[Rxtx] bogus SerialPortEvent.DATA_AVAILABLE event ?

[Uncle George]

I got a SerialPortEvent.DATA_AVAILABLE event. But when I check out how 
many characters are available, I get the following exception :{

> java.io.IOException: Input/output error in nativeavailable
>         at gnu.io.RXTXPort.nativeavailable(Native Method)
>         at gnu.io.RXTXPort$SerialInputStream.available(RXTXPort.java:1532)
>         at jGPS.GpsData.DeviceDrivers.UsbPort.UsbPort_Binary.serialEvent(UsbPort_Binary.java:551)
>         at gnu.io.RXTXPort.sendEvent(RXTXPort.java:732)
>         at gnu.io.RXTXPort.eventLoop(Native Method)
>         at gnu.io.RXTXPort$MonitorThread.run(RXTXPort.java:1575)

There is no more data available. I pulled the USB cable out of the hub.

I dont THINK i should have gotten the data_available event. BUt not sure 
yet what eventLoop() checks are done, and what, if any, events are 
generated if the device is unplugged.

any thoughts?