Note 9 - Senior Secured, Senior, Senior Exchangeable, Senior Amortizing and Senior Subordinated Notes (Detail) (USD $)	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended							12 Months Ended				13 Months Ended														0 Months Ended	12 Months Ended									1 Months Ended								12 Months Ended										12 Months Ended																																	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended												1 Months Ended																				0 Months Ended
	Feb. 28, 2010	Oct. 31, 2012	Jul. 31, 2012	Apr. 30, 2012	Jan. 31, 2012	Oct. 31, 2011	Jul. 31, 2011	Apr. 30, 2011	Oct. 31, 2012	Oct. 31, 2011	Oct. 31, 2010	Oct. 31, 2009	Nov. 30, 2012	Mar. 15, 2011	Feb. 14, 2011	Jan. 31, 2010	Oct. 31, 2012 Subsequent Event [Member] Secured Group [Member]	May 27, 2008 Net [Member] 11.5% Senior Secured Notes Due 2013 [Member]	Oct. 20, 2009 Net [Member] 10.625% Senior Secured Notes Due 2016 [Member]	Oct. 31, 2012 Additional [Member] 6.25% Senior Notes Due 2016 [Member]	Oct. 31, 2012 Additional [Member] 7.5% Senior Notes Due 2016 [Member]	Oct. 31, 2012 Additional [Member] 8.625% Senior Notes Due 2017 [Member]	Oct. 02, 2012 Additional [Member] 10.625% Senior Secured Notes Due 2016 [Member]	Oct. 31, 2012 Additional [Member] First Lien Notes [Member]	Oct. 31, 2012 Additional [Member] Second Lien Notes [Member]	Oct. 02, 2012 Additional [Member] 6.00% Exchangeable Note Units [Member]	Oct. 02, 2012 Additional [Member] Senior Amortizing Notes [Member]	Oct. 31, 2012 Additional [Member]	Oct. 31, 2011 Additional [Member]	Feb. 14, 2011 Additional [Member]	Oct. 31, 2011 Additional 2 [Member] 5.0% Senior Secured Notes Due 2021 [Member]	Oct. 31, 2011 Additional 2 [Member] 2.0% Senior Secured Notes Due 2021 [Member]	Oct. 31, 2012 Additional 2 [Member] First Lien Notes [Member]	Oct. 31, 2012 Additional 2 [Member] Second Lien Notes [Member]	Oct. 31, 2011 Additional 2 [Member]	Feb. 14, 2011 Additional 2 [Member]	Apr. 30, 2012 Initial [Member] Common Class A [Member]	Oct. 31, 2012 Initial [Member] 6.25% Senior Notes Due 2016 [Member]	Oct. 31, 2012 Initial [Member] 7.5% Senior Notes Due 2016 [Member]	Oct. 31, 2012 Initial [Member] 8.625% Senior Notes Due 2017 [Member]	Oct. 02, 2012 Initial [Member] 10.625% Senior Secured Notes Due 2016 [Member]	Oct. 31, 2012 Initial [Member] 11.875% Senior Notes Due 2015 [Member]	Oct. 31, 2012 Initial [Member] First Lien Notes [Member]	Oct. 02, 2012 Initial [Member] 6.00% Exchangeable Note Units [Member]	Oct. 31, 2012 Initial [Member]	Oct. 31, 2012 Additional 3 [Member] First Lien Notes [Member]	Oct. 31, 2012 Additional 3 [Member] Second Lien Notes [Member]	Oct. 31, 2012 Additional 4 [Member] First Lien Notes [Member]	Oct. 31, 2012 Additional 4 [Member] Second Lien Notes [Member]	Oct. 31, 2012 Additional 5 [Member] First Lien Notes [Member]	Oct. 31, 2012 Additional 5 [Member] Second Lien Notes [Member]	Oct. 31, 2012 Additional 6 [Member] Second Lien Notes [Member]	Oct. 31, 2012 Additional 7 [Member] Second Lien Notes [Member]	Oct. 02, 2012 Per Annum [Member] Senior Amortizing Notes [Member]	Oct. 31, 2011 Common Class A [Member]	Oct. 31, 2012 5.0% Senior Secured Notes Due 2021 [Member]	Oct. 31, 2011 5.0% Senior Secured Notes Due 2021 [Member]	Oct. 31, 2012 2.0% Senior Secured Notes Due 2021 [Member]	Oct. 31, 2011 2.0% Senior Secured Notes Due 2021 [Member]	Oct. 31, 2012 6.5% Senior Notes Due 2014 [Member]	Oct. 31, 2011 6.5% Senior Notes Due 2014 [Member]	Jan. 31, 2010 6.5% Senior Notes Due 2014 [Member]	Nov. 03, 2003 6.5% Senior Notes Due 2014 [Member]	Oct. 31, 2012 6.375% Senior Notes Due 2014 [Member]	Oct. 31, 2011 6.375% Senior Notes Due 2014 [Member]	Jan. 31, 2010 6.375% Senior Notes Due 2014 [Member]	Mar. 18, 2004 6.375% Senior Notes Due 2014 [Member]	Mar. 18, 2004 9.125% Senior Notes Due 2009 [Member]	Mar. 18, 2004 Tem Loan [Member]	Oct. 31, 2012 6.25% Senior Notes Due 2015 [Member]	Oct. 31, 2011 6.25% Senior Notes Due 2015 [Member]	Jan. 31, 2010 6.25% Senior Notes Due 2015 [Member]	Nov. 30, 2004 6.25% Senior Notes Due 2015 [Member]	Oct. 31, 2012 6.25% Senior Notes Due 2016 [Member]	Oct. 