Saturday, December 28, 2019

The Technological Evolution Of The Media Industry

The technological evolution has played an inevitable and indispensable role in changing the facade of the world. In particular, recent developments and innovations in the field of science and technology have transformed the entire paradigm of media industry. It has been established that in the contemporary or technology driven media environment, the traditional concept of ownership, intellectual property, as well as copyright has become a controversial point (Sutherland-Smith, 2015). It is due to the fact that the technological advancements have created such practices that have completely redefined the ways in which media was being consumed by the audiences. Most importantly, the contemporary media practices have also played a major role†¦show more content†¦High-tech media tools and platforms have superficially changed the way in which people used to consume media. It has been established that the recent technological advancements have played a significant role in building entirely new and unique media environment. In accordance with the views of Bird (2011), the â€Å"new current contemporary age of information and technology† has substantially enabled the individuals to actively contribute and consume the media sources. It is significant to bring into the notice that such practices were impractical to be attained by the consumers, in the past years. Before the emergence of internet as well as web 2.0 technologies, the communication, distribution, and creation of ideas was generally aided by the â€Å"corporate middlemen†. It is due to the fact that it was quite difficult and impossible (to some extent) for the average person to coordinate in a free and independent manner. However, the evolution and development of contemporary and higher innovative web applications had changed the entire facade of the media consumption trends. In this account, it has been assessed that the web based applications and state-of-the-art technologies have co mpletely democratised this process (Muir, 2013). It is because; by using these technologies, the users can easily participate in the consumption of media throughShow MoreRelatedThe Blu Ray Disc1456 Words   |  6 Pagespart describes the technological development and the advantages that led to the implementation of this innovation, and it presents the challenges faced by it. In the second part, an environment analysis will explain what helped to the success of the Blu-ray disc. In the last part, market circumstances reveal how the innovation was established and why it stood up over its competitors. 2 Background In the mid-1990s the Digital Versatile Disc (DVD) emerged as a new format of media and rapidly obtainedRead MoreAustralian English and National Identity984 Words   |  4 Pagesits pervasive media, and altered to create a unique identity that addresses the needs of the younger Australians. Technology, the loss and gain of expressions, changing perception of taboo words and political correctness also attribute to the way that language has evolved to fabricate our national identity. American culture is increasingly affecting the way Australians use language. The dominance and omnipresence of the US entertainment industry, be it film, television, music or media, plays an importantRead More The Future of On-line Journalism Essay1217 Words   |  5 PagesDigitalized technology and the internet are the two leading factors in the evolution of print in terms of Gashers views of interactivity (Gasher). On-line news sites are the peak at this point in technological evolution and are serving, as well as changing the functions of media because they combine these two factors. On-line journalism can be assessed through its evolution, its basic functions and its benefits. The evolution of print has shown general progression through expanse, detail, interactivityRead MoreNews Of The 21st Century : The Evolution Of Necessity1551 Words   |  7 Pages News in the 21st century: The Evolution of Necessity By Sarah Laird, n9196579 Topic 1: Discuss how gathering, accessing and paying for news is evolving to survive using a range of sources and specific examples to illustrate your argument. Introduction A new form of journalism based on new media is changing the core of news production and consumption. Rebelling against the news models of the past as news migrates onto an online platform. News values are changing even in the ABCRead MoreMedia Convergence : From Mass For Networked Communication1508 Words   |  7 Pages Media convergence: From mass to networked communication Literature Review Media convergence refers to the services and activities emerged through the development of the Internet, where it has allowed for interlink between communication networks and media contents (ALRC, 2015). The establishment of ‘Internet’ has drastically changed the overall communication model in the society in the past 15 years. Where today the communication model has shifted from a mass communication into a networked communicationRead MoreThe Impact Of Digital Media On The Cinema Industry1284 Words   |  6 PagesTechnological innovations have brought about significant changes in in almost every aspect of the society. The proliferation of the Internet and new media has changed the way people live, work and entertain. Long–time forms of entertainment, such as music, games or movies have been changed accordingly. Within the entertainment industry, the cinema sector is experiencing dramatic transformations. Consumers are now provided with a wide range of ways to acc ess their products. Traditional practicesRead MoreThe Evolution Of The Music Industry1686 Words   |  7 Pagesrecording device in 1877 to cassettes to digital recording in 1987 to MP3 in 1990 and to iTunes in 2003, the music industry has become an important global industry in last 50 years. The evolution of the music industry has given a boom to the economic activity in many geographical scales. Technological development has been playing an effective role for the evolution of the music industries. Looking back at the success of these music businesses, it used to be all about fun, dignity, entertainment andRead MoreEssay On Career Trends1025 Words   |  5 Pagestrends rather than the cyclical position of the economy. To understand the natural evolution of the jobs market industries and career paths that are becoming extinct versus those that are advancing through a process of natural selection -- the jobs landscape needs to be viewed in the context of the most influential macro- trends. Below are some of the careers that are thriving and dying due to the changing technological, economic, social and business landscape. Thriving careers Data scientists AccordingRead MoreHistory of Mass Media1150 Words   |  5 PagesHISTORY OF MASS MEDIA UNIT PLAN LECTURE AND TUTORIAL:- DAY : MONDAY TIME : 8.00 to 11.00 am ROOM : R4.2 OBJECTIVE To introduce students to the historical development of media, including books, newspapers, magazines, radio and TV broadcasting and cinema. Students will be able to trace the emergence of modern media institutions from their historical roots and discuss the impact of social and technological change. This will be ableRead MoreIs the Internet a New Medium? Essay1101 Words   |  5 Pagesinternet. From that analysis by looking from a historical point of view the internet can be seen as an old medium which uses re-mediation to deliver content to users. The connection between internet and its users has helped the internet influence the way media is viewed today. Although the internet is not a new medium the content it presents is new. The advances in technology have helped the use of the internet reach new heights in terms of interest and its capabilities are now being utilised by the masses

