than national -- song testing would be pretty viable, so not surprising to have similarties in the song selection across multiple stations/ownership groups. I mean, if it tested well locally for one, good testing would have it test well locally for another (and another and even another)

re: stations and ratings

These are simply the Persons 6+ numbers, average quarter hour audience, but that's what readily available to the general public and generally common sense let's us adjust mentally for narrower demos.

Drive edges WBBM for #1 in "November" (which is actually mostly October + first week of November). Lite FM & V103 are well back of that pair for #3 & #4. WLS-FM and country US 99 are #5 & #6. WXRT/Que Buena 105/101.9 The Mix are 7/8/9. Kiss 105 & WGN-AM are just behind in 10 & 11.

BUT ... that's AQH order. Let's also look at how they Cume. (that's cumulative listeners, how many people listened to the station at all during the ratings period, not the average of how many were listening at a given moment)

Lite FM is a dominant #1 in Cume, nearly 1.2 million total listeners.
WLS-FM 94.7 is 2nd with just under a million (giving me a good idea who the #2 workplace station in the market is).

3rd & 4th belong to CHR Kiss-FM and Hot AC 101.9 The Mix, both around 930k-935k

Drive doesn't show up until #5, at 890k. Next highest cumes are waaay down the AQH list, Alt Q101 and classic hip hop 104.3 Jamz and CHR WBBM-FM, all in the 700k-800k range.

[Ksyrup]

Originally Posted by cuervo72

Probably notable that some time ago XM changed its channel list and bounced 50s on 5 and 60s on 6 up to CH 72/73, renaming them 50s/60s "Gold." In their place came The Pulse ("Today's pop music") and PopRocks ("90s & 2000s pop/rock hits"). A nod to demographics, I'm sure.

I've been a subscriber long enough (actually on XM, pre-dating the merger) to remember 40s on 4 (not that I listened to it), which went the same way as 50s on 5 and 60s on 6 over the last 2 decades. 40s on 4 got dropped in 2010 but was reformatted into a 40s station on channel 71.

[cuervo72]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

I've been a subscriber long enough (actually on XM, pre-dating the merger) to remember 40s on 4

Same, though I did on occasion listen to it.

[Edward64]

My last 3 half-gallon milk went bad before the expiration date. Two were Kroger brand and third was Walmart brand.

Pretty sure I’ve not had 3 in a row (and 2 different places) before so think something is up. Anyone else notice this?

[Sweed]

Originally Posted by Edward64

My last 3 half-gallon milk went bad before the expiration date. Two were Kroger brand and third was Walmart brand.

Pretty sure I’ve not had 3 in a row (and 2 different places) before so think something is up. Anyone else notice this?

Is that a sell date or expiration date? In the mid-west the date on the jug is a "sell by" date and the milk should be good for 7 days past that, though most people here do think it must be old if it gets to the printed date. And before anyone says asks, yes the milk will normally be fine 7 days past date and sometimes more. If it's going bad before a "sell date" that is even worse.

I'd wager that both brands are bottled by the same dairy. So yeah, could be something in production or handling afterwards. Trucks not running cold enough, sitting out too long once unloaded at the store, before getting into the store's cooler etc. Are you going directly home from the store and getting it in your fridge? Or are you making one more stop on the way? Not saying it's your fault but extended periods out of refrigeration can have an affect on how long the milk stays "fresh".

One of the big dairies, Blue Bunny, sold it's milk plant to another company. Blue Bunny trucks were pristine and if you were around when one was opened up you were greeted by fresh air and a trailer with a floor you could eat off of. The new company? I doubt they wash out the trailers twice per year, nor the crates they put the milk in. I won't buy anything that has the companie's label on it. The foul air that comes out of their trailers will turn your stomach. Ie if it's something new and consistent there could be a suit somewhere cutting costs and reveling in his bonus.

[Ghost Econ]

Time has passed unbelievably slow this morning.

[Honolulu_Blue]

While I listen to a few a Ringer podcasts (less so lately) and only visit the website occasionally, they just launched a new website design and it's absolutely awful. Hideous. It's so over designed that it's jarring and feels unusable, even more so on mobile.

Poorly done.

[Ksyrup]

That spoiled milk comment made me think back to my first HS job at a grocery store. I did a bunch of jobs there, but one was stocking dairy. One time, we were alerted that our milk shipment would be delayed for a couple of days, so the manager grabbed me and another guy and a bottle of fingernail polish removal and told us to wipe off the numbers on the dates on the jugs.

Good times.

