modprobe usb_storage
manually adds the module which gets the Alcor card reader working.

modinfo usb_storage
filename:       /lib/modules/2.6.28-11-generic/kernel/drivers/usb/storage/usb-storage.ko
license:        GPL
description:    USB Mass Storage driver for Linux
author:         Matthew Dharm <email address hidden>
srcversion:     C3D12A8E3004821BCCAB146
depends:        
vermagic:       2.6.28-11-generic SMP mod_unload modversions 586 
parm:           option_zero_cd:ZeroCD mode (1=Force Modem (default), 2=Allow CD-Rom (uint)
parm:           swi_tru_install:TRU-Install mode (1=Full Logic (def), 2=Force CD-Rom, 3=Force Modem) (uint)
parm:           delay_use:seconds to delay before using a new device (uint)

Log output produced by module load request:
May 21 19:48:20 ad2k1g kernel: [  987.408083] Initializing USB Mass Storage driver...
May 21 19:48:20 ad2k1g kernel: [  987.408308] scsi6 : SCSI emulation for USB Mass Storage devices
May 21 19:48:20 ad2k1g kernel: [  987.412657] usbcore: registered new interface driver usb-storage
May 21 19:48:20 ad2k1g kernel: [  987.412667] USB Mass Storage support registered.
May 21 19:48:25 ad2k1g kernel: [  992.414151] scsi 6:0:0:0: Direct-Access     Generic  USB SD Reader    1.00 PQ: 0 ANSI: 0
May 21 19:48:25 ad2k1g kernel: [  992.415645] scsi 6:0:0:1: Direct-Access     Generic  USB CF Reader    1.01 PQ: 0 ANSI: 0
May 21 19:48:25 ad2k1g kernel: [  992.417166] scsi 6:0:0:2: Direct-Access     Generic  USB SM Reader    1.02 PQ: 0 ANSI: 0
May 21 19:48:25 ad2k1g kernel: [  992.418648] scsi 6:0:0:3: Direct-Access     Generic  USB MS Reader    1.03 PQ: 0 ANSI: 0
May 21 19:48:25 ad2k1g kernel: [  992.430223] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] Attached SCSI removable disk
May 21 19:48:25 ad2k1g kernel: [  992.430381] sd 6:0:0:0: Attached scsi generic sg2 type 0
May 21 19:48:25 ad2k1g kernel: [  992.434077] sd 6:0:0:1: [sdc] Attached SCSI removable disk
May 21 19:48:25 ad2k1g kernel: [  992.434373] sd 6:0:0:1: Attached scsi generic sg3 type 0
May 21 19:48:25 ad2k1g kernel: [  992.437349] sd 6:0:0:2: [sdd] Attached SCSI removable disk
May 21 19:48:25 ad2k1g kernel: [  992.438047] sd 6:0:0:2: Attached scsi generic sg4 type 0
May 21 19:48:25 ad2k1g kernel: [  992.443307] sd 6:0:0:3: [sde] Attached SCSI removable disk
May 21 19:48:25 ad2k1g kernel: [  992.443449] sd 6:0:0:3: Attached scsi generic sg5 type 0

The delimiter between usb and storage can be easy to misquote as the .ko file is usb-storage.ko but the
actual module name is usb_storage.
If you are unclear then just modinfo (as shown above) to check you have it right.

<To Alex Wauck>
 These messages differ from the ehci_hcd message you are getting but might add something to the information regarding your problem, in particular, in your case should scsi or sd be somehow initiated by your kernel? (as is the case on this machine).
</To Alex Wauck>

Kernel observation regarding usbcore: I am assuming this is somehow now a permanent part of Kern2628 rather than a module. I say this as doing lsmod on the newer kernel when usb_storage is loaded does not list usbcore as a module
(see attached 71 module list produced by lsmod after manual usb_storage loading)

Opinion/Conclusion (optional of course)
The Jaunty kernel (2.6.28) seems to load far fewer modules than the Intrepid kernel (2.6.27) on this particular machine
120 modules for Intrepid has now been pared down to 71 when running the newer Kernel.

My guess is this is probably working towards a wider effort to reduce boot times and in some cases remove old code from the kernel (libusual?). If this is the case then I applaud this effort and accept that some usb devices might be affected (hopefully a small number - Ubuntu kernel team will know in coming months).

Final Note regarding Upgrades and card readers: If your internal card reader has stopped working after you upgrade, then look at the output of lspci and lsusb to make sure you understand which type you really have. In particular If you are running a recent Dell laptop then you may well have a Ricoh pci based internal card reader and would then be unaffected by card reader detection failure mentioned in this bug report.