Daily averages of the Sun's X ray background flux as measured by the GOES satellite are combined to yield monthly means and ''smoothed'' monthly means (12-month moving averages) for the interval January 1986 through May 1992 (minimum, rise, maximum, and initial decline of solar cycle 22). These averages are then compared directly to the Sun's optical flaring rate, energetic event rate, and the usual markers of the solar cycle (e.g., sunspot number, total corrected sunspot area, 10.7-cm solar radio flux, number of groups, and number of spots). The results of this analysis support previous findings that there exists a remarkably close positive relationship between the optical flaring rate and the X ray background flux rate (the independent variable); that the relationship is best described using a logarithmic fit of the form yˆ=1+b log(1+x); and that the X ray background flux rate can be used as a proxy for the solar cycle. Additionally, this study has found that a strong positive relationship exists between the energetic event rate and the X ray background flux rate (the independent variable), being best described by a linear fit of the form yˆ=a+bx; that the lag between the maxima of the rates of optical flaring and X ray background flux reported for cycle 21 did not recur for cycle 22; and that the lag for cycle 21 and lack of lag for cycle 22 can easily be explained by the peculiar action of the solar cycle, especially as it relates to the phasing of the ''magnetic complexity'' of active regions (i.e., the particular phasing of the number of groups and spots).