Will this undo the horrible decade we've had since 9/11 ?
(Seriously its interesting the article didn't mention how unusually weak the latest cycle has been. Usually the peak is much higher leading to happier ham radio operators. So the "news" or "journalism" is the unusual weakness of this cycle, but instead we get human interest story...)
Aside from the stereotypical "this individual cycle is weak" most recent solar coverage has contemplated Maunder Minimum effect and stuff like that. The wiki article is pretty good, summary is every time a cycle is wimpy everyone temporarily jumps on the bandwagon that its a semi-permanent long term decline etc etc.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maunder_Minimum
In these ways, its a somewhat atypical solar news story. Which is cool.
Mid way through the opening paragraph mentions several people charged with spying based on surveillance of short-wave number stations.
last time it flipped was in 2001 [1].
[1] http://science1.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2001/a...
But, correlation is not causation so all remains just pure coincidences.
No it's not, but nor is it a blanket reason not to investigate apparent parallels.
Just because the 'correlation = causation' is used to dis-infrom through findings that are bolstered by correlations, doesn't mean there's no reason to try and explore a reasonable case as to why the correlation reflects actual causation.
Correlation can infer causation in many instances.
What makes you think it does not?
It has been now shown that weather patterns in Europe during the middle ages are correlated with both warfare[1] and witch hunts [2]. Theories that explain these phenomena have been proposed.
The thing is, any astrologer during that period would get the correlation part right but the causal mechanism completely wrong. Move forward 500 years and believers in Scientism (not Science) will take the mistaken causal mechanism, confirm that it does not match with their a priori belief system, and wave off the real correlation as "fudge" or "coincidence".
Sometimes the lack of an explanation lies in the observer, for all/most of the obvious stuff has already been discovered. Lazy evaluation will take you a long way in terms of keeping an open mind.
Its mostly my own ignorance I am admitting. :) I believe the true spirit of the 'Causation is not correlation' phrase is that if the mechanism isn't obvious, don't jump to the conclusion. As your link points out, correlation is a good reason to carry further investigation.
Also, it's worth noting that the US has a quasi-stable cycle of invading other countries for about a decade, then a roughly decade long policy of non-interventionism while they try to forget what a horrible quagmire they got themselves into the last decade.
Earlier one: 1979
USSR Invades Afghanistan, Margaret Thatcher elected as the Prime minister in UK, Ruhollah Khomeini returns to Tehran