Thursday, December 19, 2019

Descartes s Theory Of Knowledge - 1778 Words

Descartes’s theory of knowledge is essentially based in skepticism. He argued that in order to understand the world, first a person has to completely suspend their judgements of the world around them. This is the impression that the world makes on their mind. In this way, the physical world is not what leads to knowledge. Instead, the mind finds rationally seeks knowledge. The question is, essentially, â€Å"should we believe beyond the evidence?† (Kessler, 2013, p. 332). In this way, the ideas are rooted in the nature of doubt. This is an inherent nature of the mind, which is the result of the nature of man as made by God. In this way, the mind is guided by god towards knowledge in its infallible ability to reason about reality. In this way, the mind’s reasoning ability, even in the absence of physical reality, can ultimately lead to knowledge. I don’t fully agree with Descartes’ proposition that only the mind can produce certain knowledg e and that our senses are constantly under the attack and being deceive by some evil deceiver. In order to go against Descartes propositions concerning about doubt I will use Locke to oppose it. This argument is based in the uncertainty of knowledge. Descartes argues that we cannot be certain of the physical impressions upon our minds because the world can potentially deceive the mind, leaving it with false impressions. Due to the fact that our minds can conceive of a reality in which we are dreaming or some nefarious force isShow MoreRelatedDescartes s Theory Of Knowledge1834 Words   |  8 PagesDescartes theorized that in order to acquire knowledge, there essentially is some rational technique for attaining it, and that the expenditure of the senses, or any other individual capability was not a dependable basis. In his third meditation he says, â€Å"I know that even bodies are not perceived by the senses, or by the faculty of imagination, but by the intellect alone (69). As a rationalist Descartes supposed that this withstood identically for everyone, that all people have rational learned conceptsRead MoreDescartes s Theory Of Knowledge Essay1435 Words   |  6 Pag esDescartes begins his Meditation observing that there have been many occasions in the past when he had thought he was acquiring important knowledge yet subsequently discovering to have been mistaken. Therefore he aims to find a method that will render the research absolutely immune from the very possibility of error. The method of doubt is not only an epistemological method, but successfully fulfills the purpose of Descartes by helping to achieve important metaphysical results. One fundamental reasonRead MoreDavid Hume And Renee Descartes s Theories Of Knowledge And Ideas1356 Words   |  6 PagesPhilosophers David Hume and Renee Descartes have opposing views about the origination of ideas. Hume claims that all ideas are copies of impressions, which come from sensation. Descartes disagrees with this, arguing that in order to obtain knowledge, there must be a rational method for obtaining it, and that the senses are not a reliable source. This essay will present both philosopher’s arguments and compare and contrast each perspective regarding matters of knowledge and ideas. I will then argue howRead MoreDescartes Influence on Psychology926 Words   |  4 PagesRunning head: DESCARTES INFLUENCE ON PSYCHOLOGY Descartes Influence on Psychology DESCARTES INFLUENCE ON PSYCHOLOGY Renà © Descartes was a famous French mathematician, scientist, and philosopher throughout the mid 1600’s. He is often regarded as the father of modern philosophy; however, his highly influential ideas have also impacted many other scientific fields, including the world of psychology. Descartes contributions in philosophy and biology have had a significant influence on modernRead MoreDescartes Dualism And The Mind Body Theory1322 Words   |  6 PagesDescartes’ Dualism Rene Descartes dualism states that the mind and body are separate entities. The mind is a nonphysical, non-spatial substance; the mind and brain are separate existences, the brain is a part of the physical body and serves as a connection between the body and mind. Dualism is a hot topic of argument on whether the theory holds any validity or if it holds any truth. However, Cartesian dualism is a credible theory and has a lot of support to verify it. One major point in DescartesRead MorePropelling Rational Thought Over Compelling Empiricism1459 Words   |  6 Pages In this paper I intend to examine the rationalist philosophy of Rene Descartes and fundamental empiricism of John Locke’s philosophical arguments, in particular their ideas relating to the science of man, his identity and attempt to explain distinctions between the two. As I lay the framework of my argument it is important to understand the precepts that serve as the underpinning for the views considered by Descartes and Locke respectively. Rationalism and empiricism are two modes of thoughtRead MoreHuman Behavior And The Functions Of Humans1632 Words   |  7 Pagestest possible theories and proceed with experiments that could help bring answers to society. The biggest thing with Science is that theories and hypotheses must be falsifiable and replicable. Science must have terms that can be universally used and understood by everyone. Descartes, James, Freud and Skinner all had trouble grasping that idea. Flanagan goes into detail about these famous old-time philosophers tha t all had different opinions on the mind-body problem and self-knowledge, and all usedRead MoreEssay about Rene Descartes Impact on the Scientific Method923 Words   |  4 PagesRene Descartes Impact on the Scientific Method People have always thought about the world around them. Through the centuries they have wondered about what their surroundings were made of. Modern science has proven to be most effective in explaining our environment. What makes modern science superior to the ancient schools of thought is the employment of the scientific method. The man credited to a great extent with the development of the scientific method is Renà © Descartes, a French philosopherRead MoreDescartes Second Argument For The Existence Of God1642 Words   |  7 PagesPaper: Descartes’ Second Argument for the Existence of God As with almost all of Descartes inquiries the roots of his second argument for the existence of God begin with his desire to build a foundation of knowledge that he can clearly and distinctly perceive. At the beginning of the third meditation Descartes once again recollects the things that he knows with certainty. The problem arises when he attempts to clearly and distinctly understand truths of arithmetic and geometry. Descartes has enoughRead MoreThe Philosophy Of Mind And The Body1646 Words   |  7 Pagesanticipate and explain the individual’s behavior in terms of states. Dualism, a philosophy most defended by Rene Descartes, Believed that there are two concepts to philosophy, regarding the mind and the body. Dualism, is possibly the oldest and the most intuitive of the philosophies of mind, however within the modern psychology, this philosophy is a minority view among psychologists. This theory states that the mental cannot exist outside of the body, and the body is unable to think. It refers to reality