02, 2012 6.25% Senior Notes Due 2016 [Member]	Oct. 31, 2011 6.25% Senior Notes Due 2016 [Member]	Aug. 08, 2005 6.25% Senior Notes Due 2016 [Member]	Oct. 31, 2012 7.5% Senior Notes Due 2016 [Member]	Oct. 31, 2011 7.5% Senior Notes Due 2016 [Member]	Feb. 27, 2006 7.5% Senior Notes Due 2016 [Member]	Oct. 31, 2012 8.625% Senior Notes Due 2017 [Member]	Oct. 31, 2011 8.625% Senior Notes Due 2017 [Member]	Jun. 12, 2006 8.625% Senior Notes Due 2017 [Member]	Jun. 03, 2011 11.5% Senior Secured Notes Due 2013 [Member]	Oct. 20, 2009 11.5% Senior Secured Notes Due 2013 [Member]	Dec. 03, 2008 11.5% Senior Secured Notes Due 2013 [Member]	May 27, 2008 11.5% Senior Secured Notes Due 2013 [Member]	May 31, 2011 10.625% Senior Secured Notes Due 2016 [Member]	Oct. 31, 2012 10.625% Senior Secured Notes Due 2016 [Member]	Oct. 02, 2012 10.625% Senior Secured Notes Due 2016 [Member]	Oct. 31, 2011 10.625% Senior Secured Notes Due 2016 [Member]	May 04, 2011 10.625% Senior Secured Notes Due 2016 [Member]	Oct. 20, 2009 10.625% Senior Secured Notes Due 2016 [Member]	Dec. 03, 2008 10.625% Senior Secured Notes Due 2016 [Member]	May 27, 2008 10.625% Senior Secured Notes Due 2016 [Member]	Jun. 03, 2011 18% Senior Secured Notes Due 2017 [Member]	Oct. 20, 2009 18% Senior Secured Notes Due 2017 [Member]	Dec. 03, 2008 18% Senior Secured Notes Due 2017 [Member]	Oct. 31, 2011 Various Notes [Member]	Dec. 03, 2008 Various Notes [Member]	Jan. 31, 2010 6% Senior Subordinated Notes Due 2010 [Member]	Jan. 15, 2010 6% Senior Subordinated Notes Due 2010 [Member]	Feb. 14, 2011 8.875% Senior Subordinated Notes Due 2012 [Member]	Jan. 31, 2010 8.875% Senior Subordinated Notes Due 2012 [Member]	Feb. 14, 2011 7.75% Senior Subordinated Notes Due 2013 [Member]	Jan. 31, 2010 7.75% Senior Subordinated Notes Due 2013 [Member]	Oct. 31, 2012 11.875% Senior Notes Due 2015 [Member]	Oct. 31, 2011 11.875% Senior Notes Due 2015 [Member]	Oct. 30, 2011 11.875% Senior Notes Due 2015 [Member]	Feb. 14, 2011 11.875% Senior Notes Due 2015 [Member]	Feb. 09, 2011 11.875% Senior Notes Due 2015 [Member]	Feb. 09, 2011 Tangible Equity Units [Member]	Feb. 14, 2010 Tangible Equity Units [Member]	Feb. 14, 2011 8% Senior Notes Due 2012 [Member]	Oct. 31, 2012 2021 Notes [Member] Cash and Cash Equivalents [Member]	Oct. 31, 2012 2021 Notes [Member] Real Estate [Member]	Oct. 02, 2012 7.25% Senior Secured First Lien Notes Due 2020 [Member]	Oct. 02, 2012 9.125% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes Due 2020 [Member]	Oct. 31, 2012 First Lien Notes [Member]	Oct. 02, 2012 6.00% Exchangeable Note Units [Member]	Oct. 02, 2012 Senior Amortizing Notes [Member]	Oct. 31, 2012 Cash and Cash Equivalents [Member] Restricted Cash [Member]	Oct. 31, 2012 Cash and Cash Equivalents [Member]	Oct. 31, 2012 Real Estate [Member]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage																				6.25%	7.50%	8.625%				11.00%												6.25%	7.50%	8.625%		11.875%												11.00%		5.00%	5.00%	2.00%	2.00%	6.50%	6.50%	6.50%	6.50%	6.375%	6.375%	6.375%	6.375%	9.125%		6.25%	6.25%	6.25%	6.25%	6.25%	10.625%	6.25%	6.25%	7.50%	7.50%	7.50%	8.625%	8.625%	8.625%	11.50%	11.50%	11.50%	11.50%	10.625%		10.625%	10.625%	10.625%	10.625%	10.625%	10.625%	18.00%	18.00%	18.00%				6.00%	8.875%	8.875%	7.75%	7.75%	11.875%	11.875%	11.875%	11.875%	11.875%	7.25%	7.25%	8.00%			7.25%	9.125%		6.00%
Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, Numerator		2.0							2.0
Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, Denominator		1.0							1.0
Preferred Stock, Dividend Rate, Percentage									7.625%
Debt Instrument, Face Amount (in Dollars)																		$ 594,400,000	$ 770,900,000																																						$ 141,800,000		$ 53,200,000				$ 215,000,000				$ 150,000,000	$ 150,000,000	$ 115,000,000				$ 200,000,000				$ 300,000,000			$ 300,000,000			$ 250,000,000				$ 600,000,000	$ 12,000,000				$ 12,000,000	$ 785,000,000					$ 29,300,000	$ 195,000,000											$ 155,000,000							$ 577,000,000	$ 220,000,000		$ 100,000,000
