Income Taxes (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2012	Aug. 31, 2012	Aug. 31, 2011	Aug. 31, 2010	Aug. 31, 2009
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Net Income tax payments (refunds)		$ 17,200,000	$ (79,900,000)	$ (38,400,000)
Federal net operating losses carry forward		217,200,000
State net operating losses carry forward		332,800,000
Foreign net operating losses carry forward		57,500,000
Valuation allowance against deferred tax assets		49,500,000
Reinvestments of Undistributed Earnings of Other Than Domestic Subsidiaries	472,500,000	472,500,000
Effective tax rate from discontinued operations	84.90%		2.00%	(2.60%)
Tax benefit related to federal and state research and development tax credits		11,500,000	0	0
Statutory tax rate		35.00%
Gross unrecognized tax benefits	27,384,000	27,384,000	10,762,000	20,367,000	1,532,000
Accrued interest and penalties on unrecognized tax benefits	2,000,000	2,000,000
Unrecognized tax benefits including accrued interest and penalties	29,400,000	29,400,000
Increase decrease accrued interest and penalties on unrecognized tax benefits		500,000
Possible unrecognized tax benefit reversal in next 12 months	12,200,000	12,200,000
Statement [Line Items]
Tax benefit related to investment in subsidiary		102,104,000	0	0
CMCS [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Tax loss related to investment in subsidiary		291,000,000
Tax benefit related to investment in subsidiary		102,100,000
Internal Revenue Service (IRS) [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Income tax expense due to settlement of prior year audit		$ 800,000