Imagine a Monty Python version of an Alfred Hitchcock thriller and the result is The 39 Steps, adapted by Patrick Barlow and presented by the University Players, November 24 to December 3 at the Essex Hall Theatre.

Director Kelly Daniels describes the show as absolutely magical and delightful.

“It’s all of the elements of theatre coming together to produce some really creative and imaginative storytelling,” she says. “At this time of the year and the chaos of the world, we could all use a fabulous laugh!”

The story follows Richard Hannay, whose boring life in 1935 London, England, suddenly turns upside down upon meeting a beautiful woman who claims to be a spy. Once she is mysteriously murdered in his home, he becomes the target of a manhunt across the British Isles, chased by police as well as a mysterious organization of spies known as the 39 Steps.

On a quest to clear his name, Hannay runs into characters both mysterious and zany, morphing the revered spy thriller into a hilariously over-the-top comedy.

Performances from Wednesday to Saturday start at 8 p.m. with weekend matinees at 2 p.m. On Sunday, November 26, a “Talk Back” discussion with the actors will follow the performance. Order tickets online at www.UniversityPlayers.com or phone 519-253-3000, ext. 2808.

It was an unexpected email that elevated Renu Sharma-Persaud to heights unmatched by even the Matterhorn.

“I was on vacation in Switzerland when I got an email saying my book The Mastery of You won a Readers’ Favorite award,” the UWindsor sessional lecturer said. “I thought I was getting someone else’s mail and it just made the vacation so much better when I realized it was true.”

Dr. Sharma-Persaud’s book won the silver medal in the category of non-fiction cultural for the Readers’ Favorite awards.

Readers' Favorite describes itself as the "fastest growing book review and award contest site on the Internet" and looks at authors from around the world.

Sharma-Persaud said The Mastery of You takes its reader on a journey of self-discovery to help develop inner self-confidence.

“I had a very important experience very early on in life that triggered my interest in the area of self-worth,” Sharma-Persaud said, emphasizing that it was her research into self-worth that inspired the book. “I had this trigger, I researched it, and now I am able to practise what my findings were as an educator.”

She said the book should help readers progress to “be the best that they can be.

“A beauty of my book is that it gives concrete examples of how to do that.”

The book is available for purchase at the Campus Bookstore or for borrowing from Leddy Library. Sharma-Persaud will sign copies of her book in the Bookstore on Wednesday, November 22, at 12:30 p.m.

A co-op placement provided more than practical work experience for Bhavesh Lakhankiya.

Not only did the master of engineering student gain invaluable experience working at Diageo Canada Inc. in Amherstburg, Ont., but Lakhankiya also said he learned something that can’t be taught in the classroom.

“As an international student, this was my first opportunity to work within the Canadian work culture,” Lakhankiya said, who grew up in India.

“One of the best things I learned during this co-op is how to communicate with people and learn the different responsibilities of a workplace.”

Lakhankiya was among eight students in the master of engineering in mechanical engineering with the automotive option program to present posters on their co-operative education placements in the Centre for Engineering Innovation on Friday.

Lakhankiya was part of a team at Diageo that performed an overhaul which sees the plant shut down for major equipment maintenance. He would track resources like mechanics, operators, and materials to determine a timeline for the overhaul as well as track work orders and purchase orders.

The Diageo plant in Amherstburg facilitates bottling and packaging of Crown Royal whisky.

M.Eng student Bhavesh Lakhankiya completed an internship at Diageo Canada Inc. in Amherstburg, Ont..

For Darpan Patel, the highlight of his co-op at Ford Motor Company of Canada was the hands-on experience.

“I was able to learn everything about engine components, their functions and when I got this co-op I got the chance to disassemble the engines on my own completely,” Patel said.

“I was able to look at every component and examine how it works.”

Patel said during his co-op, he worked with the quality team and disassembled the warranty claim engines.

“I conducted a root cause analysis to find the potential causes of the warranty failures,” Patel said.

His work focused on the issue of engine knocking and led him to examine uneven rod wear caused by cap-shift rods and scuffed piston skirts.

The co-op is optional for M.Eng – mechanical engineering students and provides them with an opportunity to work in an automotive related company during one semester of school.

For more information, visit www.uwindsor.ca/professional.

M.Eng student Darpan Patel completed his co-op placement at the Ford Motor Company of Canada.

About one-half of Canadians are eligible to give blood, but last year, only one in 60 able to donate actually did. Members of the campus community will have a chance to up that number before month’s end, as Canadian Blood Services has two donor clinics scheduled for the CAW Student Centre in just over a week.

“The need for blood is constant, especially for patients requiring regular transfusions,” says Marisa Gatfield, territory manager for Windsor-Essex County. “We are hoping for a good turnout from students, staff, and faculty as we head into the holiday season.”

The service has booked the Commons area for 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. tomorrow — Tuesday, November 21 — in addition to a previously-scheduled clinic on Wednesday, November 29, in the Ambassador Auditorium.

“There is lots of choice for those donating in November,” Gatfield says. “Giving blood is one of the most direct ways you can help someone.”

Walk-in donors are welcome, but appointments will better accommodate donors’ working schedules. To book an appointment, call 1-888-2DONATE (1-888-236-6283). As with previous clinics, the Department of Human Resources encourages all eligible employees to participate in this worthwhile process and asks any employees who wish to donate to make the necessary arrangements with their supervisors regarding the possibility of extended lunch or break periods.

Information Technology Services will host an open house reception celebrating the retirement of application programmer Cathy Wilbur after more than 37 years of service to the University of Windsor on Wednesday, November 22.

Over the course of her career, she primarily supported finance systems and also served on the team which designed the current Student Information System.

Wednesday’s drop-in will run 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. in room 205, University Computer Centre, and is open to all her friends and colleagues.