Business Segments (Details 4) (USD $) In Thousands	Aug. 31, 2011	Aug. 31, 2010	Aug. 31, 2009
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
United States	$ 944,851	$ 1,062,080	$ 1,186,624
Total long-lived assets	1,356,878	1,530,947	1,690,004
Europe [Member]
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Long-lived assets by geographic area	364,207	443,986	462,412
Australia/New Zealand [Member]
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Long-lived assets by geographic area	38,973	16,725	19,286
Other [Member]
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Long-lived assets by geographic area	$ 8,847	$ 8,156	$ 21,682

Amount of long-lived assets other than financial instruments, long-term customer relationships of a financial institution, mortgage and other servicing rights, deferred policy acquisition costs, and deferred tax assets, located in the entity's country of domicile.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 131

-Paragraph 38

-Subparagraph b(1)

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 280

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 41

-Subparagraph (b)

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+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 131

-Paragraph 38

-Subparagraph b(2)

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 280

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