HEARD IT AND READ IT

Prepared by Bassam Mechammil

 

June 2010

 

For comments; please email Mechammil@aol.com

 

 

 

Cholesterol-Reducing Drugs May Lessen Brain Function, Says Researcher

 

Yeon-Kyun Shin, a biophysics professor in the department of biochemistry, biophysics and molecular biology, says the results of his study show that drugs that inhibit the liver from making cholesterol may also keep the brain from making cholesterol, which is vital to efficient brain function.

"If you deprive cholesterol from the brain, then you directly affect the machinery that triggers the release of neurotransmitters," said Shin. "Neurotransmitters affect the data-processing and memory functions. In other words -- how smart you are and how well you remember things."

Shin's findings will be published in this month's edition of the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Cholesterol is one of the building blocks of cells and is made in the liver. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) -- often referred to as bad cholesterol -- is cholesterol in the bloodstream from the liver on the way to cells in the body. High-density lipoprotein (HDL) -- so-called good cholesterol -- is cholesterol being removed from cells. Too much LDL going to cells and not enough being removed can lead to cholesterol deposits and hardening of the cells.

"If you have too much cholesterol, your internal machinery is not going to be able to take away enough cholesterol from the cells," said Shin. "Then cells harden and you can get these deposits."

Cholesterol-reducing statin drugs are helpful because they keep the liver from synthesizing cholesterol so less of the substance is carried to the cells. This lowers LDL cholesterol.

It is the function of reducing the synthesis of cholesterol that Shin's study shows may also harm brain function.

"If you try to lower the cholesterol by taking medicine that is attacking the machinery of cholesterol synthesis in the liver, that medicine goes to the brain too. And then it reduces the synthesis of cholesterol which is necessary in the brain," said Shin.

In his experiments, Shin tested the activity of the neurotransmitter-release machinery from brain cells without cholesterol present and measured how well the machinery functioned. He then included cholesterol in the system and again measured the protein function. Cholesterol increased protein function by five times.

"Our study shows there is a direct link between cholesterol and the neurotransmitter release," said Shin. "And we know exactly the molecular mechanics of what happens in the cells. Cholesterol changes the shape of the protein to stimulate thinking and memory."

While reducing the cholesterol in the brain may make you have less memory and cognitive skills, more cholesterol in the blood does not make people smarter. Because cholesterol in the blood cannot get across the blood brain barrier, there is no connection to the amount of cholesterol a person eats and brain function.

Shin says that for many people taking cholesterol-lower statins can be very healthful and they should listen to their doctor when taking medication.

 

 

Ever Been Busted for Speeding? These Guys Have

Getting busted for doing over 100 mph is a lot like getting kicked out of camp for being in a girl's bunk after dark. Sure, you're pissed you got caught, but it's also going to make for a pretty good story.

While we would never advocate extreme speeding, with the right combination of car and road, sometimes it's inevitable. Just make sure you don't let your speedometer approach triple digits if you are in the state of Virginia, where such a transgression will get you a $2,500 fine and mandatory jail time.

After the jump, check out our list of celebrity speeders who were clocked at the century mark but avoided jail time.

10. Al Gore Jr. at 100 mph -- Little Albert did his poppa proud when he proved to skeptics that the environmentally friendly Prius could really move.

9. Nick Hogan at 100 mph -- The reality TV star's triple-digit speeding stop came months before he was involved in a tragic accident at a lower speed.

8. LeBron James at 101 mph -- The $80 million man brushed off his $150 ticket as "no big deal."

7. Steve Wozniak at 104 mph -- The Apple inventor and American citizen actually pleaded metric-system confusion. The judge didn't buy it, and fined him $700.

6. Matt Dillon at 106 mph -- Kevin's older brother was clocked on the open roads of Vermont.

5. Tashera Simpson at 106 mph -- While we've pegged DMX as a sure-fire celebrity speeder, it was his wife who was caught doing triple digits in the family Mercedes. (With four unbuckled kids in the back.)

4. Chris Tucker at 109 mph -- The "Rush Hour" star was pulled over for reaching 109 back in 2005, and we haven't really heard from him since.

3. Ben Affleck at 114 mph -- Top that, Damon.

2. Eric Clapton at 134 mph -- Slowhand has a lead foot. And his top speed got him banned from driving in France.

1. Koenigsegg CC at 242 mph -- Not technically a person, but the Swedish supercar which was allegedly pulled over for doing 242 on a Texas freeway during the Gumball 3000 rally race. If true, it would be the largest speeding ticket ever issued.