Wednesday, December 11, 2019

Performances and Training Management Issues Myassignmenthelp

Question: How to Do the Adoption of Proper Communication Mechanisms? Answer: Introducation: Changes in the modern workplace have become imminent as a result of a number of factors among them the identification of the important role played by workforce as well as the increasing level of competition .management of employees in organizations has been further been by globalization .Among the challenges that organizations have been faced with in the need to maintain high productivity of both divers groups and the organization at large. The need to achieve this has prompted some organization some organizations to adopt new strategies in order to maintain a well motivated, committed and highly productive workforce. However management of human resources amid the numerous changes that have been experienced in the modern workplace has not come without challenges including the challenges of dealing with cultural diversities among the workforce and performance management as identified in the case of No Name Aircraft (Gavri?, Sormaz Ili?,2016). The focus for many organizations has shif ted to creation of a positive organization culture as well employee motivation. This report is aimed at exploring the international human resource management issues that the organization is facing and recommending the strategies for dealing with them. The report will explore international management issues such as staffing issues, cross-cultural operation issues and customer related issues as well as performance and training management issues. International Management Issues International management issues confronting the organization include staffing, customer related issues and Cross cultural operations issues. Cross cultural management issues. Managing human resources in the global perspective can often lead to serious issues that if not handled well can deeply hurt an organization In terms of its ability to be productive and competitive. Diversity refers to the state of having people within an organization who possess differences in terms of their age, race, cultural background as well as age. Organizational diversity also means having people with diverse perceptions views and opinions. Sometimes having such a group in an organization to focus on similar tasks can be a difficult task. This therefore demands that certain strategies are adopted to promote diversity at the work place (Holden, 2012).A number of cross cultural manage not issues can be identified from the No Name Case study. Among these is the lack of strategies to facilitate understanding of employees from differ cultures. Employees are able to become more productive in an environment where they can interact positively and understand each other. Another issue identified at the organization is its negative culture that does not promote collaboration between diverse teams. A positive culture has been found to promote an atmosphere where each employee can be able to achieve their full potential. Because of the negative organization culture, different teams are not able to communicate and collaborate effectively for example different assembly teams. A positive culture in an organization can encourage collaborations between different teams as well as promote team work and the ability of employees to support each other (Carlos, Rodrigues Dibb, 2014). Customers related issue. Apart from employees, customers also play a very role in the survival of organizations. They are the most important resource for organization from which success or failure can be derived (Knox van Oest, 2014)Organizations therefore depend on their customers and if they are not able to meet the demands and expectations of their customers, they can easily lose them. An organization is responsible to its customers through provision of quality goods and services, correct information as well as keeping promises. Customers act as ambassadors for an organization and also suggest recommendations on what a business can do to improve its goods and services (Taleghani et al, 2011). An international organization like No Space Aircraft is expected to offer goods and services that meet international standards by its customers. As identified in the case study, the number of complaints regarding the quality of goods and services offered by the organization has been on the rise. Employees are respon sible for the maintenance of quality of goods and services .Having a largely disoriented and demotivated workforce can be said to be the reason behind the poor quality of goods and services. Such complaints can have serious repercussions for an organization in terms of its competitiveness and reputation (Shen et al, 2009). No name should therefore focus on solving the issues affecting its workforce to improve their engagement and their ability to deliver quality goods in order to deal with the complaints raised by customers. Staffing issues Staffing is a very significant management role. It is the process through which vacant positions within an organization are filled by having the right people doing the right job at the right time. The effective utilization of other resources such as such as material resources and capital resources is solely dependent on an organizations human resources(Khanna Sharma,2014).This implication of this is this is that if human resources are efficient, other resources will be used efficiently. It is therefore important that employees are appointed to certain positions based on their talents, specializations and skills to facilitate achievement of organizational goals. Staffing function