I can't help but notice this article [1] in today's WSJ highlighting Bear Stearns profit collapse and Goldman's volcanic rise:

Goldman Sachs Inc. reported a 79% surge in fiscal third-quarter net income amid record revenue at many of its segments, including the firm's dominant bond, currencies and commodities franchise. For the quarter ended Aug. 31, the New York financial-services firm posted net income of $2.85 billion, or $6.13 a share, compared with $1.59 billion, or $3.26 a share, a year earlier. Net revenue surged 63% to $12.33 billion. The firm's shares rose in premarket trading to $209 from the close Wednesday at $205.50. Separately, Bear Stearns Cos. posted a 61% drop in fiscal third-quarter net income on big hedge-fund losses that helped fan the credit-market woes.

Couple of notes here. First, I've no love of Goldman, or just about anyone on Wall Street, except a sliver of residual loyalty to Morgan Stanley. They were good to me. Second, this is proof that the cosmic law of karma applies and is active. Bear decided back in 1998 not to help bail out LTCM. Now they are paying for it. Serves the greedy, stupid bastards right.