diff --git a/gst/elements/gstfakesink.c b/gst/elements/gstfakesink.c
index 20abe3913f..886cd065e3 100644
--- a/gst/elements/gstfakesink.c
+++ b/gst/elements/gstfakesink.c
@@ -282,7 +282,10 @@ gst_fakesink_chain (GstPad *pad, GstBuffer *buf)
   }
 
   if (fakesink->sync && fakesink->clock) { 
-    gst_element_clock_wait (GST_ELEMENT (fakesink), fakesink->clock, GST_BUFFER_TIMESTAMP (buf), NULL);
+    GstClockID id = gst_clock_new_single_shot_id (fakesink->clock, GST_BUFFER_TIMESTAMP (buf));
+
+    gst_element_clock_wait (GST_ELEMENT (fakesink), id, NULL);
+    gst_clock_id_free (id);
   }
 
   if (!fakesink->silent) { 
diff --git a/gst/gstelement.c b/gst/gstelement.c
index 397a2b5ea6..de8f57e855 100644
--- a/gst/gstelement.c
+++ b/gst/gstelement.c
@@ -749,8 +749,7 @@ gst_element_get_clock (GstElement *element)
 /**
  * gst_element_clock_wait:
  * @element: a #GstElement.
- * @clock: the #GstClock to use.
- * @time: the #GstClockTime to wait for on the clock.
+ * @id: the #GstClock to use.
  * @jitter: the difference between requested time and actual time.
  *
  * Waits for a specific time on the clock.
@@ -758,14 +757,14 @@ gst_element_get_clock (GstElement *element)
  * Returns: the #GstClockReturn result of the wait operation.
  */
 GstClockReturn
-gst_element_clock_wait (GstElement *element, GstClock *clock, GstClockTime time, GstClockTimeDiff *jitter)
+gst_element_clock_wait (GstElement *element, GstClockID id, GstClockTimeDiff *jitter)
 {
   GstClockReturn res;
 
   g_return_val_if_fail (GST_IS_ELEMENT (element), GST_CLOCK_ERROR);
 
   if (GST_ELEMENT_SCHED (element)) {
-    res = gst_scheduler_clock_wait (GST_ELEMENT_SCHED (element), element, clock, time, jitter);
+    res = gst_scheduler_clock_wait (GST_ELEMENT_SCHED (element), element, id, jitter);
   }
   else 
     res = GST_CLOCK_TIMEOUT;
@@ -1899,6 +1898,8 @@ gst_element_error (GstElement *element, const gchar *error, ...)
     gst_scheduler_error (element->sched, element); 
   } 
 
+  gst_element_set_state (element, GST_STATE_PAUSED);
+
   /* cleanup */
   gst_object_unref (GST_OBJECT (element));
   g_free (string);
@@ -2100,6 +2101,22 @@ gst_element_clear_pad_caps (GstElement *element)
   }
 }
 
+static void
+gst_element_pads_activate (GstElement *element, gboolean active)
+{
+  GList *pads = element->pads;
+
+  while (pads) {
+    GstPad *pad = GST_PAD_CAST (pads->data);
+    pads = g_list_next (pads);
+
+    if (!GST_IS_REAL_PAD (pad))
+      continue;
+
+    gst_pad_set_active (pad, active);
+  }
+}
+
 static GstElementStateReturn
 gst_element_change_state (GstElement *element)
 {
@@ -2121,17 +2138,23 @@ gst_element_change_state (GstElement *element)
     return GST_STATE_SUCCESS;
   }
   
-  GST_INFO (GST_CAT_STATES, "%s default handler sets state from %s to %s %d", 
+  GST_INFO (GST_CAT_STATES, "%s default handler sets state from %s to %s %04x", 
             GST_ELEMENT_NAME (element),
             gst_element_state_get_name (old_state),
             gst_element_state_get_name (old_pending),
-	    GST_STATE_TRANSITION (element));
+	    old_transition);
 
