Consolidated Statement of Equity (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data	Common Class A [Member] Common Stock [Member] USD ($)	Common Class A [Member]	Common Class B [Member] Common Stock [Member] USD ($)	Preferred Stock [Member] USD ($)	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member] USD ($)	Retained Earnings [Member] USD ($)	Treasury Stock [Member] USD ($)	Noncontrolling Interest [Member] USD ($)	Total USD ($)
Balance at Oct. 31, 2011	$ 921		$ 153	$ 135,299	$ 591,696	$ (1,109,506)	$ (115,257)	$ 92	$ (496,602)
Balance (in Shares) at Oct. 31, 2011	80,446,772		14,560,464	5,600
Stock options, amortization and issuances					4,078				4,078
Stock options, amortization and issuances (in Shares)	6,250								6,250
Restricted stock amortization, issuances and forfeitures	2		1		2,763				2,766
Restricted stock amortization, issuances and forfeitures (in Shares)	172,941		117,399
Stock issuance	250				47,074				47,324
Stock issuance (in Shares)	25,000,000
Issuance of shares for debt	84				23,167				23,251
Issuance of shares for debt (in Shares)	8,443,713
Settlement of prepaid common stock purchase contracts	43				(43)
Settlement of prepaid common stock purchase contracts (in Shares)	4,271,398
Conversion of Class B to Class A common stock (in Shares)	19,510		(19,510)
Changes in noncontrolling interest in consolidated joint ventures								138	138
Treasury stock purchases							(103)		(103)
Treasury stock purchases (in Shares)	(66,043)
Net income (loss)						(66,197)			(66,197)
Balance at Oct. 31, 2012	1,300		154	135,299	668,735	(1,175,703)	(115,360)	230	(485,345)
Balance (in Shares) at Oct. 31, 2012	118,294,541		14,658,353	5,600
Stock options, amortization and issuances					4,169				4,169
Stock options, amortization and issuances (in Shares)	44,812								44,812
Restricted stock amortization, issuances and forfeitures	1				2,608				2,609
Restricted stock amortization, issuances and forfeitures (in Shares)	123,840
Settlement of prepaid common stock purchase contracts	27				(27)
Settlement of prepaid common stock purchase contracts (in Shares)	2,683,679
Exchange of senior exchangeable notes for Class A Common Stock	34				14,242				14,276
Exchange of senior exchangeable notes for Class A Common Stock (in Shares)	3,396,102
Conversion of Class B to Class A common stock	1		(1)
Conversion of Class B to Class A common stock (in Shares)	2,486		(2,486)
Changes in noncontrolling interest in consolidated joint ventures								197	197
Net income (loss)						31,295			31,295
Balance at Oct. 31, 2013	1,363		153	135,299	689,727	(1,144,408)	(115,360)	427	(432,799)
Balance (in Shares) at Oct. 31, 2013	124,545,460		14,655,867	5,600
Stock options, amortization and issuances	1				3,700				3,701
Stock options, amortization and issuances (in Shares)	42,375								42,375
Restricted stock amortization, issuances and forfeitures	4		2		4,576				4,582
Restricted stock amortization, issuances and forfeitures (in Shares)	400,751		151,918
Settlement of prepaid common stock purchase contracts	60				(60)
Settlement of prepaid common stock purchase contracts (in Shares)	6,085,224
Conversion of Class B to Class A common stock (in Shares)	1,990		(1,990)
Changes in noncontrolling interest in consolidated joint ventures								(427)	(427)
Net income (loss)						307,144			307,144
Balance at Oct. 31, 2014	$ 1,428		$ 155	$ 135,299	$ 697,943	$ (837,264)	$ (115,360)		$ (117,799)
Balance (in Shares) at Oct. 31, 2014	131,075,800		14,805,795	5,600