Financial Instruments and Fair Value Measurements (Financial Assets that are Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Investments in money market funds	$ 56,329	$ 74,539
Total financial assets	26,611	16,678
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Total financial assets	26,611	16,678
Investments in Money Market Funds [Member]
Investments in money market funds	19,390	10,823
Investments in Money Market Funds [Member] \| Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Investments in money market funds	19,390	10,823
Equity Securities [Member]
Equity securities	7,221	5,855
Equity Securities [Member] \| Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Equity securities	$ 7,221	$ 5,855

This element represents the portion of the balance sheet assertion valued at fair value by the entity whether such amount is presented as a separate caption or as a parenthetical disclosure. Additionally, this element may be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements. The element may be used in both the balance sheet and disclosure in the same submission. This item includes currency on hand as well as demand deposits with banks or financial institutions. It also includes other kinds of accounts that have the general characteristics of demand deposits in that the Company may deposit additional funds at any time and also effectively may withdraw funds at any time without prior notice or penalty. Cash equivalents, excluding items classified as marketable securities, include short-term, highly liquid investments that are both readily convertible to known amounts of cash, and so near their maturity that they present minimal risk of changes in value because of changes in interest rates. Generally, only investments with original maturities of three months or less qualify under that definition. Original maturity means original maturity to the entity holding the investment. For example, both a three-month US Treasury bill and a three-year Treasury note purchased three months from maturity qualify as cash equivalents. However, a Treasury note purchased three years ago does not become a cash equivalent when its remaining maturity is three months.

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This element represents the portion of the balance sheet assertion valued at fair value by the entity whether such amount is presented as a separate caption or as a parenthetical disclosure. Additionally, this element may be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements. The element may be used in both the balance sheet and disclosure in the same submission. This item represents Trading Securities which consist of all investments in certain debt and equity securities that are bought and held principally for the purpose of selling them in the near term (thus held for only a short period of time) or for which an entity has elected the fair value option. Trading generally reflects active and frequent buying and selling, and trading securities are generally used with the objective of generating profits on short-term differences in price, but this category of investments may also include items which are not intended to be sold in the near term or for which the fair value option has been elected.

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