   /* we set the state change early for the negotiation functions */
   GST_STATE (element) = old_pending;
   GST_STATE_PENDING (element) = GST_STATE_VOID_PENDING;
 
   switch (old_transition) {
+    case GST_STATE_PLAYING_TO_PAUSED:
+      gst_element_pads_activate (element, FALSE);
+      break;
+    case GST_STATE_PAUSED_TO_PLAYING:
+      gst_element_pads_activate (element, TRUE);
+      break;
     /* if we are going to paused, we try to negotiate the pads */
     case GST_STATE_READY_TO_PAUSED:
       if (!gst_element_negotiate_pads (element)) 
diff --git a/gst/gstelement.h b/gst/gstelement.h
index 13296f9135..564214c5a2 100644
--- a/gst/gstelement.h
+++ b/gst/gstelement.h
@@ -226,8 +226,8 @@ gboolean		gst_element_requires_clock	(GstElement *element);
 gboolean		gst_element_provides_clock	(GstElement *element);
 GstClock*		gst_element_get_clock 		(GstElement *element);
 void			gst_element_set_clock 		(GstElement *element, GstClock *clock);
-GstClockReturn		gst_element_clock_wait 		(GstElement *element, GstClock *clock, 
-							 GstClockTime time, GstClockTimeDiff *jitter);
+GstClockReturn		gst_element_clock_wait 		(GstElement *element, 
+							 GstClockID id, GstClockTimeDiff *jitter);
 /* indexs */
 gboolean		gst_element_is_indexable	(GstElement *element);
 void			gst_element_set_index		(GstElement *element, GstIndex *index);
diff --git a/gst/gstpad.c b/gst/gstpad.c
index 0c48aeef46..a59c9d6720 100644
--- a/gst/gstpad.c
+++ b/gst/gstpad.c
@@ -214,7 +214,7 @@ gst_real_pad_init (GstRealPad *pad)
   pad->formatsfunc 	= gst_pad_get_formats_default;
   pad->querytypefunc 	= gst_pad_get_query_types_default;
 
-  /* GST_FLAG_SET (pad, GST_PAD_DISABLED); */
+  GST_FLAG_SET (pad, GST_PAD_DISABLED);
   
   gst_probe_dispatcher_init (&pad->probedisp);
 }
@@ -2173,7 +2173,7 @@ gst_pad_push (GstPad *pad, GstBuffer *buf)
   }
   else {
     if (!GST_IS_EVENT (buf) && !GST_PAD_IS_ACTIVE (pad)) {
-      g_warning ("push on pad %s:%s but it is unusable", 
+      g_warning ("push on pad %s:%s but it is not active", 
 	         GST_DEBUG_PAD_NAME (pad));
       return;
     }
@@ -2233,6 +2233,7 @@ gst_pad_pull (GstPad *pad)
   else {
     if (peer->gethandler) {
       GstBuffer *buf;
+      gboolean active = GST_PAD_IS_ACTIVE (peer);
 
       GST_DEBUG (GST_CAT_DATAFLOW, "calling gethandler %s of peer pad %s:%s",
                  GST_DEBUG_FUNCPTR_NAME (peer->gethandler), 
@@ -2244,6 +2245,11 @@ gst_pad_pull (GstPad *pad)
         if (!gst_probe_dispatcher_dispatch (&peer->probedisp, GST_DATA (buf)))
           return NULL;
 
+        if (!GST_IS_EVENT (buf) && !active) {
+          g_warning ("pull on pad %s:%s but it is not active", 
+	         GST_DEBUG_PAD_NAME (peer));
+          return NULL;
+        }
         return buf;
       }
 
@@ -2670,7 +2676,7 @@ gst_pad_event_default_dispatch (GstPad *pad, GstElement *element,
 
     /* for all pads in the opposite direction that are connected */
     if (GST_PAD_DIRECTION (eventpad) != GST_PAD_DIRECTION (pad) 
-     && GST_PAD_IS_USABLE (eventpad)) {
+     && GST_PAD_IS_CONNECTED (eventpad)) {
       if (GST_PAD_DIRECTION (eventpad) == GST_PAD_SRC) {
 	/* increase the refcount */
         gst_event_ref (event);
@@ -2762,7 +2768,7 @@ gst_pad_dispatcher (GstPad *pad, GstPadDispatcherFunction dispatch,
     GstRealPad *int_rpad = GST_PAD_REALIZE (int_pads->data);
     GstRealPad *int_peer = GST_RPAD_PEER (int_rpad);
 
-    if (int_peer && GST_PAD_IS_USABLE (int_peer)) {
+    if (int_peer) {
       res = dispatch (GST_PAD_CAST (int_peer), data);
       if (res)
         break;
@@ -2795,13 +2801,6 @@ gst_pad_send_event (GstPad *pad, GstEvent *event)
 
   rpad = GST_PAD_REALIZE (pad);
 
