title: How do I determine if a detached pthread is alive?
body: <p>How do I determine if a detached pthread is still <em>alive</em> ?</p>
  
  <p>I have a communication channel with the thread (a uni-directional queue pointing outwards from the thread) but what happens if the thread <em>dies</em> without a gasp?</p>
  
  <p>Should I resign myself to using process <em>signals</em> or can I <em>probe</em> for thread liveliness somehow?</p>