Actually, I think wandering through cemeteries, gazing at tombstones, reading what people have written to their loved ones through the ages and into death is a wonderful way to think about death. It is usually avidly avoided and sanitized and stripped of all reality. In a cemetery, there it is. Bam. Life, death, loss, love, pain.
I’m a little biased right now. We just buried my grandmother on Saturday in her favorite cemetery, right between her husband and her son.
Greenwood is an amazing place for peace and reflection. Go!
what are we going to do with you?
Green-wood cemetery was specifically designed for strolling, gazing and picnicing. Before there was a Prospect Park, Brooklyn families would pack a lunch and head for Green-wood for the afternoon, maybe to say hello to the ancestors, maybe not, but definitely to enjoy nature and see a beautiful romantic landscape. Really, that was the reason the cemetery was designed so beautifully and romantically. Google Green-wood and read about it, it is very interesting. You would like it, there are no horses. Although there are wild turkeys here and there.
Rob, the Victorians loved to go and gawk at cemeteries. They kept lockets with the hair of their dead relatives in them too. But they claim to have been not so big on the sex clubs.
Many of you have waxed poetic about Toto toilets on various threads.
Here’s an update on the company….
Executive Vice President Uzuka gave a solid presentation to a small group of 20-30 investors. Toto is Japan’s largest maker of sanitary ware, including toilets and sinks. Like many companies in Japan, they company is suffering from current weakness in the housing market, but longer-term, domestic remodeling and oversea markets are growth areas to look forward to.
Uzuka-san explained that one of the reasons for Toto’s strength is their ability to propose a new lifestyle. Toto has won various prizes for innovative technologies, including “Washlet†toilets, which now has a 70% penetration in the domestic market since its launch 30 years ago. Toto is also proposing for a “washlet†culture overseas, and sales have been steadily growing from ~50k units in 2003, to now over 300k units in the overseas market.
Near-term: Toto recently revised down their FY outlook, and now looks for a 70% drop in earnings on a 6% sales decline. Although they will be benefiting from ¥3.7b cost reduction, negative factors like sales decline, price cuts, and increase material prices are much larger.
Domestic market (sales breakdown: remodeling 52%, new housing 30%): Toto admits that there is not much prospect for new housing starts to grow again (despite various efforts made by the government) due to declining population and the number of house stocks (47m) exceeding the number of households (54m). Growth in domestic market will come from “remodelingâ€. Remodeling demand is expected to grow because of the increase in number of houses that are older than 15 years. Toto estimates this demand to be 1.6m/year.
Overseas (13% of sales): more exciting growth market. North & Central America and China accounts for majority of sales, and sales in these markets are expected to increase 18% and 3% respectably on local currency base for FY3/09. Toto’s competitive edge in the oversea market lies in their technology including ultra water-conservative toilets (20% reduction in water usage). Some cities have introduced a subsidy for this.
North & Central America (41% of overseas sales): Toto’s focus here is in the high-end market, with 28% market share. Co’s ultra-water conservative toilet has received a high evaluation, and California decided to make it obligatory to install 4.8% per flush toilets from 2011.
China (36% of oversea sales): Focus is also on high end, with 38% market share. Company is leveraging TV commercials and showrooms to promote their product. Margins are high in this market due to better sales mix of high-end products like washlets.
Other overseas markets with growth opportunities are Europe (since 2008), UAE (since 2005), India (since 2001). Europe is the world’s largest market (44% of the global market) and is a highly competitive for high-end brands, but Toto expects sales to reach ¥10b sales in this region in FY2011
BRG, did you see my answer to your question about the house a couple days ago?
We’ve decided to go ahead and buy the place.
But only on the condition they let us have a second inspection and it does not reveal advanced termite infestation and foundation problems (the walls are bowing, so the first inspector said we should get a second opinion).
The place has been empty for a long time. We know there’s a little termite problem and we can deal with it, but our nightmare is opening the walls to put in the new electrical and finding every one wriggling with thousands of termites. AAAAAAAAAAAAUUUUUUUUUUUUGGHHHHHHHHHH.
Yes, on every Toto toilet there’s a separate flush for “solids” and “liquids.” I’m just never sure what one to use when its in between.
