Ok folks, I have posted the overstock goose down comforter sets on my website for you to claim if you are in need a of an amazing high quality king size goose down ensemble set!

I have also posted them on eBay if you want to try and save a couple hundred bucks from my already insane 65% off price, you can place a bid!

You will know my listing, as it looks similar to my website. Go to the goose down clearance page here:

http://www.down-feather-bedding.com/special/rci-clearance.php

Or you can check out one of the ebay listings right here!

I hope to be shipping one of these amazing sets to you soon!

Regards,

Darren Salkeld, President
Northern Goose Down Inc.

Some of this post is controversial, but I wanted to bring it to your attention so you can make your own 'informed' desision on hand-harvested goose down.

Some people say it is better, others say avoid it! What do I say?

Well, read on and find out...

Firstly, when I see people trying to pawn off goose down products and 'claim' that they are of such great quality, that's one thing, good luck to them and all I can say is "Buyer Beware!" Make sure you know the source of the supplier before you purchase any goose down product.

Now, I don't normally go on rants like this one I am starting, but it gets me upset when people go and directly post a blatant 'bash' so they can sound knowledgeable in an attempt to sell their 'mass produced' down filled drop-ship items...

Here, let me explain, because right now you are probably thinking, "What in the heck are you babbling about Darren?"

Well, it all started this week when...

My factory over ran a shipment of high quality goose down comforters, featherbeds and pillows for some beautiful winter lodges in our area. So, I decided that I would entertain the idea of putting the overstock goose down items on eBay and really blow them out fast.

As I am relatively new to the eBay selling thing, I wanted to see what others were doing and I went on to read various descriptions that were posted in a 'Down Comforters' section of eBay.

I saw this one comforter listed and what upsets me, is when people put descriptions up trying to talk like they know all the ins and outs of the goose down industry, but end up confusing the buyer even more.

This particular goose down comforter was totally endorsing 'hand-harvested' goose down, which if you know me at all, I am 110% against hand-harvesting!

The listing I am talking about made the following blatant statements (and I quote):

"Filled with luxurious hand-harvested Hungarian white goose down."
{my comments: Were the birds ALIVE?}

"LFGD does not kill their birds for down and feather."
{my comments: Ok, previous question answered, then what do you do with the birds when they are bald?}

"LFGD company uses only large cluster hand harvested down and feather without any injury (proven by the veterinary and hygiene institute) to their birds."
{my comments: How do you not injure something when you pluck it ALIVE? This is total B**l S**t and a RED FLAG to stay away}

"Their down is not a by-product of the food industry."
{my comments: Obviously, we established that when you balded out the goose and set him free again without his protective coating}

Let me make something very clear here:

There are only a small handful of 'big' players in the goose down industry. We are all a pretty tight niche group of business people... Kind of like the internet marketing guru's of this day and age.

Hand-Harvesting Goose (and Duck) down is highly, highly frowned upon in our goose down industry group. For someone to splash the quotes I listed above on the internet and try to win over the un-educated consumer is what upsets me.

Not only is hand-harvested goose down frowned upon, it is actually banned in most countries around the world.

Why, you ask?

Well, hand harvesting was (and still is according to this particular eBay seller) a method used to collect goose down in various parts of the world. This method involves taking live geese & ducks (yes, I said LIVE) and then pulling the feathers and down off of them by hand (ala the name 'hand-harvested goose down')

Does hand-harvesting hurt the live goose or duck?

YES, absolutely it does! How would you like having the hair pulled out of your head, or worse yet, your fingernails pulled out while you were being restrained?

Ya, I didn't think you would like it... Neither would I!

Some years ago already, a video was released that an amateur videographer shot over in Hungary (or Poland – I can't quite remember) of this 'live hand harvesting' of goose down. It was pretty graphic in nature and showed the poor geese walking around bald and some actually with blood showing... Urrrrggg, just the thought of it, really pisses me off that someone could do that to a goose!

Now, if you have been a long time member of my site, or if you have just come to know me, you will know that Northern Goose is the only Federally licensed goose processing plant in Canada.

It is regulated by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the United States Food Safety Inspection Services (FSIS) and also the European Union Directorate General (EU-DG).

Yes, Northern Goose IS a food processing plant. It has been for over 30 years now and we process all of the geese from Western Canada intended for the world food market. All birds are processed in our state of the art, completely hygienic, federal government regulated facility.

The goose down & feathers are moved simultaneously to the feather factory via underground piping. To the best of my knowledge, Northern Goose is the only place in North America (and possibly the world) where goose down is processed with federal government inspectors present every single day to ensure quality and humane treatment.

Another amazing fact about the goose: Not one piece goes to waste.

So yes, the food industry is priority at Northern Goose and the feathers are a by-product, not the other way around.

I am very proud to say that there has never been even one ounce of 'hand-harvested' goose down in the Northern Goose factories.

Northern Goose Down is widely recognized as the #1 goose down around the world!

There are limited quantities of it available each year and when it is gone, it is gone. We do not out source any materials. That is one of the reasons that makes our goose down so valuble.

If you didn't get enough here, I have a lot of great information on my home page at:

http://www.down-feather-bedding.com

Wishing you massive success in your quest for the best night of rest!

Darren Salkeld, President
Northern Goose Down Inc.
Rocan International, Inc.

P.S. About my overstock of high quality goose down items, I am still exploring the eBay thing for now. I will post my decision here in about a week or so of what I decide to do with them. Right now there is a few mountain lodges in the Banff, AB talking to me about getting them... Stay tuned!

