Schedule II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts and Reserves (Details) (Allowance for Doubtful Accounts, Current, USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Aug. 31, 2012	Aug. 31, 2011	Aug. 31, 2010
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts, Current
Movement in Valuation Allowances and Reserves [Roll Forward]
Balance at Beginning of Year	$ 119,026	$ 99,535	$ 99,025
Additions: Charged to Costs and Expenses	7,380	31,792	6,688
Deductions: Write-offs, net of Recoveries	(14,621)	(12,301)	(6,178)
Balance at End of Year	$ 111,785	$ 119,026	$ 99,535

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Total of allowances and reserves, the valuation and qualifying accounts that are either netted against the cost of an asset (in order to value it at its carrying value) or that reflect a liability established to represent expected future costs.

+ References

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 09

-Article 12

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 235

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 4

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6881521&loc=d3e24092-122690

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- Definition

+ References

+ Details

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- Definition

Total of the deductions in a given period to allowances and reserves, the valuation and qualifying accounts that are either netted against the cost of an asset (in order to value it at its carrying value) or that reflect a liability established to represent expected future costs, representing receivables written off as uncollectible and portions of the reserves utilized, respectively.

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