Note 13 - Employee Stock Option and Retirement Plans (Details) - Summary of Stock Option Activity (USD $)	0 Months Ended			1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended				12 Months Ended
	Jan. 15, 2013	Jan. 13, 2012	Jan. 14, 2011	Jul. 31, 2012	Aug. 31, 2013	May 31, 2013	May 31, 2012	Feb. 29, 2012	Aug. 31, 2013	Aug. 31, 2012	Aug. 31, 2011
Note 13 - Employee Stock Option and Retirement Plans (Details) - Summary of Stock Option Activity [Line Items]
Number outstanding									6,083,000	6,132,000	6,451,000
Weighted average exercise price per share (in Dollars per share)									$ 64.76	$ 57.28	$ 47.73
Granted, Number outstanding	18,781	20,976	14,514	241,546	0	0	0	0	1,674,966	1,468,513	998,038
Exercised, Number outstanding									(2,286,000)	(731,000)	(1,209,000)
Exercised, Weighted average exercise price per share (in Dollars per share)									$ 52.25	$ 35.96	$ 32.08
Forfeited, Number outstanding									(743,000)	(786,000)	(108,000)
Forfeited, Weighted average exercise price per share (in Dollars per share)									$ 93.84	$ 87.37	$ 66.55
Number outstanding					4,729,000				4,729,000	6,083,000	6,132,000
Weighted average exercise price per share (in Dollars per share)					$ 75.95				$ 75.95	$ 64.76	$ 57.28
Non-Performance Based [Member]
Note 13 - Employee Stock Option and Retirement Plans (Details) - Summary of Stock Option Activity [Line Items]
Granted, Number outstanding									645,000	540,000	91,000
Granted, Weighted average exercise price per share (in Dollars per share)									$ 92.22	$ 93.96	$ 89.45
Performance Based [Member]
Note 13 - Employee Stock Option and Retirement Plans (Details) - Summary of Stock Option Activity [Line Items]
Granted, Number outstanding									1,011,000	907,000	892,000
Granted, Weighted average exercise price per share (in Dollars per share)									$ 92.22	$ 93.80	$ 89.39
Non-Employee Director Grant [Member]
Note 13 - Employee Stock Option and Retirement Plans (Details) - Summary of Stock Option Activity [Line Items]
Granted, Number outstanding									19,000	21,000	15,000
Granted, Weighted average exercise price per share (in Dollars per share)									$ 91.06	$ 87.26	$ 95.05