[Edward64]

Originally Posted by Sweed

Is that a sell date or expiration date? In the mid-west the date on the jug is a "sell by" date and the milk should be good for 7 days past that, though most people here do think it must be old if it gets to the printed date. And before anyone says asks, yes the milk will normally be fine 7 days past date and sometimes more. If it's going bad before a "sell date" that is even worse.

You are right, it is the "sell by" date. I typically try to buy milk about 10'ish days out. But my milk has been turning sour even before the sell by date. It may have happened once in a while, but never 3 times in a row which is super weird.

Are you going directly home from the store and getting it in your fridge? Or are you making one more stop on the way? Not saying it's your fault but extended periods out of refrigeration can have an affect on how long the milk stays "fresh".

I do pretty much buy groceries and go home. Sometimes I go to the asian grocery/Walmart store first but pick up milk at Krogers on my way back.

One of the big dairies, Blue Bunny, sold it's milk plant to another company. Blue Bunny trucks were pristine and if you were around when one was opened up you were greeted by fresh air and a trailer with a floor you could eat off of. The new company? I doubt they wash out the trailers twice per year, nor the crates they put the milk in. I won't buy anything that has the companie's label on it. The foul air that comes out of their trailers will turn your stomach. Ie if it's something new and consistent there could be a suit somewhere cutting costs and reveling in his bonus.

Don't keep us in suspense ... and the new company is?

[Edward64]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

That spoiled milk comment made me think back to my first HS job at a grocery store. I did a bunch of jobs there, but one was stocking dairy. One time, we were alerted that our milk shipment would be delayed for a couple of days, so the manager grabbed me and another guy and a bottle of fingernail polish removal and told us to wipe off the numbers on the dates on the jugs.

Wife's been buying Dave's Killer Bread (more grain, less calories but thinner cut). One thing we notice is the "sell by" date is consistently stamped in a darker area of the wrapper (see pic, in the black section), so it's impossible to tell what the date is. My suspicion is this is done intentionally.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by Edward64

Wife's been buying Dave's Killer Bread (more grain, less calories but thinner cut). One thing we notice is the "sell by" date is consistently stamped in a darker area of the wrapper (see pic, in the black section), so it's impossible to tell what the date is. My suspicion is this is done intentionally.

I suspect that you're right given their response to a complaint about that very thing almost two years ago (the date not being visible is NOT a store manager issue lol)


x.com

[Edward64]

Thanks, good to know its just not my Krogers & Walmart.

I think I'm going to move away from buying their stuff. There are other whole, multi-grain bread that are pretty good.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by Edward64

Thanks, good to know its just not my Krogers & Walmart.

I think I'm going to move away from buying their stuff. There are other whole, multi-grain bread that are pretty good.

It's also just another corporate-owned brand since 2015, which I didn't realize.
(I'm vaguely aware of its existence cause I know a couple people who swear by the stuff).

This random bit of digging into it caused me to realize that I haven't seen another Flowers Bakery product in quite a long time. They bought up John Derst (Savannah-based) about 10 years ago and it's supposedly still available around me but damned if I've seen (or noticed?) it in years. When that stuff first got wider distribution, it was probably the best straight up white bread I'd ever come across.

[dubb93]

I’ve had the worst car buying experience ever. I’ve made mistakes. They (family owned lot in business over 50 years) have made mistakes and tonight I’m just gonna have a few glasses of whiskey to drown it all out. I’m not sure where we go from here but I’m hoping I don’t end up having my credit ruined over this.

[Edward64]

Do companies that pay for pop up ads covering the middle of the page really think it's worthwhile? I'd think people eyes just glaze over, quickly X it out and think of it as an inconvenience.

Now, persistent ads that are at the sides are just as annoying, but I glance at them because they are usually something from my cookies.

[GrantDawg]

Originally Posted by dubb93

I’ve had the worst car buying experience ever. I’ve made mistakes. They (family owned lot in business over 50 years) have made mistakes and tonight I’m just gonna have a few glasses of whiskey to drown it all out. I’m not sure where we go from here but I’m hoping I don’t end up having my credit ruined over this.

There is so much shady that can happen in a car purchase. Love to know what happened. We should be car shopping for my son soon. I'm window shopping as well, but I doubt I'm buying anything.

[Passacaglia]

I feel like I can't look at a bag of mandarins without getting that song from Jesus Christ Superstar stuck in my head

[dubb93]

Originally Posted by GrantDawg

There is so much shady that can happen in a car purchase. Love to know what happened. We should be car shopping for my son soon. I'm window shopping as well, but I doubt I'm buying anything.

Went to 8 dealerships and browsed online and had a hard time finding a truck in the range we wanted so we increased our price range and found a 2020 with less than 100k miles on it at a local family run business so I went to test drive and look at it. It looked brand new and drove well but the check engine light was on. They had the mechanic come talk to me and he said when it came in he did new wheel bearings and assumed he just forgot to clear it but that if it is something new that it would be fixed before we finished the deal.

Those were the famous last words. Over the next 8 days I was promised the truck about 5 times only to be called the day of and told it wasn’t ready yet. Allegedly they were just fixing the front air dam and I know it was holidays and weekends so I was patient. Finally went to sign papers the light is off. Good I assume it’s fixed. As I’m pulling off the lot into the road I get the light again along with new warnings now and the truck starts to run like crap. So now they have the truck back, I don’t trust them at all, and I have a loaner. At this point I just really want out of the deal. The truck is already at the tip top of my price range and I just can’t trust it or them.

[dubb93]

I really think it’s a cam shaft issue that they tried to hide.

[Lathum]

Originally Posted by dubb93

Went to 8 dealerships and browsed online and had a hard time finding a truck in the range we wanted so we increased our price range and found a 2020 with less than 100k miles on it at a local family run business so I went to test drive and look at it. It looked brand new and drove well but the check engine light was on. They had the mechanic come talk to me and he said when it came in he did new wheel bearings and assumed he just forgot to clear it but that if it is something new that it would be fixed before we finished the deal.

Those were the famous last words. Over the next 8 days I was promised the truck about 5 times only to be called the day of and told it wasn’t ready yet. Allegedly they were just fixing the front air dam and I know it was holidays and weekends so I was patient. Finally went to sign papers the light is off. Good I assume it’s fixed. As I’m pulling off the lot into the road I get the light again along with new warnings now and the truck starts to run like crap. So now they have the truck back, I don’t trust them at all, and I have a loaner. At this point I just really want out of the deal. The truck is already at the tip top of my price range and I just can’t trust it or them.

Most states have lemon laws. I would contact whatever consumer protection agency handles that in your area and moving forward make sure all communication is in writting.

[Swaggs]

Originally Posted by Lathum

Most states have lemon laws. I would contact whatever consumer protection agency handles that in your area and moving forward make sure all communication is in writting.

This. Look into your state's lemon laws and do it soon, as some of them have shorter time periods to act than others.

https://www.kbb.com/car-advice/vehic...laws-by-state/

There are also cancellation periods for most states (often 3 days, so again need to act quickly). They will give you some shit and try to get you to stick with the deal, but if you escalate it, they will almost always let you out within a day or two (as financing usually doesn't go through for several days).

[GrantDawg]

That's sounds like my biggest fear in buying a used truck. They cost as much as a new truck SHOULD (new truck actually way more ridiculously prices), with the added risk you are just buying someone else's problem. Add to that, Georgia doesn't have a 3 day rule on vehicle purchases, and lemon laws here only apply to new vehicles. Buy a bad vehicle, and you are just screwed.

[Ghost Econ]

So a 14 foot inflatable snowman went up last week at a house on my street. There are 27 houses on my street. Today, a 6th house has put up the same snowman. I feel like I missed a memo or something.

[cuervo72]

Guess what song I heard on Classic Rewind driving home from dinner?

[JonInMiddleGA]

Had a "feel old" moment earlier this week.

I ended up explaining the origin of me using the phrase "you can pay me now ... or pay me later"

#FramOilFilters

[Passacaglia]

Originally Posted by cuervo72

Guess what song I heard on Classic Rewind driving home from dinner?

Let's hear it.

I've still got whines. In 15-20 minutes driving yesterday morning, I heard Guns N Roses on two different stations. Two days ago was a little weirder - 90s Aerosmith on two different stations (Living on the Edge and Don't Want to Miss a Thing)

[Ksyrup]

I always love when I hear the exact same song at the same time, from switching from The Bridge/Yacht Rock to Classic Rewind or Classic Vinyl or the 70s or 80s channels.

[Ghost Econ]

Originally Posted by cuervo72

Guess what song I heard on Classic Rewind driving home from dinner?

Chuck Berry Ding-A-Ling?

[cuervo72]

Originally Posted by Passacaglia

Let's hear it.

I've still got whines. In 15-20 minutes driving yesterday morning, I heard Guns N Roses on two different stations. Two days ago was a little weirder - 90s Aerosmith on two different stations (Living on the Edge and Don't Want to Miss a Thing)

Edge of Seventeen!

