Listen to The Offspring’s New Album, Right Now!

Listen to the entire new album right now exclusively on the band’s new iMeem site: http://www.imeem.com/theoffspring

(Information taken from The Offspring group on www.facebook.com.)

Album name : Rise and Fall, Rage and Grace

Song list

1. Half truism
2. Trust in you
3. You’re gonna go far
4. Hammerhead
5. A lot like me
6. Takes me nowhere
7. Kristy, are you doing okay?
8. Nothingtown
9. Stuff is messed up
10.Fix you
11.Let’s hear it for Rock bottom
12.Rise and fall

This is probably one of the best new albums I have heard so far this year, and I am not even a fan of this group, but I could definitely start really liking them now.

The opening track ‘Half truism” is, to me, typically The Offspring. Upbeat and in-your-face. This track draws the listener into wanting to hear more. Brilliant choice for an opener.

The next track I listened to was “Kristy, are you doing okay?” It is a subtle, and yet, hard hitting song. In my interpretation it is speaking of innocence taken without permission. As you may realise, this is a topic very dear to my heart, and full kudos to The Offspring for bringing this to people’s attention.

“Fix you,” although not adjoined to the previous song, is a brilliant follow through, in that it shows how the people on the outside feel looking at their loved ones going through hell and feeling unable to help them in their time of need.

I have briefly listened to other songs off the album, and I would highly recommend it too one and all.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and our children.

I have decided to create a place online where people with children with PTSD can come and discuss possible ways to help their children.

This is a very personal thing for me, as I have a son who has had PTSD since age 5. It has been a very long road for him and for us as parents, and it took many years to get a diagnosis, let alone any kind of support for him or us.

When you have a child that is ‘different’ to other children, the medical professionals tend to label them with ADHD. This is what originally happened to my child. It took a move to another city and coming across some very incredible people who GENUINELY cared for the well being of my child to get the ball rolling.

It has not been easy though. Getting the diagnosis was only the beginning of the battle for all of us. At times it felt like it was the four of us against the world and all it’s craziness, trying to survive. However, when we felt like there was nothing left for us to do, and nowhere for us to go, a new avenue would make itself available for us, to enable us to further help our son.

I shall try to maintain my son’s privacy as best as possible, as this subject affects him predominantly. I shall not be posting anything that is with direct reference to him without his prior permission. (Because of this it may be a little while before I actually get a post up regarding our situation, as I need to write something out and then pass it by him and my partner for approval.)

What I shall be doing is posting what my partner and I have gone through. The steps we have taken to help him get to where he is today. And the things we would like to see achieved by ourselves and our children in the future.

I would also like to ask that anyone who can empathise with this condition or maybe be in a similar situation as ourselves to please feel free to offer their advise or share their experiences or thoughts.

I would like to advise that this is a public domain and that all view points are welcomed even though I may not personally agree. However, there will be very strong moderation as this is such a sensitive matter.

I do not apologise for any person’s view points on this matter, including my own.  And this is a public platform so I strongly encourage as many people as possible to be involved.

One further thing. Seeing as this is a public platform I can not control who reads and responds to these posts. So for the safety and well being of our children I suggest that all general internet protocols be practised.

For safety and privacy’s sake I can not emphasize enough that you only disclose what the general public will be viewing.