EXHIBIT 12.1

Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges

(unaudited)

	Year Ended October 31,													Three Months Ended July 31, 2005		Nine Months Ended July 31, 2005
(amounts in thousands, except ratios)	2000		2001			2002			2003			2004
Consolidated pretax earnings from continuing operations before minority interest	$	68,676	$	(270,355	)	$	(95,722	)	$	(54,597	)	$	75,518	$	10,570	$	465,626
Interest expense		—		—			—			—			992		750		2,250
Amortization of debt issuance costs		—		—			—			—			982		743		2,229
Interest portion of rental expense		10,200		10,500			8,700			7,200			6,440		1,676		5,161
Earnings	$	78,876	$	(259,855	)	$	(87,022	)	$	(47,397	)	$	83,932	$	13,739	$	475,266
Interest expense	$	—	$	—		$	—		$	—		$	992	$	750	$	2,250
Amortization of debt issuance costs		—		—			—			—			982		743		2,229
Interest portion of rental expense		10,200		10,500			8,700			7,200			6,440		1,676		5,161
Fixed charges	$	10,200	$	10,500		$	8,700		$	7,200		$	8,414	$	3,169	$	9,640
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges		7.7		(a)			(a)			(a)			10.0		4.3		49.3

(a) Due to the loss in fiscal 2001, 2002, and 2003, the ratio coverage was less than 1:1 in each of those periods. The Company would have had to generate additional earnings of $259.9 million, $87.0 million, and $47.4 million in fiscal 2001, 2002, and 2003, respectively, to achieve a coverage of 1:1.