A domino is a small, rectangular block of wood or plastic that bears from one to six dots or spots on its face. When a domino falls, it pushes on other dominoes and causes them to fall, in a chain reaction that can create a long line of dominoes or intricate patterns. Dominoes are used to play games and create art, but they can also inspire us in our daily lives. They can teach us the importance of following a plan and how to handle setbacks. They can remind us that success is possible even when it seems impossible.
Dominos are not only a fun family activity, but they can be a useful tool for developing skills in math and logic. They can also help with learning and retention of information in the classroom. Dominoes can be used for educational purposes in a variety of ways, from teaching basic counting to promoting visual and tactile learning for children with special needs.
A Domino is a rectangular wooden or composite game piece with one to six dots, normally divided by a line into two squares. The side bearing identifying marks, such as an arrangement of dots or pips, is called the value, and the blank or identically patterned side is called the face. The value of a domino is determined by the number of its pips or dots, with a higher value domino having more pips than a lower value domino.
Like playing cards, of which they are a variant, dominoes can be used to play many different games. In Western countries, the most popular domino game is the scoring version of 5s-and-3s, a variant of solitaire or trick-taking. This is normally played in a group (two or more players), with the dominoes being placed in a pile called the boneyard, and one player drawing for the lead. The leader plays first, and then each player attaches a domino to one of the ends of those already on the table so that the total number of dots on the end pieces is divisible by five or three, with one point scored for each time this happens.
Dominoes can be made from a wide range of materials, including bone (often called bones or men), silver lip ocean pearl oyster shell (mother of pearl or MOP), ivory and dark hardwoods such as ebony, with contrasting black or white pips. They can be painted or inlaid to add further design and texture. They can also be crafted of frosted glass or crystal.
In 2010, a Domino’s pizza chain employee named Nick Doyle became the company’s CEO. He focused on improving the quality of Domino’s pizza and increasing the company’s presence in international markets, as well as modernizing Domino’s technology. He pushed the company to innovate with how customers order pizza (through an app, tweeting an emoji, or texting a Domino’s emoji), monitor their orders, and deliver their pizzas.
In the process of rebranding Domino’s, Doyle also sought to make the company more recognizable with a domino rally in a public place. He wanted to show the world that Domino’s was a fun, innovative, and growing company, not just another fast food franchise. Domino’s has since grown to over 200 stores, and its domino rally is now a worldwide phenomenon.