Dear Sun Spots: I am again coming to the guru of information for help. I’ve checked several Web sites for this but can’t seem to get the answer I want.

How many tiles are there in a basic domino game, and what are the number of dots on each individual tile? If the second part of this question is too lengthy to answer in your column, could you please tell me an exact Web site where I can get the information. Thanks so much for your help. – No Name, No Town.

Answer: Sun Spots blushing Janet. Frequently, answers are out there, it’s just a case of digging around and not stopping until you find the answer. You can honestly do it, too. That said, according to http://en.wikipedia.org, standard domino sets consist of 28 pieces called bones, cards, tiles stones, spinners or dominoes. Each is a rectangular tile with a line dividing its face into two square ends. Each end is marked with a number of black spots, also called pips, or is blank. The spots are generally arranged as they are on six-sided dice, but because there are also blank ends having no spots there are normally seven possible faces. The back side of the domino is generally plain.

An individual domino is named for the number of pips it has on each half of its face. For example, a domino face with 3 pips on one half and 5 on the other half is called the 3-5 domino. Dominoes with the same number of pips on each half of the face are known as doubles, or doublets. A single domino, also referred to as a combination domino, has a different number of pips on each half of the face.

All tiles in a set that have the same number of pips on one end make up a suit. For example, the 0-0, 0-1, 0-2, 0-3, 0-4, 0-5, and 0-6 make up the suit of zero. Each double belongs to only one suit; singles belong to two suits. For example, the 3-5 belongs to either the 3 suit or the 5 suit. In most domino games, the number of pips on a domino are added or subtracted for scoring purposes. In some domino games, however, the number of pips on a domino is used strictly for matching purposes.

In addition, you might also be interested in the following trivia also located at the same Web site. They note that other than playing games of strategy, another common pastime is to stand the dominos on edge in long lines, then topple the first tile, creating a domino (toppling) effect. Arrangements of thousands of tiles have been made that have taken several minutes to fall. The Netherlands has hosted an annual domino toppling exhibition called Domino Day since 1986. The event held Nov. 18, 2005, knocked over 4 million dominoes.

Dear Sun Spots: Like everyone else, yours is the first column I read in the paper every morning. There’s so much help for everyone, and I’m among your admirers.

I have 50 homemade nut cups, maroon and white, Edward Little High School colors. These nut cups were made by a member of the Class of 1937 for a past reunion and because we are not planning any more (after all it would be our 70th next year), I am wondering if any ELHS reunion committee might be able to use them? They are really attractive and a colorful addition to the decor of a luncheon or dinner.

And, if an ELHS committee cannot use them, perhaps someone else could. They are free. Please just call. I can be reached at 782-7890. – Dot Buchanan, ELHS Class of 1957, No Town.



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