Accounts receivable, net

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Accounts receivable, net [Abstract]

Accounts receivable, net

2.  Accounts receivable, net

Accounts receivable are shown net of an allowance for doubtful accounts that we anticipate will not be paid by our customers. A summary of the allowance activity for the years ended December 31 is as follows:

	(in thousands)
	2011			2010			2009
Balance at beginning of year	$	2,152		$	1,943		$	2,646
Provision for losses		1,081			918			247
Write-offs, net of recoveries		(589	)		(709	)		(950	)
Balance at end of year	$	2,644		$	2,152		$	1,943