Caught at 100 MPH: Now What?

Basketball phenom LeBron James has one. As does actor Matt Dillon. So, famously, does politician Al Gore's son. You may think it's a Bentley, Benz or even a Prius, or the latest celebrity accoutrement, but we're not talking about that. All of these famous individuals have a speeding ticket citation for allegedly driving above 100 mph. As the three drivers were cited in three different states, they all face varying combinations of penalty fines, courts fees and possible license suspensions. But even if a prospective fine won't hit LeBron's oversized pocketbook too hard, it often adds up to a pretty penny for the average motorist once an insurance adjustment -- or policy cancellation -- is taken into account. What does it mean to get caught going triple digits? We take a look.

When You Hear About It

Maybe you were driving too fast on a straight section of freeway and heard that ominous siren that means a hefty speeding fine is on the way. Maybe you were opening your mail over a cup of morning coffee and noticed a letter with a funny-looking city insignia on it. Or maybe you were sitting watching TV when you noticed a police car pulling up outside then heard a knock on the door. However the police got to you -- and it varies by the state you live in - you've now been cited for driving above 100 mph.

Likely Police Method

Vince Ramirez of the California Highway Patrol says a 100 mph-plus driver may be caught either by radar or by cruiser (known as a "bumper piece"). He says: "Upon a stop, the officer will issue a citation and then it goes to county, where a court determines the fine. He says most offenders are caught on "the outskirts of big cities, high desert areas or rural populations." Arizona is the only state with a permanent freeway camera system, while others including Florida enforce by aircraft.

Know Your Rights

When you've been pulled over, most attorneys will advise you to not admit guilt, as it may complicate challenging a ticket later. Likely a police officer will ask you how fast you thought you were going, but you are under no obligation to answer. Be polite and do not challenge the ticket right there, as it may annoy the officer, undermining your case. Do not offer a bribe, a felony offense. There's nothing to stop you asking for a warning only but, at 100 mph or more, it's not likely you'll get it.

Varying Ticket Penalties

Penalties vary across states and jurisdictions. In California, for example, a first offender likely will face a fine not exceeding $500, two points on a license and possible jail time. The infraction becomes a misdemeanor if the police can prove a driver was reckless. In Virginia it's a fine of up to $2,500 and mandatory jail time. Some states like Florida and New York use a sliding scale for speeds up to 50 mph over the limit. Many including Oregon enforce mandatory license suspensions.

Reckless Driving?

Whether an infraction becomes a reckless driving offense depends on road conditions, how you were driving, the officer serving your ticket and the state in which you received it. Factors include if you were seen making unsafe lane changes or had a passenger in your car (even more so if it's a child). Reckless driving is usually a misdemeanor criminal offense. In Florida, a third offense for driving 50 mph over the limit is a felony. In Virginia, driving above 85 mph is considered reckless.

What about insurance?

Raleigh Floyd at Allstate says a citation "typically won't affect the insurance situation unless it involved a crash." In terms of a policy cancellation or increase, Floyd says it's impossible to determine as "more than 1,000 factors that go into it, including age, past driving record and where you drive." He says that the offense will appear on DMV records and will be noted for new customers or a policy renewal. His advice? "Slow down for your own safety. You'll also save on gas."

Do you need a lawyer?

David Haenel, at Florida's fightyourticket.com, says a lawyer's job is to "explain the legal defense fully and make sure the officer can prove the case beyond reasonable doubt, to the same standard as a criminal case." He will check that a police radar has been properly calibrated and that citation records written up in a patrol car or aircraft match those on the ticket. More often than not, a driver's financial situation will dictate whether they hire a lawyer.

Repeat offenders

Most states will escalate punishment when a second offense has occurred within a given time period -- often five years. In most states, license suspension becomes mandatory and jail time also lengthens. In the case of a third offense, jail time could be mandatory. Officer Ramirez of the CHP confirms that these offenses are known as "significant abuses" and could merit jail time. Advice? If possible avoid getting one in first place. And if you get a second or third, look out!

 

10 Ways to Avoid a Cop Giving You a Speeding Ticket

People who get speeding tickets are often guilty of more than simply driving faster than the posted limit. Their chief offense? It's getting noticed in the first place. That's the first domino to fall in the ugly chain of events that leads to a piece of "payin' paper."

