Short-Term Investments

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Short-Term Investments [Abstract]

Short-Term Investments

7. Short-Term Investments

Short-term investments consist of U.S. government agency and government sponsored enterprise obligations. The Company accounts for these short-term investments as required by FASB ASC Topic No. 320, Investments-Debt and Equity Securities. These debt and equity securities are not classified as either held-to-maturity securities or trading securities. As such, they are classified as available-for-sale securities. Available-for-sale securities are recorded at fair value, with unrealized gains or losses recorded as a separate component of accumulated other comprehensive income in stockholders’ equity until realized. Available-for-sale securities with contractual maturities of less than 12 months were as follows (in thousands):

	September 30, 2012							December 31, 2011
			Amortized		Gross unrealized					Amortized		Gross unrealized
	Fair value		cost basis		gain(loss)			Fair value		cost basis		gain(loss)
Corporate notes, bonds and paper	$	13,414	$	13,409	$	5		$	31,180	$	31,217	$	(37	)
Government securities		3,558		3,559		(1	)		7,317		7,321		(4	)
Total	$	16,972	$	16,968	$	4		$	38,497	$	38,538	$	(41	)

There was a de minimis amount of realized gains recognized for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2012.