Investments (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended									3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012 ModusLink [Member]	Mar. 12, 2013 HNH [Member]	Mar. 11, 2013 HNH [Member] ModusLink [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Steel Partner Holdings & HNH [Member] ModusLink [Member]	Mar. 12, 2013 Steel Partner Holdings [Member] ModusLink [Member]	Feb. 11, 2013 Steel Partner Holdings [Member] ModusLink [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Unrealized Gain (Loss) On Available-For-Sale Securities [Member] ModusLink [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Investment in associated company	$ 19,606,000		$ 17,229,000
Equity Method Investment, Number of Shares Owned (in shares)						6,481,185
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage (as a percent)					11.60%	14.70%	27.20%	15.60%
Unrealized gain on available-for-sale investments, net of tax										(4,300,000)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Unrealized Holding Gain (Loss) on Securities Arising During Period, Tax	3,041,000	(38,000)								1,900,000
Equity Method Investment, Number of Shares Purchased (in shares)									7,500,000
Sale of Stock, Price Per Share (in dollars per share)									$ 4.00
Equity Method Investment, Number of Warrants Purchased (in shares)									2,000,000
Class of Warrant or Right, Exercise Price of Warrants or Rights									5.00
Available-for-sale Equity Securities, Amortized Cost Basis				24,300,000
Available-for-sale Securities, Fair Value Disclosure				17,200,000
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments	$ (2,837,000)	$ 0