Domino is a game that involves arranging small oblong pieces of wood or other material in long rows, each piece bearing an arrangement of dots (sometimes called pips) on one side and blank or identically patterned on the other. When a single domino is tipped over, it causes the adjacent dominoes to tip in turn, and so on in a chain reaction. Dominoes can be used to play a wide variety of games. They are also popular as toys for children, who like to stack the tiles on end in lines. The resulting chains can be elaborately decorated and the builders of these chains often compete in domino shows to show off their abilities by setting up intricate designs that eventually topple down with the simple nudge of a single domino.
You may have seen videos of long chains of dominoes that are set up and then toppled with a single nudge. Dominoes have inertia – a tendency to resist motion unless forced by an outside force – so that the first domino that tips tends to stop in its tracks once it hits its bottom edge, but a tiny nudge can push it past this point and onto the next domino in the line. The dominoes then continue to topple one by one until they reach the end of the row. This is often a very satisfying sight to watch.
The name Domino is a portmanteau of the Latin dominium, meaning “flip,” and the Greek word for fate, which is also pronounced “domini.” The origin of the game itself dates back to the 17th century, but the word itself has a longer history, both in English and in French. In both languages, the term domino earlier denoted a hooded cloak worn together with a mask for carnival season or at a masquerade.
A double-six domino set has 28 tiles, with seven doubles (one on both ends ranging from double blank to double six) and 21 singles (a number on one end and a blank on the other). Larger sets of dominoes have more than seven doubles. They are usually “extended” by introducing ends with larger numbers of spots, increasing the maximum value that can be achieved on a single end.
Dominos Pizza is a large pizza company that started in Ypsilanti, Michigan in 1967. Its early success was based on a strategy of putting locations near college campuses to appeal to young people seeking quick and inexpensive pizza delivery.
When David Brandon took over as CEO of Domino’s in 1995, he focused on revitalizing the company’s image and paying close attention to customer feedback. This focus helped Domino’s deliver a series of improvements, including a relaxed dress code and new leadership training programs. They also implemented a system where employees could directly communicate with management. This translates into a willingness to listen to employee complaints and address them promptly, even if it means upending decades of tradition. This commitment to listening to employees extends beyond the corporate office, as evidenced by Domino’s participation in the reality television show Undercover Boss.