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To see and hear the 92-year-old Shankar perform is to witness a young old soul in a very pure state of transformation. It is, he says, the eternally rejuvenating power of the raga that keeps him alive and kicking. Herewith, Shankar discusses his life in music, and offers a tutorial in the nuts and bolts of his chosen form of expression, the raga.

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Today NBA star Shaquille O'Neal posted on his Twitter account that "I'm retiring" and "Shaq ooout" today. On the video linked from his Tweet, he says, ""We did it. Nineteen years, baby. (I) want to thank you very much. That's why I'm telling you first, I'm about to retire. Love you. Talk to you soon."

The Boston Celtics have not announced the retirement of the 7-foot-1-inch center, who has won four NBA titles in 19 years. According to CNN, he is fifth on the NBA's all-time career scoring list with 28,596 points.

If this is official, does that mean his rapping alter-ego, Shaq Diesel, is coming back in full force? Sure there's a Greatest Hits CD out, but that was 15 years ago. Here are five reasons (not including this awesome one of him singing "When the Doves Cry.") Shaq should go back to doing music full time.

​Had four gunshot wounds not claimed the life of John Lennon on Dec. 8, 1980, the prolific singer-songwriter would have enjoyed his 70th birthday tomorrow. 

The former Beatle was murdered outside of the apartment complex he shared with Yoko Ono almost 30 years ago by Mark Chapman, but his music lives on. 

Millions of Lennon's musical admirers around the world will mark the occasion of his birthday tomorrow in celebration of his life and craft. In the musician's hometown of Liverpool, England, a new peace monument will be unveiled in honor of his humanistic hymns. The John Lennon Signature Box Set has also been released just in time to take a comprehensive and reflective look back at the music of the man.

Google has a Lennon doodle on its main search page today, and even YouTube has a channel honoring Lennon today!

Locally, UCI history professor Jon Wiener took the occasion to pen an opinion piece in today's edition of The Los Angeles Times re-examining the deportation battle against the anti-war singer waged by the Nixon Administration. 

As a scholar and aficionado, Wiener has also authored two books on the musician: Come Together: John Lennon in his Time, and Gimmie Some Truth: The John Lennon FBI Files.

With those credentials in mind, I asked the Lennon-Lovin' UCI professor for his list of top 5 solo recordings from the singer as well as a few words on each on the songs chosen: