Fair Value Measurements and Auction Rate Securities (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Fair Value Measurements and Auction Rate Securities [Abstract]

Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis

The following table presents the auction rate securities measured at fair value on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) for the interim periods presented (in thousands):



	Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2012			2011			2012			2011

Balance as of July 1 and January 1, respectively	$	1,506		$	1,975		$	1,956		$	2,001
Total gains (realized or unrealized):
Recognized gains included in earnings	118			6			118			15
Settlements	(1,624		)	(25		)	(2,074		)	(60		)
Balance as of September 30	$	—		$	1,956		$	—		$	1,956

- Definition

Tabular disclosure of assets, including [financial] instruments measured at fair value that are classified in stockholders' equity, if any, by class that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis. The disclosures contemplated herein include the fair value measurements at the reporting date by the level within the fair value hierarchy in which the fair value measurements in their entirety fall, segregating fair value measurements using quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (Level 1), significant other observable inputs (Level 2), and significant unobservable inputs (Level 3).

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