possible evdev issue?

[Petrus de Calguarium]

Oh, and I should add that the problem appears to predate evdev. It seems to have something to do with using USB keyboards (it NEVER has happened with a PS/2 keyboard), and possibly leaving the XLate mode of X, or whatever that is. I usually have the problem after the system gets locked up and I have to use Alt-SysRq to break out, not simply sudo reboot, as you do.