Note 15 - Income Taxes (Details) - Components of the Provision for Income Taxes (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2013		Aug. 31, 2012	Aug. 31, 2011
Current
U.S. federal	$ 52,625		$ 73,272	$ 53,925
U.S. state and local	3,309		4,305	4,833
Non-U.S.	11,188		10,224	10,728
Total current taxes	67,122		87,801	69,486
Deferred
U.S. federal	5,036		(1,405)	(606)
U.S. state and local	358		(152)	(27)
Non-U.S.	(243)		(348)	(941)
Total deferred taxes	5,151		(1,905)	(1,574)
Total provision for income taxes	$ 72,273	[1]	$ 85,896	$ 67,912	[2]

[1] Includes income tax benefits of $7.2 million primarily from the reenactment of the U.S. Federal R&D tax credit in January 2013 and the finalization of the fiscal 2012 tax return. The reenactment of the credit was retroactive to January 1, 2012 and extends through the end of the 2013 calendar year. The fiscal 2013 annual effective tax rate before discrete items of $7.2 million was 28.9%.

[2] Includes income tax benefits of $6.3 million from the finalization of the fiscal 2010 tax return and the reenactment of the U.S. Federal R&D tax credit in December 2010. The fiscal 2011 annual effective tax rate before discrete items of $6.3 million was 30.9%.