Income Taxes Income Taxes (Deferred Tax Assets And Liabilities) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Aug. 31, 2012	Aug. 31, 2011
Deferred tax assets:
Deferred compensation and employee benefits	$ 52,113	$ 49,317
Net operating losses and credits	110,553	63,866
Reserves and other accrued expenses	41,516	44,683
Allowance for doubtful accounts	5,816	10,423
Inventory	1,881	3,603
Intangibles	9,668	11,098
Other	15,062	7,881
Total deferred tax assets	236,609	190,871
Valuation Allowance for deferred tax assets	(25,779)	(75,289)
Deferred tax assets, net	210,830	115,582
Deferred tax liabilities:
Fixed Assets	111,777	84,825
Other	5,012	5,996
Total deferred tax liabilities	116,789	90,821
Deferred tax assets, net of deferred tax liabilities	$ 94,041	$ 24,761