I just stumbled across a really cool site that I loved and think you will really like it too.

It's at http://www.123giftforme.com


They are giving you hundreds of cool gifts for just $1.23, yeah just a buck.

When I first heard about it they had 253 gifts for you. Now, in just a few days it is already over 271 gifts and it keeps growing.

It is like an early Christmas!

I liked it so much, I even dontated gifts for them to give away to all of their members.

Happy Gift Getting!

Darren Salkeld, President
Northern Goose Down Inc.
Rocan International, Inc.


P.S. Let me know if you see it when you become a member.

http://www.123giftforme.com

I woke up this morning and looked out the window of my home here in sunny Manitoba, Canada to see a fresh blanket of *the white stuff* on the ground.

Yes, we got a blast of old man winter, yet AGIAN last night!

All-be-it that it is nice and sunny today, it is VERY cold out there...

Winter is a wonderful time of the year - holidays, warm fires, crisp air, and for many, fresh fallen snow.

Bur the colder temperature and lower humidity affect the condition of your skin and hair.

Inside of your home, it is pretty easy to protect yourself from the harsh elements of the long winter months... Outside is a different game all together!

Here are some suggestions for protecting your skin and hair from the dammaging cold temperature, low humidity and unbearable wind chills!


TIP #1:

The skin on your hands is thinner than in other areas of your body, and it needs extra protection and care. Make sure that after washing your hands you dry thoroughly and use a good hand cream. Wearing gloves outdoors will also protect them and keep your skin soft.


TIP #2:

Elbows, knees, and feet are completely covered in the winter months, and usually forgotten until spring. Clothing and boots can cause friction that creates a buildup of thick skin. A good scrubbing with a natural lofah sponge, followed by a rich cream will remove any problems here.


TIP #3:

Sun protection is very important in the winter months, just as it is year-round. Many people forget to use sunscreen, but sun reflects off snow and ice, and you can actually get double the sun exposure.


TIP #4:

Protect your lips with a good lip balm, and avoid licking your lips as much as possible, since that will cause your lips to crack and chap. If you get a bad case of chapped or cracked lips, use some Vaseline Intensive care before bed, and you should be good to go in the morning.


TIP #5:

Winter winds and low humidity are also hard on your hair, and using a rich, deep hair conditioner is important to restore moisture to your hair.


TIP #6:

One way to keep your skin in great shape is getting a massage. You don't have to go to a specialist for this: just get out your favorite massage oil and ask a family member to give you a quick massage. Then relax and enjoy the experience and the benefits.


Here are some of the best *natural* beauty ingredients available for winter skin and hair care:


Baking Soda:

Can be used as a deodorant, bath powder, or tooth whitener. Mixed with water, it helps remove residues from hairstyling products, making your hair clean and shiny.


Beans:

Finely ground until powder-like, beans make a great cleanser for your face and body: just add the powdered beans to your favorite cleanser and massage into damp skin. Dry beans are rich in protein, potassium and iron, all good ingredients for healthy skin.


Citrus Fruit:

Contains citric acid, which kills bacteria on the skin. Also, the fresh scent is a known energizer. Rinse your hair with lemon juice mixed with water when you hair is dull and tired.


Maple Syrup:

Can be used as a facial mask, or hair conditioner, and it's one of the best natural moisturizers. For best results, make sure you look for syrup marked 100% pure.


Tea Tree Oil:

This oil has very powerful antibacterial and antiviral qualities, and it's easily absorbed by the skin.


Enjoy your beautiful skin and hair this coming winter!

Sincerely,

-Darren Salkeld
Editor, Healthy Living - It's YOUR Choice!

Sleep apnea is described as the pausing of breathing during the night-time while a person is sleeping. This is a problem that can occur over and over during the night. There are many warnings to alert a person that they may have sleep apnea.

Some basic understanding about sleep apnea will help a person to better understand the problem as well as help them find a way to treat it. One sign of sleep apnea is loud snoring. This is an indication of breathing problems or blocked air passages. The cessation of breathing or even choking spells in the middle of the night is also a warning sign of sleep apnea.

For more severe cases, a person can choke during their sleep many times in the night. This will cause the person to loose sleep and not feel as rested in the morning as they would like. Many people are faced with being tired during the day and may even have trouble concentrating.

Another warning sign and basic piece of information for sleep apnea is going to the bathroom more frequently during the night. There are a lot of people that have problems staying focused at work because they are up and down all night long. For others, driving is dangerous because they are so sleep deprived that they cannot keep their eyes open long enough to drive safely.

The following information should go a long way toward clearing up any uncertainty that may remain.

Mood swings are another basic sign of sleep apnea. Many people that do not get the rest that their body requires will find that they have terrible mood swings. They will get irritated more easily and may also have hard time getting along with others.

Having a decrease in a person's sex drive is also another sign of sleep apnea. They will not have the energy to even think about being intimate let alone performing. This can cause stress in a relationship as well.

Many people will also have headaches and body aches when they awake after a night of interrupted sleep. They will be so stressed that they cannot even think straight and this will be a sign of a sleep apnea. When person wakes with a sore or dry throat, this may indicate to them that they are having a sleeping problem.

If a person has one or more of these symptoms, they should consider seeing a doctor to find out more. They may be suffering from this condition needlessly when there is treatment available.


Sincerely,

-Darren Salkeld
Editor, Healthy Living - It's YOUR Choice!