Well, there are several theories. One is that the parametric RAM battery died, making the whole system act dead. Apples work great until they don't. The "don't" typically is much less common than in machines running a Microsoft OS.

I am deep into a reread of "Love in the Time of Cholera" by the Old Master Marques. It is draining my desire to do anything else but read the next bit. Fortunately I can get away with it.

SO that's what I am gonna do just now.