First off, let me apologize on behalf of the Beastie Boys to any and all who had trouble downloading the first track (a remix of The Negotiation Limerick File by DJ Design) from Launch.com. Believe us, we're as frustrated with the performance as you were. Apologies for those of you who wanted the track but couldn't play it. I hope you've finally had some success.

Launch has tried to make things a little easier to manage, so we've let loose another remix at their site, a remix of Intergalactic created by Colleone and Webb. Come pick it at

www.launch.com/download/beastieboys

Hopefully Launch.com folks have fixed problems many of you had and we'll have a much higher rate of success this time around. Before you ask, let me tell you, we continue to use the Microsoft WMA format for a couple of reasons: 1) you get a decent-sounding track at 64kbps, that means the entire file is less than 2MB -- a 128kbps MP3 file would be twice as big (as Mike D would say, do the math); 2) the track is secured, which means you have to hit the web site to unlock it, and we know exactly how many people have the song, which helps us because we're trying to take $2 for every song downloaded from the pockets of Launch and Microsoft collectively, and hand that $2 to charity. The digital Robin Hood needs accurate accounting. I hope you understand.

Also, the Paul's Boutique festivities continue in our online store with an exclusive Paul's Boutique t-shirt and the re-issue of the album on vinyl. The t-shirt features an OUTTAKE from the Paul's Boutique photo session and is slightly different from the album cover. It's the best net-only collectible in the history of the net, IMHO. The vinyl is amazing, the quad gatefold is back, and it's on two pieces of vinyl (for better sound quality) finally. You'll find 'em here

www.beastieboysdirect.com

And that's all for now. Thanks for listening.

ian

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