Help needed with "Activation Server Error" when authorizing computer with Adobe Digital Editions!

I am trying to get my Adobe Digital Editions up and running so I can transfer EPUB items to my new e-reader.  However, every time I try to "Authorize" it, I get the following message:

"An Error has been Detected.  Activation Server Error  Code: E_AUTH_NOT_READY"  There is no work around that I can find!

What am I to do?

I have already uninstalled the program itself from my machine, rebooted, then redownloaded and reinstalled the program.  All my EPUB books are visible in the ADE, but I am unable to "Authorize" anything.

What do I do next?