Domino is a system of interlocking rectangular blocks, each marked with an arrangement of dots, or “pips,” similar to those on a die. Each domino has one face that bears its identity marks, and the other face is blank or identically patterned, except for an area in the shape of a square that faces away from the others (indicated by a zero). The two faces are joined together by a line or ridge that runs vertically through the middle of the piece. This line or ridge is called the “spinner” and acts as the center of rotation for the piece.
Domino’s is a popular game played by two or more players. In turn, each player places a domino on the table positioning it so that its end touches one of the ends of a chain already in place. When a player plays a domino such that both ends of the chain show the same number (normally a multiple of five), that player is said to have “stitched up” the ends.
In addition to domino games that involve blocking or scoring, the tiles are also used for creating beautiful displays, often as a type of art. These displays can be as simple or as elaborate as desired – straight lines, curved lines that form pictures, stacked walls and 3D structures such as towers or pyramids. Some designs require many dominoes and can take minutes, even hours, to complete.
Dominos can also be used for other kinds of activities such as musical performances, science demonstrations and educational purposes, including teaching children basic math and counting skills. They can be used for creating patterns, demonstrating simple physics concepts, and illustrating the concept of cause and effect.
The history of dominoes and their use in other types of activity can be traced back to the 12th or 13th century, when early Chinese versions were developed. These early pieces were functionally identical to playing cards. Later, the idea of using a tile with a number on both sides to identify and track score was adopted.
A famous example of the domino effect in action is the pizza chain Domino’s, founded by businessman Tom Monaghan in 1967 in Ypsilanti, Michigan. The company quickly grew to include several hundred locations by the end of 1978. Monaghan credited his company’s initial success to strategically choosing locations, particularly near college campuses. The strategy paid off, as the pizzeria’s rapid expansion put Domino’s in close proximity to students who wanted their pizza delivered fast, and allowed the company to build a brand that became synonymous with speedy delivery.
For writers, the domino analogy can be a helpful way to think about story structure. Scenes in a novel need to be spaced properly if they are going to work as intended. If a scene is too long or too short, it can’t do what it needs to do. The same is true of a story plot – scenes must be long enough to advance the hero or draw the reader closer to the next goal, but they should also be short enough to avoid feeling rushed or shallow.