-  /* don't send events on usuable pads */
-  if (GST_PAD_IS_SINK (rpad) && !GST_PAD_IS_ACTIVE (rpad)) {
-    GST_DEBUG (GST_CAT_EVENT, "pad %s:%s is not usable", 
-	       GST_DEBUG_PAD_NAME (rpad));
-    return FALSE;
-  }
-
   if (GST_EVENT_SRC (event) == NULL)
     GST_EVENT_SRC (event) = gst_object_ref (GST_OBJECT (rpad));
 
diff --git a/gst/gstscheduler.c b/gst/gstscheduler.c
index 9e19b24ebb..b1775c29da 100644
--- a/gst/gstscheduler.c
+++ b/gst/gstscheduler.c
@@ -641,32 +641,29 @@ gst_scheduler_auto_clock (GstScheduler *sched)
  * gst_scheduler_clock_wait:
  * @sched: the scheduler
  * @element: the element that wants to wait
- * @clock: the clock to use
- * @time: the time to wait for
+ * @id: the clockid to use
  * @jitter: the time difference between requested time and actual time
  *
- * Wait till the clock reaches a specific time
+ * Wait till the clock reaches a specific time. The ClockID can
+ * be obtained from #gst_clock_new_single_shot_id. 
  *
  * Returns: the status of the operation
  */
 GstClockReturn
-gst_scheduler_clock_wait (GstScheduler *sched, GstElement *element, GstClock *clock, GstClockTime time,
-		GstClockTimeDiff *jitter)
+gst_scheduler_clock_wait (GstScheduler *sched, GstElement *element, 
+		          GstClockID id, GstClockTimeDiff *jitter)
 {
   GstSchedulerClass *sclass;
 
   g_return_val_if_fail (GST_IS_SCHEDULER (sched), GST_CLOCK_ERROR);
+  g_return_val_if_fail (id != NULL, GST_CLOCK_ERROR);
 
   sclass = GST_SCHEDULER_GET_CLASS (sched);
 
   if (sclass->clock_wait)
-    return sclass->clock_wait (sched, element, clock, time, jitter);
-  else
-  {
-    GstClockID id = gst_clock_new_single_shot_id (clock, time);
-
+    return sclass->clock_wait (sched, element, id, jitter);
+  else 
     return gst_clock_id_wait (id, jitter);
-  }
 
   return GST_CLOCK_TIMEOUT;
 }
diff --git a/gst/gstscheduler.h b/gst/gstscheduler.h
index bcb83ee32a..99f4755a43 100644
--- a/gst/gstscheduler.h
+++ b/gst/gstscheduler.h
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ struct _GstSchedulerClass {
   void 			(*pad_disconnect)	(GstScheduler *sched, GstPad *srcpad, GstPad *sinkpad);
   void 			(*pad_select)		(GstScheduler *sched, GList *padlist);
   GstClockReturn	(*clock_wait)		(GstScheduler *sched, GstElement *element,
-		  				 GstClock *clock, GstClockTime time, GstClockTimeDiff *jitter);
+		  				 GstClockID id, GstClockTimeDiff *jitter);
   GstSchedulerState 	(*iterate)		(GstScheduler *sched);
   /* for debugging */
   void 			(*show)			(GstScheduler *sched);
@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@ void			gst_scheduler_pad_connect	(GstScheduler *sched, GstPad *srcpad, GstPad *s
 void			gst_scheduler_pad_disconnect	(GstScheduler *sched, GstPad *srcpad, GstPad *sinkpad);
 GstPad*                 gst_scheduler_pad_select 	(GstScheduler *sched, GList *padlist);
 GstClockReturn		gst_scheduler_clock_wait	(GstScheduler *sched, GstElement *element,
-							 GstClock *clock, GstClockTime time, GstClockTimeDiff *jitter);
+							 GstClockID id, GstClockTimeDiff *jitter);
 gboolean		gst_scheduler_iterate		(GstScheduler *sched);
 
 void			gst_scheduler_use_clock		(GstScheduler *sched, GstClock *clock);
diff --git a/gst/gstsystemclock.c b/gst/gstsystemclock.c
index e32f8aeff9..0297f57482 100644
--- a/gst/gstsystemclock.c
+++ b/gst/gstsystemclock.c
@@ -140,7 +140,7 @@ gst_system_clock_wait (GstClock *clock, GstClockEntry *entry)
   diff = GST_CLOCK_ENTRY_TIME (entry) - current;
 
