Discontinued Operations (Financial Information For Discontinued Operations) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
May 31, 2012	May 31, 2011	May 31, 2012	May 31, 2011	Aug. 31, 2011
Financial information for discontinued operations
Current assets	$ 41,245		$ 41,245		$ 52,272
Noncurrent assets	0		0		51,659
Current liabilities	10,641		10,641		41,115
Noncurrent liabilities	0		0		13,653
Revenue	6,545	14,132	30,547	32,755
Earnings (loss) before taxes	$ 2,429	$ (9,046)	$ (22,780)	$ (34,707)

Overall income (loss) from a disposal group that is classified as a component of the entity, before income tax, reported as a separate component of income before extraordinary items. Includes the following (before income tax): income (loss) from operations during the phase-out period, gain (loss) on disposal, provision (or any reversals of earlier provisions) for loss on disposal, and adjustments of a prior period gain (loss) on disposal.

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Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of current obligations (due less than one year or one operating cycle, if longer) arising from the sale, disposal or planned sale in the near future (generally within one year) of a disposal group, including a component of the entity (discontinued operation).

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- Definition

Carrying value of noncurrent obligations (due more than one year or one operating cycle, whichever is longer) relating to the sale, disposal or planned sale in the near future (generally within one year) of a disposal group, including a component of the entity (discontinued operation), as of the balance sheet date.

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