Note 13 - Employee Stock Option and Retirement Plans (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Nov. 30, 2013

Note 13 - Employee Stock Option and Retirement Plans (Tables) [Line Items]

Schedule of Share-based Compensation, Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights Award Activity [Table Text Block]

	Number Outstanding			Weighted Average Exercise Price Per Share
Balance at August 31, 2013		4,729		$	75.95
Granted – non-performance-based		36			108.64
Granted – performance-based		36			110.31
Exercised		(136	)		59.38
Forfeited		(10	)		79.22
Balance at November 30, 2013		4,655		$	76.94

Schedule of Share-based Compensation, Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units Activity [Table Text Block]

	Number  Outstanding			Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value Per Award
Balance at August 31, 2013		358		$	80.43
Granted (restricted stock and stock units)		162		$	102.27
Vested*		(63	)	$	83.49
Canceled/forfeited		(2	)	$	69.27
Balance at November 30, 2013		455		$	87.69

Schedule of Share Based Awards Available For Grant [Table Text Block]

	Share-based Awards Available for Grant under the Employee Option Plan			Share-based Awards Available for Grant under the Non-Employee Directors Plan
Balance at August 31, 2013		3,116			107
Granted – non performance-based options		(36	)		-
Granted – performance-based options		(36	)		-
Restricted stock awards granted*		(404	)		-
Share-based awards canceled/forfeited*		16			-
Balance at November 30, 2013		2,656			107

Performance Shares [Member]

Note 13 - Employee Stock Option and Retirement Plans (Tables) [Line Items]

ScheduleOfShareBasedCompensationVestingPercentageAndRelatedExpensesTableTextBlock

Vesting Percentage	Total Unamortized Stock-based Compensation Expense at November 30, 2013		Cumulative Catch-up Adjustment*			Average Remaining Quarterly Expense to be Recognized
0%	$	-	$	(1,550	)	$	-
20%	$	3,198	$	-		$	204
60%	$	9,594	$	3,100		$	612
100%	$	15,990	$	6,200		$	1,020

July 2012 Performance Based [Member]

Note 13 - Employee Stock Option and Retirement Plans (Tables) [Line Items]

ScheduleOfShareBasedCompensationVestingPercentageAndRelatedExpensesTableTextBlock

Vesting Percentage	Cumulative Catch-up Adjustment**			Remaining Expense to be Recognized
First 20%*		n/a			n/a*
Second 20%	$	(439	)	$	1,161
Third 20%	$	544		$	2,217
Fourth 20%	$	1,029		$	3,332
Fifth 20%	$	1,648		$	4,313