FAQ
So what does "f.g. meanie" actually... mean?
f.g. meanie is an abbreviation of Fool's Gold Meanie. In 2019, I wrote a poem about pyrite that contained the line I left below my pronouns in the navigation window: "If what you say might have two meanings, mean both". I've always felt my sense of self is oppressively large compared to the things I have the time and capability to explore. In the spirit of a reminder that I am allowed to explore several versions of myself at a time, and also that I don't have to be "nice" while making art, I took it on as my artist pseudonym.
Do you have a Patreon?
I do not.
Firstly I am fortunate enough to have this opportunity to design a freelance career around several streams of income which I enjoy equally and which fulfill me in a separate manner. Introducing time constraints and the demands of a regular production schedule would stymie this fluidity, when allowing myself the room to breathe often leads to doing more in the same time frame regardless. In either case I want to prioritize the flexibility of my own practice.
Secondly, in the past when I've printed my poetry, I have always priced on a sliding scale. As an example, a booklet of poetry for $5-$15, whatever the reader can afford. Without fail at least half of those purchasing my poetry choose the top end of the scale. If something is priced at a specific point, it is easy to form opinions on its worth. If you give someone an opportunity to choose its worth, many, many people will choose to be generous, and those who can't afford to be generous will still have access. In situations where someone could not pay even minimum on the scale, I'd just give it to them. One time, someone even opted to trade me a carved stone flower charm in exchange for a chapbook.
Absent of any severe financial impediment in the future, I would like to continue to use this pricing philosophy - push the art forward with as few barriers for entry as possible, and those who are interested in supporting it financially will inquire or find a way.
Who/What/Why is Jorbert?
I drew Jorbert prior to my first ever tabling experience in November 2023. I committed to tabling with my classmate Edea Giang (@seaurchinsunshine) late that summer, before we even met each other in person. During the crunch of preparation, she drew a flounder girl to print on 11"x17" paper as a table banner. She asked me if I had anything I wanted to add. I said, "Give me a second."
I drew this.
"Jorbert", I heard myself utter, as though a gossamer curtain drifted between my body and my voice. As though the words themselves emerged from a place deeper than imagining can reach.
"His name is Jorbert."
Never underestimate the degree to which people will go feral for a tiny little guy. I decided I'd use him any time I need a cute mascot or logo. In the time since, he's turned out to be a creature of auspicious portents for me. Cut to December 2025. I pondered my options for a new years's resolution, ultimately deciding to play through more of the untouched games in my Steam library. I, however, am not a self-starter-gamer. I find it more entertaining to play for my friends. So I decided to stream it.
My inner monologue proceeded thusly:
If I'm going to stream, it should probably be on Twitch so my friends from different communities can watch. So, what, am I going to show my face? I'm not even 3 months on HRT, I don't think I want persistent online records of my current looks, let alone with the dangers of AI for fraud purposes. I guess I could become a VTuber. That's a lot of work. PNGtubing isn't, though. Ok, lemme just draw a Jorbert pngtuber avatar. Ok, lemme just set up Veadotube to animate him. Ok, lemme just set up a Discord server for the (nonexistent) community. Ok, lemme just download a spreadsheet of all my games off Steam and categorize them by "untouched", "10 hours or less", and "more than 10 hours". Ok, lemme set up a spinning wheel to choose the game each time. Ok, lemme make an OBS stream overlay. Ok, lemme make a Youtube channel for highlights. Ok, lemme -
Cut to mid-January and I basically hyperfixated my way into making my nascent streaming a scalable model. With, like, five viewers, four of whom I know in real life. This would eventually become the first domino to fall in the eventual decision to leave my job and form an LLC, but that's another story. Suffice it to say that Jorbert has not led me astray.
Now, I have decided to leave his details up to fate. His lore is open and can be decided on over time by the streaming audience. As of 09.26 all that's certain is he uses he/him/his pronouns, I speak through him during streams like a vessel (a consensual and symbiotic relationship), and he resides in the Abyss. Anything else will come with time.
What would you choose for your last meal?
My mom's cornflake chicken, my dad's grilled sirloin tips, my own mapo eggplant and tofu, traditional carbonara, the beef with broccoli and tuna on crispy rice from TAO Asian Bistro at Mohegan Sun, my bestie's braised eggplant, sushi a la carte, a home run curry from Go Go Curry, rigatoni bolognese, scallop crudo, oysters, boiled lobster, a New York everything bagel with chive cream cheese, my dad's apple-jalapeno pie with talenti dairy-free salted caramel gelato and vanilla bean ice cream, a strawberry lemonade sorbet, a glass of frigid-cold water with crushed ice, a Stewart's root beer, and a glass of Yamazaki 12-year malt whiskey on the rocks.
