by Clif High

updated November 15, 2009

from HalfPastHuman Website

Here at Half Past Human we forecast the future.

We are not alone in forecasting the future, all humans do it to some degree. Just a quick search of the Internet will provide dozens of forms of future forecasting. Some use astrology, some use other methods.

We employ a technique based on radical linguistics to reduce extracts from readings of dynamic postings on the Internet into an archetypical database. With this database of archetypical language, we calculate the rate of change of the language. The forecasts of the future are derived from these calculations. Our calculations are based on a system of associations between words and numeric values for emotional responses from those words.

These 'emotional impact indicators' are also of our own devising. They are attached to a data base of over 300/three hundred thousand words. This data base of linked words/phrases and emotions is our lexicon from which the future forecasting is derived.

We call our future viewing the ALTA reports for 'asymmetric language trend analysis'.

In the beginning...

The beginning of all of our processing is the word. Or words, rather - actually excessively large amounts of them. Totals of words beyond all reason. These then are distilled down into a thick syrupy mass and placed in an inadequate visual display and from there interpretation proceeds.

Our interpretations of the data sets that we accumulate are presented in the form of a series of reports which detail the interpretations of the changes in language and what we think that they may mean.

Please note that our interpretations are provided as entertainment only. We are to be held harmless for universe placing substance behind our words. Or not, as it so chooses.

The interpretations provide a broad brush view of the future over the next few years. The broad view of the future is based on set theory and provides a collection of linguistic clues which can be used to forecast developing trends.

Some of our subscribers use these forecast interpretations to develop models of their own futures in our collective and changing planetary future. Some use the forecasts for trading purposes. Others for wild entertainment of the mostly implausible and highly improbable kind.

Even by our own rigorous standards, our forecasts are proving out better than mere chance would allow. Our track record is being tested with each new report series. So far, so good.

We have a very high rate of returning subscribers (over 90%) which is likely an indication of needs being met.
 

Concepts

The changing nature of our lexicon was an unexpected part of our processing. It requires constant tuning as the 'emotional quantifiers' placed on the words change over time, as well as usage.

Ever notice how some words and phrases get 'burned out' by excessive popular usage? As though they had no real emotional legs and by the time that the mainstream media grabs hold of them, or now, by the time they have been round the net a few times their emotional 'cache' has diminished and they fade away?

Well, Igor and I sure notice such linguistic flows as we have to then adjust whatever emotional values that we had placed on that word or phrase and which has now had its emotional 'tonality' altered. Such tuning of the lexicon is quite tedious and as may be imagined requires a significant level of feedback with testing to even come close to obtaining a decent emotional representation within the confines of numbers.

Speaking of numbers, when the interpretation refers to an entity or lexical structure {note: a lexical structure is a collection of descriptor sets} as being 'fully populated' or 'complete and correct' in being populated, it means that the current data set has a representation within it for a required number of contexts which go into entity definition.

So as an instance, there are nearly 20/twenty thousand contexts within the Bushista entity definition.

These are composed of nearly 50/fifty thousand words. But not all of the contexts will be found by the spyders at any given point within the processing, and so an arbitrary percentage has been set at 64/sixty-four percent for the Bushista entity in order to consider that it has been 'minimally constituted'. This is an important distinction as when the times, and emotional waves within the populace change, it is possible for entities to also change.

We have several large changes within entities already showing for 2007.

So far these include our Markets entity, specifically the sub set for 'global markets' which apparently undergoes a large scale redefinition over the course of this coming Summer {June solstice to September equinox}.

Some of the entities involved within our model-space are detailed in the table below. The entities are actually rather numerous, but many are either small, and thus rarely reported upon, or primarily used as 'supporting confirmation' for movements shown in larger entities. Some entities are so large, such as Terra entity, that the model-space has to be dumped and reloaded to clear space for its display.

This necessitates a rather tedious process for look ups on the cross links to other, not currently loaded, entities.

Some particulars of interest include that our data sets are constructed on a lunar month calendar.

We use the sidereal lunar month as opposed to the synodic since humans inherently seem to be synchronized, at least linguistically, to the 27.321 day length month.

The ALTA report series is built around a model-space which extends out 1.618 lunar years from the incept date. Our lunar year contains 13 lunar, sidereal months for a 'year' length of 355.173 days. Our model-space extends out to 575 days from the first date of processing for details on that ALTA series, for a total of 1.57 solar years of 365.25 days each.