Here are some common sense ways to run under a cop's radar -- literally:

· Drive within 5-10 mph of surrounding traffic. Cops are usually looking for drivers who are going noticeably faster than the other cars on the road. If you're within a pack of cars all going 5 to 10 mph over the limit, you've automatically improved your odds of not being the one that gets pulled over for a speeding ticket, even though you're all technically speeding. The cop has to pick one car; if you go with the flow of traffic, it probably won't be you. And it definitely won't be you if you don't speed in the first place.

· Try to stay in the middle of the pack. If you're the lead car, logic says you'll be the first car to run past any cop's radar trap up ahead and get a speeding ticket. And if you're the last car, you'll be the one the police officer rolls up behind. That means the safest place is in the middle -- just like a gazelle fleeing a hungry lion by seeking safety in the middle of the herd.

· Find a "rabbit." If you can't find a pack of cars going the speed you'd like to maintain, the next best thing is to find yourself a rabbit -- a solitary driver traveling the speed you'd like to drive that you can follow discretely, about 50-100 yards back. If there's a cop using radar, hopefully the rabbit will trip the trap and get a speeding ticket, not you. And if he brakes suddenly, you have just received your early warning in time to take defensive action.

· Do not change lanes frequently, tailgate or otherwise drive aggressively. In addition to being rude and dangerous, you're just asking for a trucker or someone with a cell phone to call the cops and give them a description of your vehicle and license plate number. Always use your signals and be courteous to fellow drivers. It's safer, and it will help you fade into the background.

· Avoid the fast lane. Use the far left lane to pass when necessary, but try to stay in the middle lanes when possible. Reason? If a cop is lurking in a cutout along the median strip (or coming at you from the opposite direction on a divided highway) the speeder in the far left lane is the one most likely to become the target. Drivers who get nailed with speeding tickets are often the type who rack it up to 10 or 15 over the limit and remain in the far left lane.

· Watch for cutouts and modulate your speed accordingly. On many highways, there are cutouts in the median strip every couple of miles. Usually, you can see these in plenty of time to slow down a little bit in case there's a cop lurking behind the bushes ready to give you a speeding ticket.

· Don't speed when you are the only car on the road. If you ignore this warning it's the equivalent of plastering a "ticket me!" bumper sticker on your vehicle. Even if you're only doing five mph over the posted limit, if there's a cop using radar, he's got nothing to look at but you. Lonesome speeding is even more dangerous in small towns, where radar traps and aggressive enforcement by cops can be common. And never speed late at night. Drunk-driving patrols are heavy and cops are more inclined to pull you over for any offense in order to check you for signs of alcohol. Don't give them a reason.

· If it's OK legally, get a radar detector. Yes, they're expensive (good ones, anyhow). But a one-time hit of, say, $300 for a decent radar detector is cheaper than even a single big speeding ticket and the higher insurance costs that will come with it. Radar detectors are legal in most states and well worth the investment to avoid a speeding ticket.

And Finally:

· If possible, drive a nondescript vehicle. It may not be fair, but it's human nature to notice things that stand out from the crowd. Bright-colored cars, those with loud exhaust or other pimped-out enhancements are the cars more likely to draw a cop's initial attention than ordinary-looking, family-type cars. Since the cop has to single out one car, which car do you suppose is the likely candidate for a speeding ticket? The bright yellow Mustang GT with 20-inch chrome rims? Or the silver Taurus?

If you do get pulled over while driving a fancy, high-profile car, your odds of getting a speeding ticket versus a warning have probably gone up. If you're driving a fast-looking hot rod, the cop is going to assume you use it and deserve a ticket more than the guy in a family-looking ride whose plea that he "didn't realize he was speeding, officer" comes off as more believable.

· Be aware that appearances count. That is, your appearance. If your appearance says, "Responsible member of the community," you're apt to get a more friendly response than if you look and act like trouble.

The worst possible thing you can do is combine all the no-no's listed above by driving a flashy car too fast, late at night when you're the only car on the road while looking like you just robbed a bank.

If you do that, expect a speeding ticket. And expect no mercy.

 

5 Tips to Increase Printer Lifespan

If you take care of your printer, it can last for five to seven years -- and possibly longer. Although the actual lifespan of any printer depends on how sturdy it is, the way you use and maintain it will also impact the number of years it will last.

Here are the do's and don'ts of printer maintenance to help extend its lifespan and save you money.

Tip No. 1: Keep It Clean
Don't skip the cleaning! A dirty printer won't work as well for as long.

