I think it's ebb and flow. Activity on here comes and goes. For better or worse, everyone was thinking the ETF would boost us into a bull market and when that didn't happen, a lot of folks just lost heart and ran away. It's understandable I guess. When you watch hundreds or thousands disappear from the paper balance in just a few days, it can be depressing. They'll be back. Probably also winter has something to do with it, as you mention.
I love me some good funk. I think everyone does. It's no accident that much of the Japanese jazz I post has a lot of funk in it. Love all of these. Wow, that last is something! I'm going to go look up more by them before bed.