Note 9 - Senior Secured, Senior, Senior Exchangeable, Senior Amortizing and Senior Subordinated Notes (Detail) - Senior Secured, Senior and Senior Subordinated Notes (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Oct. 31, 2012	Oct. 31, 2011
Senior Secured Notes	$ 977,369	$ 786,585
7.25% Senior Subordinated Amortizing Notes due February 15, 2014	6,091	13,323
Senior Notes [Member]
Senior Notes	458,736	802,862
Senior Amortizing Notes [Member]
Senior Notes	23,149
Senior Exchangeable Notes [Member]
Senior Notes	76,851
10.625% Senior Secured Notes Due 2016 [Member]
Senior Secured Notes		786,585
7.25% Senior Secured First Lien Notes due October 15, 2020 [Member]
Senior Secured Notes	577,000
9.125% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes due November 15, 2020 [Member]
Senior Secured Notes	220,000
2.0% Senior Secured Notes due November 1, 2021 [Member]
Senior Secured Notes	53,109
5.0% Senior Secured Notes due November 1, 2021 [Member]
Senior Secured Notes	127,260
6.5% Senior Notes Due 2014 [Member]
Senior Notes	36,649	53,373
6.375% Senior Notes Due 2014 [Member]
Senior Notes	3,015	29,214
6.25% Senior Notes Due 2015 [Member]
Senior Notes	21,438	52,720
11.875% Senior Notes Due 2015 [Member]
Senior Notes	59,716	127,488
6.25% Senior Notes Due 2016 [Member]
Senior Notes	130,343	171,880
7.5% Senior Notes Due 2016 [Member]
Senior Notes	86,532	172,269
8.625% Senior Notes Due 2017 [Member]
Senior Notes	$ 121,043	$ 195,918