The domino effect refers to a series of small events that lead to a larger event, such as a house fire or terrorist attack. The word domino may also be used to describe a chain reaction in a game of skill, or in business, as when a company’s missteps are allowed to snowball into an organization-wide scandal.
The game of domino is played by two or more players who place their tiles on a table, face-up, in the shape of a snake-line. Each player takes turns placing one tile on the table so that it touches the end of a previously placed tile (or a set of dominoes) which forms a chain that gradually increases in length. Each player can only play a tile that matches with a number showing at either end of the chain; if they do not have a matching domino, they must “stitch up” the ends by playing a different tile.
As the chain of dominoes grows, it is possible for a player to build up an incredible amount of points if they are skilled enough. In addition, many people enjoy using the tiles to create art, such as straight lines, curved lines, grids that form pictures when they fall, or 3D structures like towers and pyramids. These creations require planning and calculation, as well as a good understanding of the laws of gravity.
Domino art can be as simple or elaborate as a person’s imagination allows. A 20-year-old woman named Hevesh has a YouTube channel with more than 2 million subscribers where she posts videos of herself creating intricate domino designs. Her largest arrangements can take several nail-biting minutes to fall, as the dominoes have a tendency to resist motion when no outside force is exerted on them, until they reach a tipping point and collapse in on themselves.
The term domino is also used in writing to refer to the idea of a scene being the start of a sequence of events that leads to an event or conclusion. This technique is especially useful for writers of fiction, who can use their scenes like dominoes to help them plot their stories. Whether you compose your story off the cuff or follow a strict outline, knowing how to use domino in your writing can make it more interesting and engaging for readers.
In 2009, Domino’s Pizza launched an ambitious new marketing campaign that emphasized the company’s unflinching honesty and straightforward accountability. The campaign was helmed by Domino’s USA Operations president J. Patrick Doyle, who took part in the Undercover Boss television show and visited Domino’s restaurants to see how employees performed and to address their main complaint about the company.
In addition to traditional plastic dominoes, sets are also available in a variety of other materials, such as bone or ivory; dark hardwoods such as ebony and walnut; ceramic clay or glass. These sets tend to be more expensive than their polymer counterparts, but they have a more unique look and feel to them.