I bought a new computer about three weeks ago, which came on the heels of some problems with my old computer that caused me to reformat that machine’s hard drive a couple of times. This is important because, in the process, I reinstalled Napster three times on the old computer, unaware of their little policy about PC activations.

If you’re still with me, here’s the punchline: every time I reinstalled it, Napster figured I was installing the software on another computer. So when the new one came here and the old one was finally sent away, I had to wait until the end of August before I could have Napster again.

I had a mini panic attack when I found out (in sensitivity to readers who may actually have panic attacks from time to time, I admit I’m exaggerating). What would I do? I have about 1,300 albums on my MP3 player, which must connect to Napster every two weeks to download a license to play all of that Nappa-bootie.

Well, I survived. And now I have my music again. And I just downloaded about 20 new albums (mostly world-beat, ambient-kind of stuff). So I’ll be listening to new tunes all day. 😀

Odds are that, at any given moment, I’m listening to something produced by Pacific Moon records, a Japanese label that combines traditional Asian music/instruments/melodies (from Japan, China, Korea, India, Bali, etc., etc., etc.) with chilled-out electronic sounds. I’m definitely tapping into my Inner Asian Dude with this stuff. This moment’s selection: Sorma’s “Mirage of the East.”