Observers were harsh recently when one of them described as “an absolute abomination” a large entity’s economic news.

No, it wasn’t Detroit going bankrupt, but Microsoft reporting its quarterly financials. The company missed analysts’ expectations on quarterly revenue and earnings per share.

So, how bad is bad? Microsoft earned only $19.9 billion in the quarter and only had a profit of $4.97 billion.

Only?

Analysts expected more, but we’re still talking billions in revenue and profits – staggering large numbers.

So, no need yet for Wall Street stockbrokers to leap from their buildings or contemplate selling apples on the street corner.

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Former National League MVP Ryan Braun made the right choice when he accepted a penalty for being tied to a Florida clinic accused of distributing performance-enhancing drugs. Braun is suspended for the rest of the season and the postseason, costing him about $3 million of his $8.5 million salary.

Another dozen or so baseball players – including former Mariner Alex Rodriguez – have been targeted by Major League Baseball following a report they had been connected with Biogenesis of America, a now-closed anti-aging clinic. Will they all own up as well as Braun? Let’s hope.

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From all reports, Paul McCartney’s concert July 19 at Safeco Field wowed the 47,000 people in the stands with a three-hour set of mostly Beatles songs. Not bad for a 71-year-old playing a lot of “oldies but goodies.”

– Craig Groshart, Issaquah & Sammamish Reporter