The Domino Effect
Domino is a small tile that represents the roll of two dice. Each end of the domino has a number, usually ranging from zero (or blank) to six. There are many different types of dominoes, but the most popular is the double-six, which produces 28 unique tiles. The dominoes are commonly made of bone or silver lip ocean pearl oyster shell (mother of pearl), ivory, or a dark hardwood such as ebony, with contrasting black or white pips (inlaid or painted). Natural materials like these provide a more novel look, are heavier in weight, and can be more durable than polymer materials.
Dominoes are used for a variety of games, most often in conjunction with a scoring system. To score, a player must connect adjacent dominoes with the exposed ends matching: one’s touch one’s and two’s touch two’s. When the ends match, the domino is said to be a “spinner,” and may be used to allow the line of play to branch. This may happen for a number of reasons, including the need to create an “L” shape with the line of play, or simply due to space constraints.
In addition to games, dominoes are used to build intricate structures such as arches and fountains. Some of these creations have been used as movie sets, and one such artist, Lily Hevesh, has become a YouTube celebrity with more than 2 million subscribers to her domino channel, Hevesh5.
The domino effect is an old adage that suggests if something causes a change in another thing, that will cause a change in still other things. It is a useful concept when trying to understand how a series of events will unfold, whether it is a terrorist attack that starts a bombing spree or an event in a school that sparks an argument among students. It can also be useful in planning for changes to an organization’s policies and procedures.
The term is also used in other contexts, including political events and personal behaviors. For example, some experts believe that the rise in obesity rates in the United States is a result of the domino effect, whereby the increased prevalence of one unhealthy behavior causes people to avoid other unhealthy habits, such as eating less fat. The domino effect can also be applied to daily choices, such as whether to take the stairs instead of the elevator or to get up from a sedentary lifestyle and go for a walk. As long as the initial choice is not too drastic, the domino effect can be a positive force for change. However, there are also times when the domino effect can have negative consequences. In medical settings, for example, when a patient goes into the hospital with a minor infection and then leaves with an even more serious one because of poor hygiene by health care professionals. These infections are known as nosocomial infections. This is a case of a chain reaction that has its roots in the lack of proper training and vigilance on the part of health care professionals.