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Check out: “8-Bit Jesus” chiptune Christmas music

This is a few years old, but I just happened across it the other day. Musician “Doctor Octoroc” has created a full album of Christmas music in the style of old video game themes. Tracks include “We Three Konami”, “Bubbles We Have Heard on Bobble” and my personal favorite, “Have Yourself a Final Little Fantasy”.

You can stream all 18 tracks from Doctor Octoroc’s website (click the box in the lower left), or get a bonus track as well if you buy the CD version.

It’s so easy to make horrible chiptunes that I’m really pleased to hear this one done super, super well! Happy holidays; if you have a few hours free this lazy weekend, maybe bust out the emulators and play a little Elevator Action.

Antlerman REVEALED

More than one person has written in asking about the bike-rider character from Comic #684! Well, his name is Malfidactus O’Rourke and he is originally from Duluth. He has a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and he plays racquetball when he can find a partner who likes to go early on weekdays. He lives in a two-bedroom townhouse just outside of Chicago and he recently had a terrible, terrible hunting accident.

A “Steam Trombone” FOLLOW-UP

In a comment left on the previous post about the steam trombone, reader Peter suggested further research in the NY Times archives regarding the incident in question. I was initially hesitant, because I love the perfect snapshot afforded by the irate editorial we examined — personally, I don’t need the context, I don’t need anything except the vivid picture my mind paints of this situation. The facts can only take me a small measure farther, and besides: what if they’re boring? Then the phenomenon of the steam trombone might be ruined for me forever.

Still, my curiosity got the better of me. If you would like to retain a pure-hearted conception of the steam trombone, read no further. If, however, you would like cold, hard facts regardless of the consequences, read on. I will warn you: it is not quite what I expected. (Full articles are at the links; emphases mine.)

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Holiday ordering deadlines are here!

A very quick store update — the last one of the year, I promise!

• Due to high order volume, TopatoCo has pushed up their holiday ordering deadlines to ensure they get your package out the door in time. Non-U.S. guaranteed deadlines have passed; you can still order in-stock items only via USPS Priority Mail through the 16th, and Express options give you a few days after that. Wondermark books, some shirt sizes and of course all manner of delightful posters & art-prints are all in-stock at TopatoCo and shipping now.

• My own in-house store will be taking orders for Monocle Poppers greeting cards through tomorrow only before I close the operation for the holidays. We’ve shipped somewhere around 2,000 cards so far this month and I’d like to make it an even million billion in these last 48 hours!

• The 2011 Calendar is all sold out! You are the best. You will enjoy this year’s edition, I promise.

I’d like to extend a special thanks to Kathryn Renta for helping with typesetting and layout for the calendar. Kathryn was a great help both this year and last and I recommend her for any design work you may need assistance with! She can be contacted via her Facebook or Twitter.

I’d also like to acknowledge my assistants Robynne and Zach for their tireless work in all facets of the daily Wondermark Enterprises operation. And of course top marks go to my wife Nikki, who is the one actually putting the sweat into printing these calendars and occasionally threatening to murder me for taking so long perfecting their design. If your calendar, when you receive it sometime between next week and the first of the year, looks like it was well-loved and crafted with care… well, it was.