Note 3 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

Fair Value Disclosures [Text Block]

Note 3.  Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The inputs used to measure fair value are summarized in the three broad levels listed below:

• Level 1 — Quoted prices in active markets for identical securities;

• Level 2 — Other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices in active markets for similar securities); and

• Level 3 — Significant unobservable inputs (including the Company’s own assumptions in determining fair value of investments).

The following table sets forth by level, within the fair value hierarchy, financial assets and liabilities accounted for at fair value as of March 31, 2012. As required by ASC 820-10, assets and liabilities are classified in their entirety based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement.

	March 31, 2012		Quoted Prices in Active Market for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Money market funds	$	684,840	$	684,840	$	—	$	—
Option to purchase interest in affiliated company	$	5,742		—		—		5,742

Option to Purchase Interest in Affiliated Company. The Company estimated the fair value of the option to purchase an interest in an affiliated company to be $5,742 and $12,362 at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively, using the multiple of earnings method based on a number of factors and assumptions regarding the affiliated company’s potential future revenue and projected earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA). The decrease in fair value of $6,620 was recorded in the statement of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2012.

Financial Instruments.  The carrying amount of the Company’s cash, accounts receivable, accounts payable, accrued compensation and benefits, and accrued expenses approximated their estimated fair values at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 because of the short-term nature of these instruments.