is concerned with activities such as recruitment and selection, training and development. as well as performance appraisals(Prasad, 2015).There are a number of staffing issues that no name is facing. Of concern is the process of recruitment of employees for vacant positions. The organization has adopted a di scriminative approach whereby people with disabilities are not given an equal chance even when they possess the necessary qualifications. This is an unethical work practice which can lead the organization into legal disputes. While it is a legal requirement that all applicants are given an equal chance in employment, such a practice can deny an organization a chance to choose from a wide pool of applicants which means that some qualified applicants might be left out and their chances given to lesser qualified candidates thus hindering the organization from achieving it goals and objectives. Training and development which is also a staffing function has also not been done in the way in which it should be. Training and development is aimed at equipping employees with the necessary skills that to enable them perform their. This leads to the realization of the right people doing the right thing in the organization (Jehanzeb Bashir, 2013). However in the absence of training and development, employees might not be equipped with the right t skills to perform their duties and responsibilities effectively .This can make employees to lack motivation, commitment and become disengaged from their work. This can lead to a situation where an organization has the wrong employees doing the wrong thing. No name has not embraced the concept of training and development to their employees and its current challenges can be linked to this aspect. This has witnessed from the dwindling level of performance in the organization. There has been no attempt by seniors to develop junior employees fo r fear of competition at the time of promotion. As an international organization the organization is supposed to carry out is staffing function effectively Performance And Training Management Issues No name also lacks a robust training and development program for its employees not only in its subsidiaries but also at the headquarters. Performance management Issue Performance management refers to the ongoing communication between employees and their supervisors that is aimed at providing support in order to facilitate the achievement of both individual and organizational goals. Performance as become a major area of focus at the present day workplace as organizations aim at maintaining competitiveness. For organizations such as No Name there is need for adoption of international performance management strategies. Performance management involves strategies such as performance reviews(DeNisi Smith,2014). The performance management issues that the organization is facing have been caused by a number of factors. Among these factors is the fact that there is no uniformity in how performance reviews are carried out between the organizations headquarters and subsidiaries .While employees working at the headquarters are subjected to regular performance reviews such programs do not exist at the subsidiaries. As an international organization, No Name is expected to have a standard approach towards performance reviews both at its headquarters and subsidiaries. Lack of this has had serious challenges especially on expatriates coming to the headquarters hence the performance issues facing the organization can be linked to disparities in performance reviews. As a result of lack of performance reviews at the subsidiaries the organization has not been abe to identify its training needs hence the reason for poor productivity and increased complaints (Korte, 2007) The organization should therefore ad apt a uniform use of performance reviews. Training and development issues The organization also has serious issue to do with its approach to training and development .The organizations approach to training of its expatriates for only half a day bearing in mid the cultural differences and the absolutely new environments in which they are supposed to operate in can be viewed as one of the causes of the challenges facing No Name .The impact of this is that it hampers an employees ability to become fully integrated into their new workplace within the shortest time possible (Jaksic Jaksic,2013). It also causes an employee to operate in a vacuum without much knowledge about what they are supposed to do. Another issue that senior manager have failed to perform their employee development role partly because of the fear of being overtaken by the junior employees. The organization can adopt the following strategies to meet its training and development needs. Role Delegation Delegation is the process through which people in managerial positions delegate roles or authority to subordinates. According to (Chen Aryee,2007) delegation is an effective strategy to develop junior employees. Through this leaders can pass their skills and abilities to their subordinates. Managing employee performance Training and development can also be used by the organization to train and develop their employees. According to (Hester Setzer, 2013) performance can facilitate both the achievement of individual and organizational goals. Through management of employees performance the organization can be able to monitor the performance of its employees, identify their training needs and adopt the necessary strategies to train and develop them. Conclusion And Recommendations Encouraging feedback The organization should also make it mandatory for manager and supervisors to