$ rfkill list
0: asus-wlan: Wireless LAN
	Soft blocked: no
	Hard blocked: no
1: phy0: Wireless LAN
	Soft blocked: no
	Hard blocked: yes

< I pressed the function key to no avail>:
$ rfkill list
0: asus-wlan: Wireless LAN
	Soft blocked: no
	Hard blocked: no
1: phy0: Wireless LAN
	Soft blocked: no
	Hard blocked: yes

$ sudo rfkill unblock all
[sudo] password for schlathe:
$ rfkill list
0: asus-wlan: Wireless LAN
	Soft blocked: no
	Hard blocked: no
1: phy0: Wireless LAN
	Soft blocked: no
	Hard blocked: yes

< I suspended the laptop (to ram) and resumed >

schlathe@pegasus : ~
 19:49:10
$ rfkill list
0: asus-wlan: Wireless LAN
	Soft blocked: no
	Hard blocked: no
1: phy0: Wireless LAN
	Soft blocked: no
	Hard blocked: no

<magically works after suspend/resume >