Not that any of this will be on the test later.

But it sometimes does surface in interpretation of particular event/condition predictions.
 

Meta Data layers...

Meta data layers are linguistic concepts which meet the criteria of 'dominating' the model-space, and being 'fully populated'. By 'dominating model-space' we are referring to these lexical structures appearing in all major entities and some minor.

Further the lexical structure must also be contributing to the 'emotional tension direction' in that it must represent the majority emotional 'force' of the emotional sums at that point in processing. In other words, the lexical structure of a meta data layer, within an entity, must be sympathetic to the general trend of the emotional tension of the entity as a whole, either negative or positive.

Also the meta data layer will be 'fully populated' in a 'correct and complete' fashion. This is geek-speak for having all of the elements within the context at the core of the meta data layer be represented within the entity.

Thus if there are 2000/two-thousand primary element descriptors to 'duality', then the 'duality' aspect is considered to be participating within the formation of a meta data layer in any given entity if it meets the 2/two criteria of 'domination' by its impact on the entities' emotional summations, as well as having all elements of the context for the meta data layer be found serendipitously within the entity.

Meta data layers are not visible within our display. These are dominating aspects/attribute sets which are 'active' or 'rising' within a number of entities, yet the lexical sets are based on the same core set. Further definition for a meta data layer requires that the lexical structure relate back to one of the 'prime emotional sets' within the lexicon.

These are sets which, as a rule, contain lots of bespoke emotion words for aspects and even supporting attribute details. Such words would be 'fear', 'elation', 'confusion', and other words or phrases which can broadly be thought of as describing either an emotion, or a mental state "resulting" from emotional impacts to the human system.

The meta data layers are composed of these sorts of aspect/attributes in their descriptor sets. Further, the same lexical structure, arranged in the same hierarchical fashion must be on a 'rise' in emotional summations within many of the larger entities in order to be considered as a candidate for meta data status.

When we note that a meta data layer is 'going vertical' within an entity, it is a representation that the meta data layer is now driving all of the emotional summations in its primary direction.

The meta data layer first appears within an entity and then is filled, or populated over time.

It then starts cross linking over to other entities which magnifies its impact on the emotional sums within each entity that comes under its influence, as well as also gaining in influence within entities in which it already exists.

When an entity has 1/one or more meta data layers vertical, it means that the lexical structures which thereafter accrue to that entity are interpreted as though being modified by the meta data layers.

The above data table was a snapshot

of the meta data layers as of February 2007.

The table below shows the state of the meta data layers

as they exist at the time of this writing in October 2007

{ed note: from 0508 data set early processing}.

Emotional Tension Values - Release versus Building

At a very core level all of the bespoke emotion aspects can be separated into 2/two fundamental types. Obviously, since humans are involved, some overlap occurs and the separation is not pristine.

The separating criteria is how the emotion can be characterized, which is to say,

• Does this emotion build tension within an individual human body, or does it release it?

• Does the emotion twist the stomach?

• Or exercise the voice?

• Face?

• Rest of body?

If the emotion causes the body to expel anything from any orifice, it is likely a [release] emotion and has summations in the lexicon to that effect.

If the response of the body/mind to the emotion is the increase in muscular tension associated with 'holding the breath', then the emotion will fall into the [building tension] category.

Some emotions such as grief are of both types in that they bring complex emotional constructs to the surface. Some such as 'rage' are clearly 'expressive' of emotion, and thus are 'expelling' in nature. However it is worth noting that every expressive or release emotion also has a complement form for building emotions.

As an example, we have the relationship between 'rage' and 'frustration'. In the case of 'rage', the emotion is expressed... flashing teeth, furious fists, screaming frenzy... that sort of thing, in the case of 'frustration' the emotion is of a 'building' nature which induces knotted stomach, tight lips, tense face, tight muscles and other familiar frustration body reactions.

The building emotions such as 'frustration' all are part of a gradient of emotional containment which eventually bursts and spills over into 'expressive' or 'release' emotions. In this example the range can be thought of as beginning within 'constraints on behavior (from the outside)' and going into 'frustration' which then flows through various forms of 'gritting teeth' kinds of building anger until ultimately 'rage' is encountered and the emotional summations instantly change over to 'release states'.