constantly engage employees and give feedback regarding their performance. This will enable employees to become more effective in their operations because they will be able to identify and rectify their errors (Hester Setzer, 2013). Diversity management As identified in the case study diversity management is serious challenge facing the organization. The organization should implement strategies that encourage employees to understand each other more such as making it mandatory to have regular interactive sessions among the employees as well as facilitating intergroup interactions. This can also be achieved through giving equal opportunities during the recruitment process (Gavri?, Sormaz Ili?,2016). Organization culture Negative organization culture has been identified as one of the challenges That No Name is facing. The organization should establish strategies that encourage a positive organization culture based on team work irrespective of employees level in the organization, effective communication and mutual respect for each other (Barry, Dion Johnson, 2008). Adoption of proper communication mechanisms Communication is also a major issue affecting the organization. The organization should implement strategies that promote precise, clear accurate and timely communication in order to solve the communication challenge facing the organization (Markos Sridevi, 2010). Adoption of performance review programs. The organization should also ensure that performance reviews are not only carried out in Australia but also in its Subsidiaries. This will enable the organization to effectively meet employee training needs in order to keep the productivity of the organization high. Conclusion In conclusion the organization is facing serious issues such as negative organization culture, discriminative recruitment practices, lack of employee training and development programs, high intolerance levels. These among others have collectively contributed to the current problems facing the organization including the increasing consumer complaints as a result of poor quality of goods. These challenges cab ne solved through the adoption of a positive organization culture, adoption of effective communication strategies, performance review programs, encouraging diversity and feedback at the workplace. Reference List DeNisi, A., Smith, C. E. (2014). Performance appraisal, performance management, and firm-level performance: a review, a proposed model, and new directions for future research.Academy of Management Annals,8(1), 127-179. Barry, J. M., Dion, P., Johnson, W. 2008. A cross-cultural examination of relationship strength in B2B services. Journal of Services Marketing, 22(2), 114-135. Prasad, P. (2015). Performance appraisal: An empirical study to understand job satisfaction and motivation of personnel through the system.International journal of engineering and applied sciences,2(4), 118-125. Holden, N. 2012. Cross-cultural management: A knowledge management perspective. Pearson education. Taleghani, M., Largani, M. S., Gilaninia, S., Mousavian, S. J. (2011). The role of customer complaints management in consumers satisfaction for new industrial enterprises of Iran. International Journal of Business Administration, 2(3), 140. Jehanzeb, K., Bashir, N. A. (2013). Training and development program and its benefits to employee and organization: A conceptual study.Training and Development,5(2). Carlos Pinho, J., Paula Rodrigues, A., Dibb, S. (2014). The role of corporate culture, market orientation and organisational commitment in organisational performance: the case of non-profit organisations.Journal of Management Development,33(4), 374-398. Hester, J. P., Setzer, R.( 2013). Mentoring: Adding Value to Organizational Culture. The Journal of Values-Based Leadership, 6(1), 4. Gavri?, G., Sormaz, G., Ili?, ?. (2016).The impact of organizational culture on the ultimate performance of a company.International Review, (3-4), 25-30. Shen, J., Chanda, A., D'netto, B., Monga, M. (2009). Managing diversity through human resource management: An international perspective and conceptual framework. The International Journal of Human Resource Management, 20(2), 235-251. Korte, R. F. (2007). A review of social identity theory with implications for training and development. Journal of European Industrial Training, 31(3), 166-180. Knox, G., van Oest, R. 2014. Customer complaints and recovery effectiveness: A customer base approach. Journal of Marketing, 78(5), 42-57. Uddin, M. J., Luva, R. H., Hossain, S. M. M. (2012). Impact of organizational culture on employee performance and productivity: a case study of telecommunication sector in Bangladesh.International Journal of Business and Management,8(2), 63. Markos, S., Sridevi, M. S. (2010). Employee engagement: The key to improving performance. International Journal of Business and Management, 5(12), 89-96 Chen, Z. X., Aryee, S. (2007). Delegation and employee work outcomes: An examination of the cultural context of mediating processes in China. Academy of Management Journal, 50(1), 226-238. Aggarwal, A., Thakur, G. S. M. (2013).Techniques of performance appraisal-a review.International Journal of Engineering and Advanced Technology (IJEAT),2(3), 617-621. Khanna, M., Sharma, R. K. (2014).Employees performance appraisal and its techniques: a review.Asian Journal of Advanced Basic Sciences,2(2), 51-58. Ramos, M. R., Hewstone, M., Barreto, M., Branscombe, N. R. (2016). The Opportunities and Challenges of Diversity: Explaining Its Impact on Individuals and Groups. Jaksic, M., Jaksic, M. (2013). Performance management and employee satisfaction. Montenegrin journal of economics, 9(1), 85.

