Some cellphones accidentally set the time back an hour this morning, a week before the biannual switching for Daylight Saving Time. And as I get older, I can see both the reasons for and against the practice. But it's less about gaining or losing an hour of sleep as I get older.

With Halloween this Sunday, there will be lots of opportunities for scares and laughs and tricks and treats. But when it comes to horror movies, not everyone is a fan. And I have a confession to make.

It was the first time since the start of the pandemic that I learned of people who had died from COVID-19 before their deaths were announced in the provincial update. And unfortunately, it's sad that those people who are vaccine hesitant, but are not public about it, are still at risk of dying.

I saw someone tweeting about the RCMP release about a missing 10-year-old, wondering why there was no public or amber alert sent out. That was about 10 minutes before one was sent. And about 6 hours after the media were alerted. Lots of people are now looking for Ashayo Johnson, and we're all hoping he's found soon and he's back with his parents in North Preston.

It's one thing to keep something to yourself at the risk of someone else being hurt. It's another to say things about people that are either untrue or uninformed. Two civil court cases are top of mind for me. One is about a Newfoundland man who didn't share threatening text messages about a woman who ended up being murdered. The other is about about an Ottawa woman who made up a story about two people in a picture that ended up getting people fired.

I was a tenant for years have only been a landlord once, and only for a brief time. The provincial government has a plan to extend the cap on rent increases to 2024 and to add a deed transfer tax for out of province buyers. And on top of it all, the increase in energy prices has to be factored in for both renters and landlords.

Now that more people are heading back to the office, traffic is getting thicker and so are some of the drivers. And more accidents are leading to a vicious cycle of aggressive and unsafe driving. It would seem people are immune to the rules and are oblivious to the potential outcomes.

Nova Scotia has a law on the books that says the province will be inclusive and barrier free by 2030. The Accessibility Act is about reducing physical and societal barriers for disabled Nova Scotians. And this week, a major tourist attraction can now boast accessible and barrier free access to view iconic Peggy's Cove. That's good for people with disabilities and even the people who were protesting the construction last winter.

Sometimes my curiosity gets the better of me. I had a chance encounter with Jeff Fillmore who was just about finished a personal journey of self-reflection and mental wellness. He was just a few hours and a few days from completing his 15-month walk across Canada, from BC to Bridgewater. And he's shown that sometimes you can go home, even after 26 years.

There were two political stories that the opposition Liberals grabbed onto this week. One was the oddly hypocritical stand in support of fixed election dates, but not for summer elections. The other was the admission that the former government didn't do enough about the homeless situation. And both speak to the opportunity for politicians to listen and learn.