A general 'release period' is expected to consist of an overall downward trend line composed of various steps of rising, then falling below the previous low levels, and onward until all of the pent up emotional states are/have been expressed. It is not unusual to have many building periods of some significance within a release period, as is illustrated within the months of May through July of 2007 on the chart above.

As may be expected, a building emotional trend line should be composed of a similar, if reversed set of steps creating a general upward movement. The chart above shows the next large building period as a very distinct exception to our usual fare in that it has only 2/two release events within it, and they are both very small relative to the totality of the build. Highly unusual. Unique so far in point of fact.

The other building portions of the trend line illustrated, which is to say, prior to March 8th 2007, and after January 20th 2008, show repeated release episodes within the over all trend.
 

Process

The Half Past Human process for predicting the future from dynamic linguistics extracted from the Internet began in 1997.

Well, we have actually been gnawing on most of the concepts employed since about 1983. In 1994, we developed what we call the 'language model' for storage of data in large quantities for fast recovery when using SQL data bases.

This extension of set theory as applied to data storage led to the examination of language in a new way.

With the advent of the Internet, the ability to test some of the 'language model' theories led to a series of programs being developed. This software is primarily written in prolog and implemented using LPA (Logic Programming Associates) version of this language as it offered pure prolog for the PC, as well as superior 'word concept' recognition and regex handling.

Our process begins with Internet software agents which read in vast quantities of text from the public, and commonly accessible areas of the Internet. We hunt for any of the words which are used as 'descriptors' within our process to define a context. These 'descriptors' are representative words or phrases which are used to define the basic 'idea' or 'concepts' of interest at that point.

Note we do NOT use 'conscious expressions' located on the Internet, nor simple word counting techniques. We do not read emails. We only access publicly posted texts on the Internet seeking so much what is there, as what has recently changed there. So as a rule we concentrate our software agents on the forums and other community based sites.

What we do employ is a series of programming steps which reduce the text read down to 4/four digit hexidecimal integers which are themselves held in sets of 'inter linked linguistic discoveries'.

These sets of hexadecimal integers are then aggregated along with information in a general sense as to where the text was located. The text returned is aggregated through further processing, producing a very large SQL based data base which is accessed by our prolog processing software.

Once the data starts rolling in, the processing starts by associating the 'descriptor' with a whole group of 'values'. Together these form an 'aspect/attribute' coupling. In turn, the aspects/attributes are gathered into sets, and then humans examine these for various timing and manifestation clues.

The process of data gathering can take up to 3/three weeks to begin filling the data bases for processing. In total, in any given series , the data gathering will continue for an additional 3/three to 4/four weeks.

Once the interpretation is begun, a series of reports are prepared to present our findings in an entertaining and informative manner.
 

Asymmetric Language Trend Analysis Intelligence Report

Changes in Language Precede Changes in Behavior
by Tenax SE

September 12, 2005

from HalfPastHuman Website

recovered through BibalexArchive Website

Data set was "flopped" and put into seek mode. We used our base of 19.19 million reads to extract the immediacy values and process those for information on proclaimed al Qaeda attacks on Los Angeles and Melbourne.

This article is presented with copyrights intact and all rights reserved. This article is presented to the public as a potential aid to asymetric thinking about the subject noted below in the headlines, and without any claim what so ever to sure and certain knowledge of any damn thing.

As the nasty bastard al Qaeda death organization has announced that they intend to attack both Los Angeles, and Melbourne (Australia), we decided to see if any lexical clues might be laying about which could help the thinking towards preventing the attacks. At the very least, the discussion presented below should open up new possibilities which may be valuable.

Toward this stated end, and still holding copyrights and reserving all publication rights, an excerpt of Part 2 of this ALTA report series is being included herein. This extract was published this past Saturday before the al Qaeda death threats.

It is suggested that it be read with a view towards 'liquid natural gas' or other 'unstable fuels'.

It appears at the bottom of this page.
 

Aggression - Attacks against Los Angeles and Melbourne

Geometry Bites, Transforming Fire

Our data set has had its immediacy values extracted from these last two weeks processing and those have been run though again with the engines in seek mode for lexical clues suggestive of any substance to the claim by al Qaeda that Los Angeles and Melbourne are the next targets for their attacks.

We have to report that our data does indeed show some hints that there is substance here. Bearing in mind our very poor record of accuracy, and especially not having a clue about timing, we nonetheless note that for Los Angeles we have a lexical set which has a dominant aspect of 'geometry' with a primary attribute image of 'biting'.

