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Stephen J. Beard

@stephenbeard.bsky.social
300 followers 165 following 174 posts

Graphics journalist at @usatoday.com, based in Indy. News graphics + animation

PostsRepliesMedia
Stephen J. Beard @stephenbeard.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
My brain turned this into "McGriddle," and I'm all like "TWO BITES!"
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Stephen J. Beard @stephenbeard.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
This is so much milder than what @joetamborello.bsky.social and I imagined for the Combos origin story (also on a road trip, where Combos convos seem to happen naturally).
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Stephen J. Beard @stephenbeard.bsky.social · 10/07/2026
To whomever made it impossible to block “@“ mentions or opt-out from “Everyone” tags from internal colleagues in Microsoft Teams: you’re a monster.
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Stephen J. Beard @stephenbeard.bsky.social · 05/05/2026
Just realized this is my sixth straight primary with no newsroom Election Night pizza. 🗳️🍕
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Stephen J. Beard @stephenbeard.bsky.social · 15/04/2026
I ❤️ user-submitted google photo spheres.
A screenshot captured 04/15/26 of a Google Maps photo sphere shows a ghosted image of the top half of a woman and a body-less arm floating in mid-air in a public park.
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Stephen J. Beard @stephenbeard.bsky.social · 11/04/2026
Splashdown!
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Stephen J. Beard @stephenbeard.bsky.social · 11/04/2026
Loving every second of the Artemis return coverage. I fist-pumped at this exchange!
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Stephen J. Beard @stephenbeard.bsky.social · 02/04/2026
Convinced that this google trends snapshot is proportional to the red herring in today's NYT Connections.
Screenshot of a Google Trends list captured at 9:17 a.m. that shows 'cardi' 'drake' and 'stallion' among top searches. Those names were among the clues in the NYT Connections puzzle.
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Stephen J. Beard @stephenbeard.bsky.social · 28/03/2026
I have a years-long tradition of pre-loading my coat with unique snacks — pre-packaged or otherwise — that I just randomly pull from my pocket and offer to my family. My wife documented today’s road snack: a meringue.
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Stephen J. Beard @stephenbeard.bsky.social · 17/03/2026
Second career Wordle 1/6, and no one cares at this point and the world is grim, but it brightened my morning. Just let me have this moment. ☘️🌈 Wordle 1,732 1/6 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
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Stephen J. Beard @stephenbeard.bsky.social · 15/03/2026
Man, that live performance of “I Lied To You” from Sinners packed the same chills as it did in the movie. So good. #oscars
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Stephen J. Beard @stephenbeard.bsky.social · 13/03/2026
If I had to think of a theme for my Facebook activity for the past year, I would call it “Select-All-Delete, Close Browser Tab.”
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Stephen J. Beard @stephenbeard.bsky.social · 05/02/2026
Spotted this magnificent barred owl earlier today on the Nickel Plate Trail. She’d fly ahead of me as I walked, pause in a tree, then fly ahead again.
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Reposted by Stephen J. Beard
The Map Center @mapcenter.com · 28/01/2026
Extremely cool map of NYC!
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Stephen J. Beard @stephenbeard.bsky.social · 25/01/2026
Earlier while cleaning I was hankering for some “Lucille” and “Gambler,” so I asked Alexa to play “best of Kenny Rogers,” but it returned this hot garbage. It’s Kenny singing mostly covers of the seminal works of other singers. open.spotify.com/album/5MjhIu...
open.spotify.com
20 Best of Kenny Rogers
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Stephen J. Beard @stephenbeard.bsky.social · 07/01/2026
Image of Lloyd Bridges' character Steve McCroskey in "Airplane!" with a quote that reads, "Looks like I picked the wrong month to try 'Dry January.' It's a twist on a running gag that features prominently through the movie in which he starts sentences with, "looks like I picked the wrong time to quit …"
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Stephen J. Beard @stephenbeard.bsky.social · 24/12/2025
media.tenor.com
a blonde woman is sitting in a kitchen with the words `` sure , jan . '' written on her face .
ALT: a blonde woman is sitting in a kitchen with the words `` sure , jan . '' written on her face .
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Stephen J. Beard @stephenbeard.bsky.social · 28/11/2025
The Internet is messing with my brain right now. Has it really only been four years since Sharon heated up that Marie Callender’s pie on the surface of the sun?
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Stephen J. Beard @stephenbeard.bsky.social · 22/10/2025
Canceled our annual Disney+ a while back (long before the Kimmel Kerfuffle) but was told service wouldn't officially stop until Nov. 19. Just got this email and had to double-check that cancellation was still on track (it is), but a $30 price hike for loyal annual subscribers seems a bit … goofy.
Screenshot from a Disney Plus email that reads, "As part of our continued investment in delivering world-class entertainment, the price of your Disney+ Premium will increase to $189.99 per year on November 19, 2025. Your plan will automatically renew at the new price unless you switch plans or cancel via Account Settings before then."
