Unfortunately today's upgrades seem to have brought the problem back.
cat /proc/asound/version Advanced Linux Sound Architecture Driver Version 1.0.21.
uname -a Linux ERIC 2.6.32-23-generic #37-Ubuntu SMP Fri Jun 11 08:03:28 UTC 2010 x86_64 GNU/Linux
Unfortunately today's upgrades seem to have brought the problem back.
cat /proc/asound/ version
Advanced Linux Sound Architecture Driver Version 1.0.21.
uname -a
Linux ERIC 2.6.32-23-generic #37-Ubuntu SMP Fri Jun 11 08:03:28 UTC 2010 x86_64 GNU/Linux