Note 11 - Senior Secured, Senior, Senior Exchangeable, and Senior Subordinated Amortizing Notes (Details) - Senior Secured, Senior and Senior Subordinated Notes (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Apr. 30, 2014	Oct. 31, 2013
The 7.25% 2020 Notes [Member] | Senior Secured Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior Notes	$ 577,000	$ 577,000
The 9.125% 2020 Notes [Member] | Senior Secured Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior Notes	220,000	220,000
The 2.0% 2021 Notes [Member] | Senior Secured Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior Notes	53,123	53,119
The 5.0% 2021 Notes [Member] | Senior Secured Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior Notes	129,139	128,492
The 6.25% 2015 Notes [Member] | Unsecured Senior Notes Excluding Senior Amortizing Notes And Senior Exchangeable Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior Notes		21,438
The 11.875% 2015 Notes [Member] | Unsecured Senior Notes Excluding Senior Amortizing Notes And Senior Exchangeable Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior Notes	60,223	60,044
The 6.25% 2016 Notes [Member] | Unsecured Senior Notes Excluding Senior Amortizing Notes And Senior Exchangeable Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior Notes	172,315	172,153
The 7.5% 2016 Notes [Member] | Unsecured Senior Notes Excluding Senior Amortizing Notes And Senior Exchangeable Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior Notes	86,532	86,532
The 8.625% 2017 Notes [Member] | Unsecured Senior Notes Excluding Senior Amortizing Notes And Senior Exchangeable Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior Notes	121,043	121,043
The 7.0% 2019 Notes [Member] | Unsecured Senior Notes Excluding Senior Amortizing Notes And Senior Exchangeable Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior Notes	150,000
The 11.0% 2017 Amortizing Note [Member] | Senior Amortizing Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior Notes	19,004	20,857
Senior Exchangeable Notes Due 2017 [Member] | Senior Exchangeable Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior Notes	68,336	66,615
The 7.25% Senior Subordinated Amortizing Notes [Member] | Senior Subordinated Amortizing Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior Notes		2,152
Senior Secured Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior Notes	979,262	978,611
Unsecured Senior Notes Excluding Senior Amortizing Notes And Senior Exchangeable Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior Notes	$ 590,113	$ 461,210