Do keep your printer running with regular cleaning:

- If you have an inkjet printer and your cartridges have the print heads on them, you should clean the print heads. Remove the cartridges and use a moist cloth to wipe away the accumulated dry ink. Be sure to change the cartridges in a timely manner and only use the highest-quality cartridges to avoid leaks.

- If you have a laser printer, clean the soft, rubber coating on the rollers with a moist cloth. In addition, vacuum the inside of the printer to remove toner particles.

Tip No. 2: Buy Quality Toner/Ink Cartridges
Don't be cheap by buying compatible, refilled or remanufactured ink/toner cartridges. They cost less, but they don't work as well or as long, and they can impair your printer's performance.

Do buy the toner/ink cartridges that are specifically recommended for your printer. It's helpful to keep a spare cartridge on hand so you have a new one immediately available when the old one needs to be replaced. Be sure to recycle the used cartridge.

Tip No. 3: Don't Use Force on a Paper Jam
Don't yank out the paper when it's jammed! Not only can this rough action damage the printer, but also it can shred some of the paper, leaving bits of paper inside that can cause damage later on.

Do look for the hatch on the back of the printer. This can easily be removed, allowing you access to the paper wheels. You should be able to see the jammed paper and gently extract it.

Tip No. 4: Print Judiciously
Don't print needlessly. Before you print, ask yourself this question: "Do I really need to print this?"

Don't print unless you really need a paper document. After all, the less you print, the longer your printer will last. Besides, it's the green thing to do, since you'll use less paper and save a tree. One exception: If you have an inkjet printer, you should print frequently enough to prevent the print heads from clogging.

Do use the print preview function to see how a document will look when it's printed so you can make necessary changes and print just once.

Tip No. 5: Turn Off the Printer Properly
Don't suddenly turn off the printer or pull the cord out of the electrical outlet in the middle of a printing job.

Do use the printer's power button to turn off the machine when it's not in use to prevent the ink from drying out and keep your printer functioning at its best.

 

 

 

 

 

35 Kitchen Tips – A Collection Of Timeless Wisdom

This tip list is a continuation of 45 Cooking & Baking Tips – A Collection Of Timeless Wisdom with this collection containing handy Kitchen Tips from the 1950s and 1960s.

I’ve also included a few tips found on Tipnut where there was more info available.

35 Kitchen Tips – A Collection Of Timeless Wisdom

1. A damp cloth under any bowl or dish in which you are stirring or beating something will keep it from sliding around.
2. Oil can openers and other kitchen gadgets with olive or cooking oil. Glycerin will work too.
3. When working with hot peppers and the heat gets into your hands, wash your hands in diluted bleach to stop the burn.
4. Salt and vinegar will remove tea stains from china. See also How To Clean Stains From Teapots and How To Remove Coffee & Tea Stains From Mugs.
5. Something boil over on the stove? A sprinkle of salt will absorb the juice and stop the smoking.
6. Sprinkle a handful of table salt over a “run over” in your oven. It will stop the burned smell until you are through baking and can wash it.
7. If your glass coffee pot gets cloudy, make tea in it. Tea’s tannic content will remove the film. See also How To Clean A Coffee Pot.
8. Some vinegar in a glass or cup placed in the refrigerator will do away with that ice box odor.
9. To remove any disagreeable odor from your hands or a cooking vessel, wash with apple cider vinegar.
10. If hands get stained from chopping vegetables, rub them with slices of raw potato.
11. Use vanilla extract to sooth cooking burns and to keep them from blistering. Cider vinegar also helps–just dab on the burn, reapply if necessary.
12. Put a large teaspoon of baking soda in thermos bottle, fill with boiling water and cap occasionally between use. All adhering material loosens, comes off and sweetens the bottle.
13. A rubber patch cut from an inner tube makes a good temporary sink stopper.
14. Replace worn kitchen shades with oilcloth–using the slat and roller from the old one. These are long wearing and washable.
15. Put a roll of shelf paper into an empty aluminum foil container, lets you tear off pieces quickly and neatly.
16. Line the tops of cupboards with sheets of wax paper to protect cupboards from grease buildup and no more messy cleanup jobs.
17. A cloth dipped in lemon juice will clean discoloration on aluminum pots and cookware. Rinse and wipe dry.
18. Bring back some shine to aluminum pans by boiling apple peels in them.
19. Mesh scouring pads make fine pincushions when you cover them with leftover scraps of materials.
20. To pick up slivers of broken glass, wet a piece of paper toweling and apply gently to surface, the slivers will cling to the wet towel.
21. When stirring anything hot, always use a wooden spoon. It never gets hot nor does it scratch the cookware.
22. Place a jar lid on the bottom of the double boiler. It will rattle when the water gets too low.
23. Neutralize strong cooking odors by boiling three teaspoons of ground clove in two cups water for 15 minutes. You can also heat vinegar on the stove top to clear the smell. See also Fragrant Home: 13 Simmering Pot Recipes.
24. If two glasses are stuck together, fill the top glass with cold water and set the bottom glass in hot water. Try to carefully twist the two glasses apart after a minute.
25. Make sure you let your metal pans cool before washing otherwise they may warp.
26. Boil a bit of vinegar and salt in an iron skillet to remove burned on bits. See also How To Season, Clean & Prepare Cast Iron Cookware.
27. Put the potato masher into cold water as soon as you’re done using it, it will clean easier.
28. Use a plastic knitting needle to use as a plunger in a narrow funnel opening that thick sauces won’t go through easily.
29. Use an egg slicer to slice butter into individual pats. This tip also works for fresh mushrooms.
30. Use foam meat trays between each plate of fine china when stacking for storage, will help prevent scratches.
31. Squeeze a wedge of lemon after handling fish, will remove the fish smell from your hands.
32. Don’t throw fat away even if it was used for frying fish and has retained the odor, simply fry a slice of potato in the fat and the potato will absorb the odor.
33. Dip rusted metalware in pure cider vinegar then let it dry. After a few days you should be able to wipe away the remaining loose particles.
34. When the edges get rough on plastic serving utensils, file the edges smooth with a new emery board.
35. Mark eggs to use up first with a pencil before filling tray with fresh eggs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

