Note 14 - Employee Stock Option and Retirement Plans (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Aug. 31, 2014

Employee Stock Option And Retirement Plans [Abstract]

Schedule of Share-based Compensation, Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights Award Activity [Table Text Block]

	Number Outstanding			Weighted Average Exercise Price Per Share
Balance at August 31, 2011		6,132		$	57.28
Granted – non performance-based		540			93.96
Granted – performance-based		907			93.80
Granted – non-employee Directors grant		21			87.26
Exercised		(731	)		35.96
Forfeited*		(786	)		87.37
Balance at August 31, 2012		6,083		$	64.76
Granted – non performance-based		645			92.22
Granted – performance-based		1,011			92.22
Granted – non-employee Directors grant		19			91.06
Exercised		(2,286	)		52.25
Forfeited**		(743	)		93.84
Balance at August 31, 2013		4,729		$	75.95
Granted – non performance-based		174			103.36
Granted – performance-based		203			109.56
Granted – non-employee Directors grant		14			107.65
Exercised		(789	)		57.56
Forfeited***		(849	)		91.98
Balance at August 31, 2014		3,482		$	79.67

Schedule of Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, by Exercise Price Range [Table Text Block]

					Outstanding						Exercisable
Range of Exercise Prices Per Share			Number Outstanding		Weighted Average Remaining Years of Contractual Life		Weighted Average Exercise Price Per Share		Aggregate Intrinsic Value		Number Exercisable		Weighted Average Exercise Price Per Share		Aggregate Intrinsic Value
$29.00	-	$58.78		356		0.9	$	35.28	$	32,845		356	$	35.28	$	32,845
$63.09	-	$65.67		527		1.7	$	64.23	$	33,265		386	$	64.65	$	24,211
$66.46	-	$66.81		565		2.1	$	66.47	$	34,411		528	$	66.47	$	32,188
$87.26	-	$91.06		489		6.5	$	90.21	$	18,192		229	$	89.80	$	8,599
$92.22	-	$92.55		751		8.1	$	92.22	$	26,416		195	$	92.23	$	6,852
$94.84	-	$103.30		542		7.5	$	96.90	$	16,535		205	$	95.11	$	6,612
$107.65	-	$110.31		252		9.1	$	109.32	$	4,559		0	$	109.32	$	0
Total Fiscal 2014				3,482		5.2	$	79.67	$	166,223		1,899	$	68.78	$	111,307

Schedule of Share-based Compensation, Stock Options, Activity [Table Text Block]

Prior Year Amounts		2013				2012
	Number of Shares		Weighted Average Exercise Price Per Share		Number of Shares		Weighted Average Exercise Price Per Share
Outstanding at fiscal year end		4,729	$	75.95		6,083	$	64.76
Exercisable at fiscal year end		1,925	$	59.70		2,858	$	48.44

Schedule of Share-based Compensation, Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units Activity [Table Text Block]

	Number  Outstanding			Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value Per Award
Balance at August 31, 2011		407		$	71.31
Granted (restricted stock and stock units)		-			-
Vested		(14	)		69.02
Canceled/forfeited		(10	)		77.13
Balance at August 31, 2012		383		$	71.34
Granted (restricted stock and stock units)		132			85.80
Vested*		(150	)		62.34
Canceled/forfeited		(7	)		81.38
Balance at August 31, 2013		358		$	80.43
Granted (restricted stock and stock units)		204			101.95
Vested**		(135	)		84.48
Canceled/forfeited		(59	)		86.39
Balance at August 31, 2014		368		$	89.77

Schedule of Share Based Awards Available For Grant [Table Text Block]

	Share-based Awards Available for Grant under Employee Stock Option Plans			Share-based Awards Available for Grant under Non-Employee Stock Option Plans
Balance at August 31, 2011		4,977			147
Granted – non performance-based options		(540	)		-
Granted – performance-based options		(907	)		-
Granted – non-employee Directors grant		-			(21	)
Restricted stock awards granted*		-			-
Share-based awards canceled/forfeited		810			-
Balance at August 31, 2012		4,340			126
Granted – non performance-based options		(645	)		-
Granted – performance-based options		(1,011	)		-
Granted – non-employee Directors grant		-			(19	)
Restricted stock awards granted*		(329	)		-
Share-based awards canceled/forfeited		761			-
Balance at August 31, 2013		3,116			107
Granted – non performance-based options		(174	)		-
Granted – performance-based options		(203	)		-
Granted – non-employee Directors grant		-			(14	)
Restricted stock awards granted*		(510	)		-
Share-based awards canceled/forfeited		993			9
Balance at August 31, 2014		3,222			102