Wednesday, December 4, 2019

No Quarter free essay sample

On No Quarter, Robert Plant and Jimmy Page dont so much look back or forward at their reunion, but look all around. The music on their eagerly anticipated album and highly-rated unplugged special is rich with music and musicians from India, Morocco, Egypt and even a symphony orchestra. They take old classics and re-evaluate them by deepening their texture with new instruments and styles, and craft new tunes with strong world-music influences. They disregard any protests that the originals are definitive versions. From the opening of the album, the listener waits for a few seconds in anticipation of the first few notes, and then begins to hear a song that sounds totally new. About 45 seconds later, one hears the familiar verse of nobodys fault but mine, ya, nobodys fault but mine from Led Zeppelins pulse-pounding 1976 electric-hit. The lyrics are the same, but everything else is different. On this version, the pace is slowed, the distortion pedal is traded in for an instrument called a hurdy-gurdy, and a delicate, bluesy, expectation-shattering remake of a classic song ensues. We will write a custom essay sample on No Quarter or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The rest of the album continues with experimentation, passion and craftsmanship. Plant and Page smartly choose to redo those songs that didnt get as much play time as ubiquitous Led Zeppelin hits like Stairway to Heaven and Whole Lotta Love. Four Sticks, Thats the Way and Friends, lesser-known songs are redone with care and, in the case of Four Sticks, improved upon from the original. The duos world music tendencies show up as they retackle Gallows Pole with acoustic guitar, Egyptian percussion, and banjo, and manage to make the song sound more like a good old-fashioned English folk romp than the original. They expand the mythic overtones of The Battle of Evermore by having Najma Akhtar, an Indian songstress, sing back-up to Plants familiar wails. Kashmir and Since Ive Been Loving You of course sound great, with all the proper elements in line: Plants searing vocals, Pages exceptional guitar skill, an Egyptian string and percussion ensemble and the London Metropolitan Opera. And the new songs? Thats where Plants and Pages musical experimentation is boldest. On Yallah, they loop a simple hypnotic Moroccan drum beat and Page plugs the guitar. Simply put, he rocks. Most amazing is Plants still present ability to wail and make it sound as effortless and beautiful as a birds flight. The lyrics, however, have not gotten any better with age. And the new songs arent great poetry, either. The whole gist in Led Zeppelins music was that the lyrics werent very important, for the music was textured, intricate and involving; it truly did the talking. After all these years, the music speaks eloquently, but in many tongues. .