مستوى تفكيرك .. يحدد أهدافك !!


مستوى التفكير .. يحدد الأهداف .. فما الذي نتوقعه من إنسان لا يفكر في زيادة معارفه .. ولا يهتم بالقراءة أو التدريب أو حتى مجرد المشاركة في ورش العمل أو المؤتمرات .. ولا يمارس أي نشاط طوعي أو مبادرة .. الأيام تمر عليه دون أن يكتسب مهارات جديدة .. العقل متوقف عن النمو .. و التطوير .. بالتأكيد ستكون النتيجة مخيبة للآمال !!
ففاقد الشئ لا يعطيه .. والإنسان ذو التفكير المحدود .. ستكون أهدافه .. محدودة .. أو ربما معدومة !!
إن الأمثلة على ذلك كثيرة جدًا .. وما نراه في جيل الشباب .. ذكورًا وإناثًا .. العجب .. إذا قلنا أن الكثير منهم بلا أهداف .. فهذه حقيقة .. وإذا قلنا أن هناك أهدافًا غير واضحة .. أو أهدافًا بلا معنى .. فهذه أيضًا حقيقة !!
إن العلوم في تطور مستمر .. خاصة فيما يتعلق بالتنمية البشرية وإدارة الذات .. ودونها لن نستطيع تحديد أهدافنا بالشكل الصحيح .. لقد قيل في هذه العلوم : ' ليت لو كانت عندنا هذه المعلومات منذ مئات السنين ' وهذا دليل صريح على أهمية رفع مستوى التفكير ..
مستوى التفكير .. يحدد الأهداف .. لذا .. سنظل ننادي بزيادة المعارف .. وتوسيع دائرة الاهتمام .. وخوض التجارب المختلفة .. والتعلم منها .. وسنظل نطالب بالقراءة والإطلاع .. والاحتكاك بالمجتمع .. وزيادة المهارات .. بالتدريب .. والمشاركة في ورش العمل والمؤتمرات وزيارة المعارض .. كما نطالب بالانخراط في الأعمال الطوعية والمبادرات الجماعية .. وغير ذلك مما سينتج عنه زيادة مستوى التفكير .. أهداف قوية .. ونجاح متوقع .
إن الأهداف تنمو وتكبر وتصبح أكثر أهمية متوازية مع نمو وزيادة مستوى التفكير .. فصياغة الأهداف علم كبير .. وإدارة الذات للوصول إلى طريق النجاح يحتاج منا أن نجيب على تساؤلات عديدة .. حول التخطيط وأهميته .. كيف نحدد إمكانياتنا ونضع أهدافنا .. ماذا تعني smart و swot .. كيف يمكن لنا التغلب على العوائق .. وكيف نحول الفشل إلى نجاح .. والعديد من التساؤلات الأخرى .. ويجب أن ندرك أننا إذا فشلنا في التخطيط .. فقد خططنا   للفشل !!           

