Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Nov. 30, 2013	Nov. 30, 2012
Operating activities:
Net income	$ 1,064	$ 383
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash used in operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	148	180
Bad debt expense (recovery)	142	(18)
Change in inventory reserve	14	(62)
Gain on sale of real property	(535)	0
Net (gain) loss on trading securities	(91)	22
(Increase) decrease in:
Trade accounts receivable	(910)	(56)
Inventory	(235)	(823)
Prepaid expenses and other assets	141	330
Deferred tax asset	(100)	58
Increase (decrease) in:
Trade accounts payable	346	142
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	(428)	(582)
Deposit liability	(24)	(74)
Liabilities of discontinued operations	(54)	(39)
Net cash used in operating activities	(522)	(539)
Investing activities:
Purchase of property and equipment	(252)	(345)
Sale (purchase) of marketable securities, trading	1,041	(223)
Proceeds from sale of real property	1,139	0
Proceeds from securities sold short	1,519	831
Increase in restricted cash	(1,519)	(832)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	1,928	(569)
Financing activities:
Net (payments) borrowings on revolving credit facility	(67)	150
Bank overdraft	343	691
Preferred dividend	(19)	(19)
Borrowing of long-term debt	0	0
Payments on long-term debt for assets held for leasing and held for sale	(452)	(243)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(195)	579
Effect of foreign currency exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	70	100
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	1,281	(429)
Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of period	1,507	2,568
Cash and cash equivalents - end of period	2,788	2,139
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest	100	169
Cash paid for taxes	$ 674	$ 196