u/TheDev1ce

I personally hate that thing. It’s not even because it’s confusing, it’s because it backs up traffic 3 to 4 blocks every single time the four local schools let out.

That is a major, high-volume intersection, not some quiet neighborhood street. A roundabout just cannot handle that amount of peak traffic.

Edit: Reddit loves any topic where they can claim "user error" over systemic failure. To the average Redditor, if you hate a roundabout, it’s not because the intersection is flawed; it’s because you "just don't know how to yield" or "are afraid of European roads." It gives them a cheap sense of superiority to pretend they are the only ones who understand how to drive through them.

But 42nd and Q is objectively different from standard traffic circles. The structural flaws here are a matter of public record. According to the original South Omaha Master Plan Concept Map drawn up by engineers Felsburg Holt & Ullevig, this complex double-roundabout was explicitly crammed into a tight, offset layout to handle a railroad crossing and a bridge.

Furthermore, when the project was first proposed, city engineer Todd Pfitzer admitted on KETV News that the physical geometry was deliberately designed to "slow traffic down," prompting locals to complain that it would act like "1,000 speed bumps."

The real-world consequence of this forced bottleneck is proven by a recent WOWT 6 News Safety Review Report, which highlights security camera footage of ongoing rollover crashes due to the awkward lanes. When you funnel heavy school and industrial corridor traffic into an intentionally tight bottleneck, the volume math breaks down. I handle the intersection fine several times a week, but driver skill doesn't change bad engineering.

Making sure everyone went to college caused a lot of people to go who probably shouldn't have, resulting in a flood of useless degrees that decoupled higher education from actual merit and utility. Because many of these graduates lack hard, technical capabilities, they gravitate toward administrative, compliance, and corporate bureaucracy roles where they create endless layers of rules just to justify their positions. Instead of delivering real-world results, they shield their underperformance behind complex academic jargon and institutional procedures. This has resulted in a culture of weaponized incompetence, where credentialed but ineffective professionals use compliance and organizational policies to penalize high performers and avoid any real accountability.

(Note/Disclaimer: I know the traditional definition of weaponized incompetence usually refers to relationships or chores, but the phrase perfectly fits how some people use institutional credentials and bureaucracy to justify bad decisions and protect their position.)

Hey everyone,

I just had my AC recharged for the first time. It’s old and due to be replaced, but it should get me through the rest of the summer. My plan is to schedule a full replacement for this fall when things cool down.

Ideally, I want to upgrade to a dual-fuel setup (heat pump with a gas backup). Because of my breaker panel, I can only go up to a 3-ton system maximum, but a 2.5-ton has been handling the house fine.

I just got my first quote, and they quoted me $13k just to replace the 2.5-ton AC unit—and that was for their cheapest option (it went up from there). It feels incredibly high, especially since it doesn't even include the furnace/backup.

I'm looking for something more reasonable.

• Has anyone else replaced their system recently? What did you pay?
• Which local HVAC companies do you trust for fair pricing and good work? (I've heard mixed things about the massive corporate names).
• Any specific local companies that are good with dual-fuel/heat pump setups and OPPD rebates?

Appreciate any leads or reality checks on that first quote!