 

 

حتى السجائر الأميركية .. أكثر فتكاً بالإنسان

أعلن الباحثون في مراكز مكافحة الأمراض والوقاية منها «سي دي سي» في أميركا أن السجائر الأميركية تحتوي على مواد سرطانية أكثر بثلاث مرات من الأنواع الأجنبية الاخرى.
وأفاد موقع «هيلث داي نيوز» الأميركي أن الباحثين في تلك المراكز الذين قارنوا معدلات إحدى المواد الأساسية السرطانية في التبغ، خلال دراسة هي الأولى من نوعها في هذا السياق، وجدوا أن السجائر ليست كلها مثل بعضها، وتختلف في كمية المواد الموجودة فيها من بلد لآخر.
وقال الطبيب جيم بيركل، نائب مدير قسم العلوم في إحدى مراكز «سي دي سي» أن كمية مادة نيتروسامينز السرطانية في أصناف التبغ الأميركية تساوي 3 أضعاف الكمية الموجدة في الأصناف الأسترالية والكندية والبريطانية».
وذكر تقرير الباحثين أن التبغ الموجود في السجائر يختلف حسب المصنّع ومكان التصنيع، وتستخدم الأصناف الأميركية تبغاً يحتوي على كميات من مادة نيتروسامينز أكثر منها في السجائر المصنعة في استراليا وكندا وبريطانيا.

 

 

النعناع مسكن للآلام

تشير دراسة إلى أن احتساء كوب من شراب النعناع البرازيلي يمكنه تسكين الآلام بما يعادل المسكنات المتوفرة تجاريا .وعلى مدى آلاف السنين كان المعالجون التقليديون في البرازيل يصفون شراب النعناع لعلاج الآلام المختلفة مثل الصداع وآلام المعدة والحمى والانفلونزا .
وقد اثبت فريق من جامعة نيوكاسل في تجربة أجراها على فئران أن المعالجين التقليديين على حق .
ونشرت الدراسة في دورية أكتا هورتيكولتورا

 

 

 

الشاب السوري ناصيف زيتون يفوز بلقب "ستار أكاديمي" في موسمه السابع

دمشق .. شام برس
فاز المشترك السوري ناصيف زيتون بلقب "ستار أكاديمي " في موسمه السابع بعد ثلاثة أشهر ونصف الشهر قضاها في الأكاديمية في منافسة مع عشرين متسابقاً دون الوقوف في مرحلة الخطر.
وحصد ناصيف نسبة 65,71 % من أصوات الجمهور، متفوّقاً على منافسيه رحمة السباهي من العراق التي نالت نسبة 24,8 % ، ومحمد رمضان الذي نال نسبة 10,71 %.
ونال ناصيف جائزة مالية قدرها خمسون ألف دولار وسيارة رياضية موديل العام 2010، فضلاً عن جائزة غالية جداً على قلبه هي عود موّقع من الفنان الكبير وديع الصافي وإشادة منه بصوته الشجي.
وتميز ناصيف على مدار ثلاثة أشهر بحضوره القوي وأدائه المتميز الذي أهله منذ الحفل الأول ليكون من أفضل الطلاب الموجودين في الأكاديمية وليترك بصمة لدى المشاهد من خلال تأديته لاغاني الفنان الكبير وديع الصافي الذي حل ضيفاً على البرنامج في حفله الخامس وشارك ناصيف بأداء أغنية " قطعة من السما " التي سطع من خلالها نجم ناصيف في سماء الأكاديمية .
والشاب ناصيف من مواليد 1988 ، وهو طالب في السنة الأولى في المعهد العالي للموسيقا قسم الغناء الشرقي ، و شارك في عدة حفلات بدار الأوبرا في دمشق إضافة إلى مشاركته في كورال مارسيل خليفة  في أحد زياراته لدمشق.
يُذكر أنّ الفنانين إليسا ووائل كفوري كانا نجمي السهرة الختامية، وحضر ثلاثة عشر مشتركاً وأدوا معاً أغنية "مهما يتجرح بلدنا" لزكي ناصيف قبل إعلان النتيجة.
وقد أعلنت مديرة الأكاديمية رولا سعد موسماً ثامناً لـ"ستار أكاديمي" خلال السهرة.