While one might be tempted to interpret this as 'geometry bites', the lower levels of the lexical set support a differing view.

The structure suggests that while seen as 'justified and lawful behavior' the 'attack/biting' of Los Angeles is very 'influenced {by} geometry'. There are references to 'mouth wide open', and 'jaws spread' as well as 'yellow obstacle blocks jaws'. This in turn is supported by 'demonstration of brilliance above and below', and 'lightning acts', 'union splendid spectacle', 'strong and weak {are in} fluid', 'supple motion {in perfect} balance'.

We also find numerous references to 'jail/prison/stocks'. Many of these have internal cross links back to 'loss of ears', and 'head held still/tightly controlled'. Then there are other supporting words indicating that 'danger approaches', and that 'old yellow meat' is somehow seen as 'standing {as} obstacle' or 'blocking the way'. This 'old yellow meat/flesh' is also cross linked over to 'gold' and 'good luck {in} bizarre/twisted situation'.

We note that as the brief amount of data is moved through model-space, we accrue words for 'marsh' and 'fluid' with some seriousness, far in excess of the other lexical structures. These are cross linked to 'violent wind sets marsh waters pulsing', as well as 'violence, reverberations of thunder, release of tension'. What is curious is that the thunder is seen as arising from 'lightning under {the} water'. This energy is seen as 'revealing itself, wide variety', further that a 'hesitant beginning, energy awakened brusquely'.

Within this data set our only other clues are a bit vague at best. We have 'upright phallus' and 'forge' as descriptors. Within the supporting set the aspect/attribute imagery goes to 'moulds matter', and 'ingested nourishment'. These in turn are supported by 'fire'.

Repeatedly throughout this area, and heavily cross linked internally are numerous references to 'fire' and 'sun-fire'.

We do find a very large number of words for 'danger'. These are supported extensively by references to 'family' and 'clan'. These in turn are cross linked back over to 'woman' and 'the great man'. Both of these are curiously cross linked over to 'reptiles/lizards' and 'fields of activity'. Within this area we find references to 'two brothers' and 'their wives' as well as 'two weak/remote cousins' and their 'wives'.

Then there are parallel cross links going to 'transitions over {the} depths'. This is supported by 'flight' and 'flight over' as well as 'waves reflect up' and 'depths shimmer'.

As to the Melbourne references we find that this area has a dominant aspect of 'fire' which is both doubly internally cross linked, and supported by dominant attribute set going to the image of 'radiance reflected in flames'. This is in turn cross linked back to 'transforming' which is supported by 'transforming {fire} circulates toward {the} bones'.

This area also has a lexical structure going to 'fire attaches to fuel', which in turn is supported as 'wheat, gas, ashes' and these in turn are supported by 'grass, trees, cooking'. Admittedly a bit confusing, but the straight forward descriptor words without divergent supporting attributes are usually well taken as being descriptors of a physical place.

We have aspect/attribute sets going toward 'setting sun/westward', and 'singing {in nearby} buildings at night', and 'old men growl {about} aching bones'. This last participates in the cross link noted above about the 'bones'. We also see that 'at the edge {of the} sunset, beauty ends'. This in turn is supported as 'jets dash over', and 'flames die quickly'.

As if that is not all misleading enough, we have a final set of descriptors which go to the image of 'tears {and} moaning coming from {the} place of the ruler'.

There are also cross links off of the 'place' aspect which go to the idea of 'problems discussed/shunned', and 'decisions delayed'. Both of these are wrapped up within a structure whose aspect/attribute imagery goes to 'flow {of} tears, fiery element hidden in water'.

This area is linked from 'fire' over to 'locked up, strong box, candle burns out oxygen, sputters, quality of fuel'.

Then, this area is doubly linked back to 'visible at night, water hurts legs'.
 

Terra - California

Breathing Inner Fire
Extract from Part 2

posted 09.10.2005

Our model-space at this stage of processing is usually showing an increase in the scope of the carry forward values by which we are able to extend our model-space forward. At this point within the Terra entity, and within the sub set which is geographically centered around California, we have a very curious situation in which the data set appears to be half-halted.

Perhaps a better description would be that half the data set aspects appear to be 'frozen'. This effect arises from a situation in which the same aspect appears as we progress the model-space forward, and except for very minor changes in lexical descriptors, there is neither increase nor decrease in the aspect's relative position based on emotive sums.