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Stephen J. Beard @stephenbeard.bsky.social · 07/10/2025
lol post-call Microsoft Teams survey
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Stephen J. Beard @stephenbeard.bsky.social · 06/10/2025
Hey, @kordcle.bsky.social … remember this? We were at this game! PD design team in Machaskee’s suite. I think we were among the last few left in the park by the time CLE bats came alive.
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Stephen J. Beard @stephenbeard.bsky.social · 31/07/2025
Grand Canyon fire adds to the 7.5 million acres of national parkland that have burned in four decades. @usatoday.com www.usatoday.com/story/graphi...
usatoday.com
Grand Canyon fire adds to 7.5 million acres of burned national parkland, analysis shows
A USA TODAY analysis found more than 600 fires that burned at least partly inside national parks in the past four decades.
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Stephen J. Beard @stephenbeard.bsky.social · 28/07/2025
“I do think this is part of a broader effort number one to lay the groundwork for attempts to overturn election results that they don’t like in 2026,” said Jonathan Diaz, the voting advocacy director at Campaign Legal Center. Story by @erinmansfield.bsky.social www.usatoday.com/story/news/p...
usatoday.com
Department of Justice wants to inspect swing state voter rolls
The Justice Department effort has targeted battleground states. It follows a March executive order.
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Stephen J. Beard @stephenbeard.bsky.social · 18/06/2025
Fun (fin?) look at the 50th anniversary of "Jaws" from @jennart3.bsky.social. #movies www.usatoday.com/story/graphi...
usatoday.com
‘Jaws’ scared swimmers out of the ocean 50 years ago. Real locations of Amity's terror
Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water, the 50th anniversary of "Jaws" is here. Here are some fun facts about the film.
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Stephen J. Beard @stephenbeard.bsky.social · 08/06/2025
Same, but tbh I’ve tried with BS, and my user experience here has flat-out sucked compared to The Other Place, esp for general news and (in the fun dept!) NBA Finals content/commentary. Still hoping BS can get there but it has a long way to go.
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Stephen J. Beard @stephenbeard.bsky.social · 22/05/2025
Yammer's ghost would like a word.
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Stephen J. Beard @stephenbeard.bsky.social · 02/04/2025
Please talk to Zach for this, esp. if your theories go beyond my assumptions (some combo of high food/retail leases & captive audience pricing?).
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Reposted by Stephen J. Beard
Andrew Couts @couts.bsky.social · 26/03/2025
Relatedly, our friends at @spiegel.de found Trump officials personal information publicly available online: www.spiegel.de/internationa...
spiegel.de
Hegseth, Waltz, Gabbard: Private Data and Passwords of Senior U.S. Security Officials Found Online
Donald Trump's most important security advisers used Signal to discuss an imminent military strike. Now, reporting by DER SPIEGEL has found that the contact data of some of those officials, including ...
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Stephen J. Beard @stephenbeard.bsky.social · 14/03/2025
Has there been this much hubbub at a performance of Stravinsky since the debut of Rite of Spring? www.usatoday.com/story/news/p...
usatoday.com
JD Vance booed by crowd at Kennedy Center concert after Trump takeover of arts venue
The vice president's arrival at the center Thursday comes one month after Trump launched a major, controversial overhaul.
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Stephen J. Beard @stephenbeard.bsky.social · 14/03/2025
Teeth ain’t cheap, TF. Pay up! 🦷
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Stephen J. Beard @stephenbeard.bsky.social · 26/02/2025
Perhaps this is just the universe telling us it’s OK to let our guard down? [ackbar-its-a-trap.gif]
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Stephen J. Beard @stephenbeard.bsky.social · 13/02/2025
You know it’s serious when they break out the Webb. #asteroid www.usatoday.com/story/graphi...
usatoday.com
Will an asteroid collide with Earth? How the Webb telescope will track 2024 YR4
The $10 billion orbiting observatory will give astronomers a better sense of the near-Earth asteroid 2024 YR4's size and position.
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Stephen J. Beard @stephenbeard.bsky.social · 12/02/2025
“Scrumtrulescent,” hands-down.
Animated gif of Will Ferrell as James Lipton saying “scrumtrulescent” to guest Charles Nelson Riley, played by Alec Baldwin.
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Stephen J. Beard @stephenbeard.bsky.social · 24/01/2025
Loved the shout-out from Mirror Indy's Amanda Kingsbury in today's newsletter for the time I anthropomorphized a breaded tenderloin to explain how a bill becomes law in Indiana.
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Stephen J. Beard @stephenbeard.bsky.social · 11/01/2025
Cat for scale is ALWAYS a valid comparison. :)
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Stephen J. Beard @stephenbeard.bsky.social · 06/01/2025
"One person wrote on the NextDoor app …"
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Stephen J. Beard @stephenbeard.bsky.social · 31/12/2024
New from the @usatoday.com Graphics team: a detailed look at how Hurricane Helene devastated five states in September. www.usatoday.com/story/graphi... #storms #helene #news
usatoday.com
Helene was one of the deadliest storms in recent history. How it devastated the Southeast
Follow Helene's path of destruction from Florida into Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.
