Total amount of liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis.

No definition available.

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- Definition

Losses during the period from liabilities measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Restructuring obligations initially measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis.

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- Definition

This element represents the aggregate of the assets reported on the balance sheet at period end measured at fair value on a recurring basis by the entity. This element is intended to be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

This element represents the portion of the balance sheet assertion valued at fair value by the entity whether such amount is presented as a separate caption or as a parenthetical disclosure. Additionally, this element may be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements. The element may be used in both the balance sheet and disclosure in the same submission. This item includes currency on hand as well as demand deposits with banks or financial institutions. It also includes other kinds of accounts that have the general characteristics of demand deposits in that the Company may deposit additional funds at any time and also effectively may withdraw funds at any time without prior notice or penalty. Cash equivalents, excluding items classified as marketable securities, include short-term, highly liquid investments that are both readily convertible to known amounts of cash, and so near their maturity that they present minimal risk of changes in value because of changes in interest rates. Generally, only investments with original maturities of three months or less qualify under that definition. Original maturity means original maturity to the entity holding the investment. For example, both a three-month US Treasury bill and a three-year Treasury note purchased three months from maturity qualify as cash equivalents. However, a Treasury note purchased three years ago does not become a cash equivalent when its remaining maturity is three months.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

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-Paragraph 8

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-Name Accounting Standards Codification

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- Definition

This element represents a certain statement of financial position liability caption which represents a class of liabilities, or which may include an individual liability, measured at fair value on a recurring basis.

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- Definition

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

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-Glossary Trading Securities

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Aggregation of the liabilities reported on the balance sheet measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis by the entity.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Amount charged against earnings in the period for incurred and estimated costs associated with exit from or disposal of business activities or restructurings pursuant to a duly authorized plan, excluding asset retirement obligations.

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Fair Value Measurements (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended				3 Months Ended
Fair Value Measurements (Details) (USD $)	Nov. 30, 2012	Nov. 30, 2011	Nov. 30, 2012 Recurring Fair Value Measurement [Member]	Aug. 31, 2012 Recurring Fair Value Measurement [Member]	Nov. 30, 2012 Nonrecurring Fair Value Measurement [Member]	Nov. 30, 2012 Nonrecurring Fair Value Measurement [Member] Lease Abandonment Obligation [Member]	Nov. 30, 2012 Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets/Liabilities (Level 1) [Member] Recurring Fair Value Measurement [Member]	Aug. 31, 2012 Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets/Liabilities (Level 1) [Member] Recurring Fair Value Measurement [Member]	Nov. 30, 2012 Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets/Liabilities (Level 1) [Member] Nonrecurring Fair Value Measurement [Member]	Nov. 30, 2012 Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] Recurring Fair Value Measurement [Member]	Aug. 31, 2012 Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] Recurring Fair Value Measurement [Member]	Nov. 30, 2012 Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] Nonrecurring Fair Value Measurement [Member]	Nov. 30, 2012 Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member] Recurring Fair Value Measurement [Member]	Aug. 31, 2012 Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member] Recurring Fair Value Measurement [Member]	Nov. 30, 2012 Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member] Nonrecurring Fair Value Measurement [Member]
Assets and liabilities measured on a recurring and nonrecurring basis [Line Items]
Money market funds (cash and cash equivalents)			$ 900,056,000	$ 629,166,000			$ 900,056,000	$ 629,166,000		$ 0	$ 0		$ 0	$ 0
Auction-rate securities (other assets)			5,946,000	5,946,000			0	0		0	0		5,946,000	5,946,000
Total assets at fair value on a recurring basis			906,002,000	635,112,000			900,056,000	629,166,000		0	0		5,946,000	5,946,000
Contingent payment (other long-term liabilities)	6,000,000		6,000,000				0			0			6,000,000
Total liabilities at fair value on a recurring basis			6,000,000				0			0			6,000,000
Initial restructuring obligation					422,000				0			0			422,000
Losses for period	24,116,000	5,562,000				422,000
Total liabilities at fair value on a nonrecurring basis					422,000				0			0			422,000
Total liabilities at fair value on a nonrecurring basis, losses					$ 422,000