[dubb93]

Today they told me they would have a solid diagnostic and a plan on the truck. I go in there today after they don't answer my texts (the salesperson's preferred way of communicating, they are young, whatever,) and they tell me they sent the truck to another shop today(probably should have told me where my truck was, am I wrong that this is a little disturbing to just ship my truck off across town without touching base?) I get the information of the shop and realize it's someone's shop that I know, graduated with, and bought our other vehicle off of so I feel good about talking to them.

Long story short it's a blown head gasket for sure. He's still doing diagnostics and wouldn't be surprised if there are other related issues but states that it's a very solid truck otherwise and worth it for someone to fix.

I don't think that someone will be me though. I called on the loan and they say their hands are tied. The lot will have to give the money back but they are going to/probably already have made contact and see if they are willing to call this a wash. I may end up needing to hire a lawyer here and argue that the truck wasn't merchantable if they aren't willing to make things right. They are going to take a bath on all the repairs the truck has already had and is going to need. They would probably come out ahead just sending it off for auction and avoiding any sort of legal action or being on the hook for repairs.

[Lathum]

If you can't involve consumer protection agency start calling local media. They will eat this story up. Maybe even just the threat will make the lot do the right thing

[dubb93]

Good news. Dealership called me and said the loan company contacted them and they have decided to undo the deal. The loan company didn’t sound thrilled about having a big outstanding loan on a truck that needed to be in the junk yard. I’m guessing they had some pull.

[dubb93]

Wonder if I’m going to have to pay to retitle my trade in? Already signed the title over.

[dubb93]

Would I be a dick if I changed the name of my phone in the truck to something along the lines of Blown Headgasket before I sign it back over? Something that atleast plants the thought in the head of the next potential buyer.

I know the phone names save because I deleted two when I bought it.

[Passacaglia]

Originally Posted by cuervo72

Edge of Seventeen!

Nice.

No repeats for me listening to FM radio today, though I did hear Houdini by Eminem. Are the kids today not supposed to know that song is just Abracadabra?

[Ksyrup]

Did it reach out and grab ya?

[dubb93]

I ended up just buying a new Pathfinder. The wife fell in love with it. I’ll probably get a pickup in a cash deal when I see one that catches my fancy. Something older and cheaper as a third vehicle.

[Ksyrup]

I've heard great things about the redsigned Pathfinder. We have a 2019. My wife loves it but it's got some small flaws that seem to have been fixed on the new design.

Hopefully it'll last another 5 years or so. Not in a rush to buy a new car. If both of ours can last another 5 or so years set would be ideal.

[NobodyHere]

I am so screwed.

[CrimsonFox]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

Did it reach out and grab ya?

Still the most hilarious rhyme in music history

[Ksyrup]

This is awesome. On a completely unrelated note, I am so, so glad I do not litigate or even so much as know what the inside of a courtroom looks like.

Full order: pic.twitter.com/Q5N6eZKbvO

— Matt Margolis (@ItsMattsLaw) December 9, 2024

[JPhillips]

Why is Ante Up EVERYWHERE?

[Edward64]

The early prototype to Robo-cop. I like this idea and curious to see how it would work (or not) in NYC.

https://www.the-sun.com/tech/1305823...ops-criminals/

CHINA has unveiled unbreakable, spherical robo-cops which have been seen rolling around cities - ready to catch criminals.

The spheres are designed to assist - and eventually replace humans - in dangerous environments and situations involving crime.

The ball beast is able to operate both on land and in water, making it practically unstoppable.

It can also withstand a whopping four tonnes of impact damage to prevent criminals from trying to cover their tracks and kill it.

The RT-G can also be equipped with non-fatal police gear like et guns, tear gas sprayers, some grenades, loudspeakers and sound wave dispersal devices.

Looks like it can be used for crowd (Tiananmen) control also.

[Ghost Econ]

Used the McDonald's app and got a mcdouble, large fry large coke for $2.66 by spreading it over 2 orders. My order numbers were 1666 and 666. I think it's trying to tell me something.

[Ksyrup]

I don't know if anyone followed the story of that Hawaiian woman who mysteriously vanished in LA seemingly on her way to NY. She missed her original connection (which her ex-BF was on), spent a couple days in LA, met some guy, texted some weird/concerning things to family and friends, and disappeared. Her dad went to LA to try to find her and apparently was so overcome with despair or whatever emotion that he jumped from an LA parking garage and killed himself.

Well, she turned up. She went to Mexico. But she's safe now. No details on why she left. Just a bizarre and tragic chain of events. I hope for her sake she has some good explanation - even a mental health breakdown would make some sense - because if this was just a poorly-planned or spur of the moment decision to "get lost," she basically killed her father.