$ syslog -c 0
Master filter mask: Off

$ syslog -c syslogd
ASL Data Store filter mask: Emergency - Debug

$ syslog -s -l 7 "Unicorns and debug (level 7) syslog messages are great"

$ syslog -w 10

[message about unicorns does not appear]

$ syslog -s -l 5 "how come level 5 (notice) *does* work?"

$ syslog -w 5

[message about level 5 appears]

[wtf]