   if (ABS (diff) > clock->max_diff) {
-    g_warning ("abnormal clock request diff: %lld > %lld", diff, clock->max_diff);
+    g_warning ("abnormal clock request diff: ABS(%lld) > %lld", diff, clock->max_diff);
     return GST_CLOCK_ENTRY_EARLY;
   }
   
diff --git a/gst/schedulers/gstbasicscheduler.c b/gst/schedulers/gstbasicscheduler.c
index e3118220d8..50352d9c88 100644
--- a/gst/schedulers/gstbasicscheduler.c
+++ b/gst/schedulers/gstbasicscheduler.c
@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@ static void     	gst_basic_scheduler_pad_connect		(GstScheduler *sched, GstPad *
 static void     	gst_basic_scheduler_pad_disconnect 	(GstScheduler *sched, GstPad *srcpad, GstPad *sinkpad);
 static GstPad*  	gst_basic_scheduler_pad_select 		(GstScheduler *sched, GList *padlist);
 static GstClockReturn	gst_basic_scheduler_clock_wait	 	(GstScheduler *sched, GstElement *element,
-								 GstClock *clock, GstClockTime time, GstClockTimeDiff *jitter);
+								 GstClockID id, GstClockTimeDiff *jitter);
 static GstSchedulerState
 			gst_basic_scheduler_iterate    		(GstScheduler *sched);
 
@@ -1261,12 +1261,8 @@ gst_basic_scheduler_pad_select (GstScheduler * sched, GList * padlist)
 
 static GstClockReturn
 gst_basic_scheduler_clock_wait (GstScheduler *sched, GstElement *element,
-				GstClock *clock, GstClockTime time, GstClockTimeDiff *jitter)
+				GstClockID id, GstClockTimeDiff *jitter)
 {
-  GstClockID id;
-  
-  id = gst_clock_new_single_shot_id (clock, time);
-
   return gst_clock_id_wait (id, jitter);
 }
 
diff --git a/gst/schedulers/gstoptimalscheduler.c b/gst/schedulers/gstoptimalscheduler.c
index 3fda03668a..390061c0f9 100644
--- a/gst/schedulers/gstoptimalscheduler.c
+++ b/gst/schedulers/gstoptimalscheduler.c
@@ -205,7 +205,7 @@ static void     	gst_opt_scheduler_pad_connect		(GstScheduler *sched, GstPad *sr
 static void     	gst_opt_scheduler_pad_disconnect 	(GstScheduler *sched, GstPad *srcpad, GstPad *sinkpad);
 static GstPad*  	gst_opt_scheduler_pad_select 		(GstScheduler *sched, GList *padlist);
 static GstClockReturn   gst_opt_scheduler_clock_wait        	(GstScheduler *sched, GstElement *element,
-	                                                         GstClock *clock, GstClockTime time, GstClockTimeDiff *jitter);
+	                                                         GstClockID id, GstClockTimeDiff *jitter);
 static GstSchedulerState
 			gst_opt_scheduler_iterate    		(GstScheduler *sched);
 
@@ -1496,12 +1496,8 @@ gst_opt_scheduler_pad_select (GstScheduler *sched, GList *padlist)
 
 static GstClockReturn
 gst_opt_scheduler_clock_wait (GstScheduler *sched, GstElement *element,
-	                      GstClock *clock, GstClockTime time, GstClockTimeDiff *jitter)
+	                      GstClockID id, GstClockTimeDiff *jitter)
 {
-  GstClockID id;
-  
-  id = gst_clock_new_single_shot_id (clock, time);
-
   return gst_clock_id_wait (id, jitter);
 }
 
diff --git a/plugins/elements/gstfakesink.c b/plugins/elements/gstfakesink.c
index 20abe3913f..886cd065e3 100644
--- a/plugins/elements/gstfakesink.c
+++ b/plugins/elements/gstfakesink.c
@@ -282,7 +282,10 @@ gst_fakesink_chain (GstPad *pad, GstBuffer *buf)
   }
 
   if (fakesink->sync && fakesink->clock) { 
-    gst_element_clock_wait (GST_ELEMENT (fakesink), fakesink->clock, GST_BUFFER_TIMESTAMP (buf), NULL);
+    GstClockID id = gst_clock_new_single_shot_id (fakesink->clock, GST_BUFFER_TIMESTAMP (buf));
+
+    gst_element_clock_wait (GST_ELEMENT (fakesink), id, NULL);
+    gst_clock_id_free (id);
   }
 
   if (!fakesink->silent) {