Dominoes are small rectangular blocks with anywhere from 0 to 6 dots. They are used as game pieces in the game called dominoes, or they can be set up to create elaborate patterns. When someone flicks the first domino, it can cause hundreds or even thousands of others to fall in a beautiful cascade of rhythmic movement. This use of dominoes inspired the term “domino effect,” which refers to any action that inevitably causes other actions.
Dominoes come in a variety of shapes and sizes, but most are black with white dots and can be made of wood, plastic, or some other material. The domino game has many variations, but the basic rules are the same: each player takes turns playing a domino onto the table, positioning it so that the two matching ends touch. The chain of tiles gradually increases in length as players continue to play new tiles.
People also use dominoes to make art. Dominoes can be used to create straight or curved lines, grids that form pictures when they fall, stacked walls, and 3D structures like towers and pyramids. Some artists even design entire scenes with dominoes. Lily Hevesh, a young artist who has more than 2 million YouTube subscribers, uses her passion for dominoes to create breathtaking setups.
The history of the word domino is a little muddy, but it’s clear that both the game and the name have some Latin roots. The earliest sense of the word is uncertain, but it may have been a reference to a long hooded cloak worn with a mask during carnival season or at a masquerade ball. The modern meaning of the word dates to 1750.
Writing Tip of the Day
Just like dominoes, stories require a smooth flow of events that lead the hero closer to or farther from their goal. To keep the pace up, writers need to ensure that all the scenes in their story are well-timed. This requires them to be able to see the big picture and know how each scene will contribute to the climax.
A good way to test the pace of a story is to set up a sequence of dominoes and see how fast they can be knocked down. To do this, carefully reset each domino so it’s upright and then lightly touch the first one with your finger. Watch how the rest of the dominoes fall and try to match that speed.
Dominoes can teach us a lot about the power of habits and how they can shape our lives. When we make a positive change to our behavior, it can trigger an entire chain reaction that can lead to more good habits. For example, if you decide to stop spending so much time on the couch, you might start exercising or eating healthier as a result. These changes can have powerful effects, especially when they are repeated regularly. But it’s important to remember that not all habits will work the same way. Some will be more like dominoes and have a bigger impact than others.