Rob,
Actually, I think wandering through cemeteries, gazing at tombstones, reading what people have written to their loved ones through the ages and into death is a wonderful way to think about death. It is usually avidly avoided and sanitized and stripped of all reality. In a cemetery, there it is. Bam. Life, death, loss, love, pain.
I’m a little biased right now. We just buried my grandmother on Saturday in her favorite cemetery, right between her husband and her son.
Greenwood is an amazing place for peace and reflection. Go!
I can’t help but smile when I see a story about a toilet company that begins with the line, “Executive Vice President Uzuka gave a solid presentation”
r, r, r……
what are we going to do with you?
Green-wood cemetery was specifically designed for strolling, gazing and picnicing. Before there was a Prospect Park, Brooklyn families would pack a lunch and head for Green-wood for the afternoon, maybe to say hello to the ancestors, maybe not, but definitely to enjoy nature and see a beautiful romantic landscape. Really, that was the reason the cemetery was designed so beautifully and romantically. Google Green-wood and read about it, it is very interesting. You would like it, there are no horses. Although there are wild turkeys here and there.
good one dave. (i bet that went over most peoples heads tho)
*r*
Rob, the Victorians loved to go and gawk at cemeteries. They kept lockets with the hair of their dead relatives in them too. But they claim to have been not so big on the sex clubs.
Many of you have waxed poetic about Toto toilets on various threads.
Here’s an update on the company….
Executive Vice President Uzuka gave a solid presentation to a small group of 20-30 investors. Toto is Japan’s largest maker of sanitary ware, including toilets and sinks. Like many companies in Japan, they company is suffering from current weakness in the housing market, but longer-term, domestic remodeling and oversea markets are growth areas to look forward to.
Uzuka-san explained that one of the reasons for Toto’s strength is their ability to propose a new lifestyle. Toto has won various prizes for innovative technologies, including “Washlet†toilets, which now has a 70% penetration in the domestic market since its launch 30 years ago. Toto is also proposing for a “washlet†culture overseas, and sales have been steadily growing from ~50k units in 2003, to now over 300k units in the overseas market.
Near-term: Toto recently revised down their FY outlook, and now looks for a 70% drop in earnings on a 6% sales decline. Although they will be benefiting from ¥3.7b cost reduction, negative factors like sales decline, price cuts, and increase material prices are much larger.
Domestic market (sales breakdown: remodeling 52%, new housing 30%): Toto admits that there is not much prospect for new housing starts to grow again (despite various efforts made by the government) due to declining population and the number of house stocks (47m) exceeding the number of households (54m). Growth in domestic market will come from “remodelingâ€. Remodeling demand is expected to grow because of the increase in number of houses that are older than 15 years. Toto estimates this demand to be 1.6m/year.
Overseas (13% of sales): more exciting growth market. North & Central America and China accounts for majority of sales, and sales in these markets are expected to increase 18% and 3% respectably on local currency base for FY3/09. Toto’s competitive edge in the oversea market lies in their technology including ultra water-conservative toilets (20% reduction in water usage). Some cities have introduced a subsidy for this.
North & Central America (41% of overseas sales): Toto’s focus here is in the high-end market, with 28% market share. Co’s ultra-water conservative toilet has received a high evaluation, and California decided to make it obligatory to install 4.8% per flush toilets from 2011.
China (36% of oversea sales): Focus is also on high end, with 38% market share. Company is leveraging TV commercials and showrooms to promote their product. Margins are high in this market due to better sales mix of high-end products like washlets.
Other overseas markets with growth opportunities are Europe (since 2008), UAE (since 2005), India (since 2001). Europe is the world’s largest market (44% of the global market) and is a highly competitive for high-end brands, but Toto expects sales to reach ¥10b sales in this region in FY2011
BRG, did you see my answer to your question about the house a couple days ago?
We’ve decided to go ahead and buy the place.
But only on the condition they let us have a second inspection and it does not reveal advanced termite infestation and foundation problems (the walls are bowing, so the first inspector said we should get a second opinion).
The place has been empty for a long time. We know there’s a little termite problem and we can deal with it, but our nightmare is opening the walls to put in the new electrical and finding every one wriggling with thousands of termites. AAAAAAAAAAAAUUUUUUUUUUUUGGHHHHHHHHHH.
Anyone ever been to Morningwood Cemetary??