Discontinued Operations (Financial Information For Discontinued Operations) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Aug. 31, 2012	Aug. 31, 2011	Aug. 31, 2010
Financial information for discontinued operations
Current assets	$ 6,601	$ 52,272	$ 67,291
Noncurrent assets	0	51,659	127,837
Current liabilities	0	41,115	30,474
Noncurrent liabilities	0	13,653	19,544
Revenue	30,567	56,854	152,145
Earnings (loss) before taxes	$ (9,912)	$ (151,670)	$ (102,979)

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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