Percent of Principal						100.00%				100.00%					100.00%									103.625%	100.00%				1.00%	35.00%	105.00%	102.00%	101.813%	106.844%	35.00%	111.875%							105.438%			100.00%	104.563%	35.00%	102.281%	107.25%	100.00%	35.00%	109.125%										100.00%				100.00%						100.00%				100.00%			100.00%			100.00%																																				100.00%
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Effective Percentage																																																																													6.46%																																											5.17%
Debt Instrument, Repurchased Face Amount (in Dollars)		33,200,000							33,200,000					60,100,000						7,800,000	4,000,000	18,300,000	159,800,000															21,000,000	61,100,000	37,400,000	637,200,000	2,000,000																			1,000,000	27,000,000				54,500,000						29,500,000		7,800,000				4,000,000			18,300,000			500,000												11,700,000				71,400,000			44,100,000	1,400,000	29,200,000	11,100,000		24,600,000						24,600,000
Gains (Losses) on Extinguishment of Debt (in Dollars)		(87,033,000)	6,230,000	27,039,000	24,698,000	10,563,000	(1,391,000)	(1,644,000)	(29,066,000)	7,528,000	25,047,000	41,300,000																9,300,000																																																													(87,000,000)
Repayments of Subordinated Debt (in Dollars)																																																																																																					13,600,000
Debt Instrument, Repurchase Amount (in Dollars)						14,000,000				14,000,000						97,900,000							181,800,000																		691,300,000				72,200,000
Gain (Loss) on Repurchase of Debt Instrument (in Dollars)						10,600,000				3,100,000	25,000,000																																		48,400,000
Proceeds from Issuance of Long-term Debt (in Dollars)	286,200,000
Proceeds from Secured Notes Payable (in Dollars)									797,000,000	12,660,000																																																																														11,600,000
Cash Paid in Deb tExchange (in Dollars)													14,200,000
Interest Paid in Debt Exchange (in Dollars)													3,300,000
Debt Issuance Cost (in Dollars)													4,700,000
Debt Collateral (in Dollars)																																																																																																																			51,100,000	37,500,000								572,400,000
Investments in and Advance to Affiliates, Subsidiaries, Associates, and Joint Ventures (in Dollars)		61,083,000				57,826,000			61,083,000	57,826,000							45,900,000
Cash Collateral for Borrowed Securities (in Dollars)																																																																																																																										30,700,000	236,800,000
Note Units, Number																																																																																																																								100,000
Note Units, Stated Amount (in Dollars per Item)																																																																																																																								1,000
Number of Coupons																																												0
Note Units, Initial Principal Amount, Exchangeable Note (in Dollars per Item)																																												768.51
Note Units, Principal Amount at Maturity (in Dollars per Item)																																												1,000
Note Units, Initial Principal Amount, Senior Amortizing Note (in Dollars per Item)																										231.49
Convertible Debt, Shares Issued Upon Conversion (in Dollars per Item)																																																																																																																								185.5288
Share Price for Exchangeable Note Conversion (in Dollars per share)																																																																																																																								$ 5.39
Debt Instrument, Periodic Payment, Interest (in Dollars)																											$ 39.83																																																																																														$ 30.00
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, New Issues (in Shares)									25,000,000																												25,000,000																		13,512,500