Centrifuge Games
From The Extended Group
Centrifuge Games refers to games which take place on a piece of playground equipment known as a centrifuge or merry-go-round.
Group Usage
Origins are unclear, perhaps as young children in pre-group days, group members played games on such structures, but modern usage was most likely started in summer of 2005. During hangouts involving Brett, Kevin, Lukas, and possibly Terry; Brett would be slowly rotated while laying spread-eagled aboard the centrifuge. Perhaps as some sort of bizarre torture ritual, Kevin would shout puns as Brett grunted in horror while being rotated. In late July of 2006, a different form of game was started in which one "player" would lie spread eagled in the middle of the rotating structure and then be spun to maximum rotation by the other three in attendence. Speeds were estimated to be at least 60 RPM. At a count of three, those not on the centrifuge would stop it as quickly as possible and then shout at the group member in the center to get up as quickly as possible and attempt to run. Both Brett and Lukas collapsed within seconds of exiting the ride while Asher and Kevin jaunted off in a hilarious manner but did not collapse. A variant of the game involved not only stopping the ride as quickly as possible but also reversing direction and coming to full speed again in the opposite direction. This had no discernible effect on the rider in terms of later balance, but is very disorienting at the time. The game was continued until a Shoreline police car informed the members that the park was closed and told them to go home.