Basically, they are just hanging there, suspended in our model-space, moving forward with the rest of the model but not moving up nor down, left nor right.

This situation has not been encountered before, and we need to note that it could be an artifact/error in our processing which is being examined with a re-run of the data but with different tools, and it could also be an artifact of the recently extremely emotional events arising from the Katrina disaster. In either case, our approach is going to be to do an interpretation of the data as it sits, and then should corrections arise, we will put those into Part 3.

At this point our primary frozen aspect is 'inner fire'. This is heavily California focused, and within its set of geographic labels, seems to have a more-to-the-south-than-north predominance. But the overall impression is that the area as a whole is involved.

Our 'inner fire' aspect, though frozen, has some specific attribute sets going to 'breathing' and the 'respiration/exhaust {of the} ground/earth acts as breath'. Further we find that the 'inner fire' is seen as 'covered coals {in a} forge' which is 'fanned' into life and activity. This 'inner fire' has a supporting aspect/attribute set going to 'ingested, digested, moved'.

This aspect/attribute set in turn is heavily supported by lexical sets such as 'father/family flee flames, over {their} heads, sights, flames, forced {to} flee'.

Parallel to this area within the structure and also contributing to the very stable emotive sums are 'secrets {of the} fire moves words, effective actions'. Again, this in turn is supported both directly by aspects/attributes such as 'too little air, fire drives forward, very beginning', and 'breathe now wet, run'. It would also appear that 'effective action {is} forestalled' and this in turn is seen as rising from 'overheated words, bad blood'.

The aspect/attribute set for 'bad blood' in this case is very extensively cross linked back to Populace/USofA where it terminates in 'rebels' with that aspect having the attribute set of 'west defies east, commands spat {upon}, not possible {to} believe/accept'.

Returning for a moment to the top of this section of the Terra entity, we note that the aspect of 'inner fire' is itself cross linked back over to Populace/USofA where it terminates in a very large area of heavily internally cross linked aspects/attributes whose imagery goes to the idea of 'addictive pleasures refused/rejected, skin flayed/excoriated {from the} left palm'.

This area is supported by 'wife, children, huddled {in} fear, {in} workshop, words of rage'. The 'words of rage' aspect/attribute set is fully populated and contributes a bit more detail in its imagery of 'suffocation risk, father/male manages/contains rage {over the/caused by the} deaths, rebels {at} words {of the} authorities/managers, lashes out, rebellion begins'.

While there are few changes within this section as we progress the model-space forward, and none that alter the emotional sums involved, there is one area worth noting in that it goes to the image of 'unity lost, rebellion {against the} iron fist'.

The Populace/USofA cross links aside, the Terra entity appears to be indicating that the 'fire' which is seen as being so motivating emotionally is of an 'inner' nature which may imply volcanic origin, not that the data is indicating an eruption per se. Rather we have very clear lexical pictures of fire sweeping across mountain tops and these clues would suggest that the 'fire {is in the} ground/earth'.

This location is seen as being very difficult to confront, and the data indicates quite a bit of spreading of this 'inner fire'.

We also have to note that this 'inner fire' aspect/attribute set "does" contain other words such that another interpretation of the set could be 'underground energy/motion'. So this does in no way preclude the description from being earthquake centered.

IF so however, it is a curious form. In the past our earthquake descriptors were more direct, and declarative. Just the rise of this wording gives one pause. It may well be that there is some form of earthquake activity as in 'underground energy' being suggested, but if so the clues would seem to be prodding toward something other than an "ordinary" earthquake.

Perhaps, as we have 'fire' as a primary aspect, there will be either an underground fire, perhaps in a pipeline due to an earthquake, or an alternate, and equally reasonable interpretation would be for fires triggered by earthquakes.

In examining the data set one conclusion does come forward, and that is that if the data is indicating an earthquake, it will be the resulting damage from fire or energy which will be the human emotional focus, rather than the earthquake directly.

As a last note on this section, as it is moved far forward, say on the order of two or three months, it does start to shift, but this change is coming not from an alteration of the primary aspect/attribute set, nor the rise of any new dominant aspect, but rather an internal change comes over the area through the accretion of a large number of 'wind' related data areas. Mostly these would appear to be going towards winds exacerbating the situation through 'fanning fires', and 'throwing dust clouds'.

At this point this area is still gaining values as we continue our processing and if changes are warranted it will be revisited in later parts of this series.

Extract ends.