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Stephen J. Beard @stephenbeard.bsky.social · 24/12/2024
From the #Christmas vault: a one-minute version of the "A Christmas Carol" cast with my favorite depictions of each character. www.indystar.com/story/entert...
indystar.com
A one-minute version of 'A Christmas Carol'
How would Charles Dickens' 1843 classic, "A Christmas Carol" look if assembled with noted versions of each role?
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Stephen J. Beard @stephenbeard.bsky.social · 19/12/2024
I can't believe I'm coming up on my fifth year with the Graphics team at @usatoday.com! If you have room in your life for another year-in-review retrospective, here's a look at our team's terrific work from 2024: www.usatoday.com/story/graphi...
usatoday.com
Election overload? Recall 2024's other top stories: Eclipse, bridge collapse, more
The presidential election took center stage throughout much of 2024. Here are some of the year's other news in graphics, maps and illustrations.
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Stephen J. Beard @stephenbeard.bsky.social · 18/12/2024
This morning I added a pat of butter to the pastry (blank) side of a frosted cherry Pop-Tart, and I’ve been thinking about that all day.
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Stephen J. Beard @stephenbeard.bsky.social · 14/12/2024
Is this the year I finally unearth the box with my childhood Hot Wheels collection to see what’s parked in there? Here’s our @usatoday.com Graphics look at the vintage toy: www.usatoday.com/story/graphi...
usatoday.com
Remember those Hot Wheels you had as a kid? They're still popular and worth a fortune now.
While kids like Hot Wheels because they look good and go fast, collectors are buying back their childhoods by investing in rare toy cars.
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Stephen J. Beard @stephenbeard.bsky.social · 14/12/2024
Drone sightings continue in New Jersey with no evidence that they’re a threat, but answers are still elusive. Here’s our latest from @usatoday.com Graphics. www.usatoday.com/story/graphi...
usatoday.com
US says drones flying over New Jersey aren't a threat, but lawmakers aren't so sure
The Homeland Security Department and the FBI say there's no evidence drones flying over New Jersey at night are a menace.
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Reposted by Stephen J. Beard
NE Ohio Regional Sewer District @neorsd.org · 06/12/2024
Chris Tucker and Ice Cube in Friday looking at our Lake View dam in the snow.
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Stephen J. Beard @stephenbeard.bsky.social · 05/12/2024
Why do cold snaps in Florida make iguanas fall from trees? A quick look at the science: www.usatoday.com/story/graphi...
usatoday.com
What happens to iguanas when cold weather strikes? Florida phenomenon explained
Long a nuisance for property owners and landscapers, non-native lizards aren't built for cold weather.
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Stephen J. Beard @stephenbeard.bsky.social · 04/12/2024
Anyone else getting besieged with AI space images on this platform? Any pointers on how to get them to stop? It’s out of control.
Screenshot of random Bluesky account with more followers than it deserves sharing a fake AI image of a country lane bathed in the glow of bullshit fake moonlight and at least two sunsets.
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Reposted by Stephen J. Beard
ProPublica @propublica.org · 03/12/2024
NEW: Most of the U.S. has a cancer risk from formaldehyde of higher than 1 in 100,000. Check to see how your block compares. propub.li/3ODkwW8
propub.li
Map: What's the Cancer Risk From Formaldehyde Where I Live? — ProPublica
In most of the country, formaldehyde contributes more to outdoor cancer risk than any other toxic air pollutant. Look up your address to see risks from the chemical on your block and where it comes from.
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Stephen J. Beard @stephenbeard.bsky.social · 27/11/2024
Helpful tips here as we head into peak food scrap season, via @jennart3.bsky.social
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Stephen J. Beard @stephenbeard.bsky.social · 27/11/2024
My workplace coffee chats typically stuck to football scores and random office gossip — maybe *occasionally* touching on stuff like the Yellowstone super volcano or the large hadron collider. This story would require more coffee!
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Reposted by Stephen J. Beard
Carlie Procell @qbscarlie.bsky.social · 26/11/2024
Front page today with @alannguyen.bsky.social for our story on Thanksgiving dinner costs! www.usatoday.com/story/graphi...
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Stephen J. Beard @stephenbeard.bsky.social · 25/11/2024
This is what happens when my inner 6-year-old pitches a Thanksgiving story idea. Also, keep your eyes peeled for Minnie — her invite to this party was LONG overdue! www.usatoday.com/story/graphi...
usatoday.com
Minnie Mouse, Spider-man go large: How Macy's parade balloons are made and controlled
A staple of the annual parade, the giant character balloons capture a mix of characters.
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