'Getting to Know You'

Volunteer: Andy Dinsmore

When is your birthday?

November 3

What brought you to Philly?

I grew up in Delaware (insert Wayne's World reference here). I moved to Philly in Dec of 2007 with a couple friends I knew through pro wrestling. My reasons for picking up the stakes were wrestling (our "dojo" is located in South Philly), and a chance to move away from home and forge my own path.

What lead you to volunteer with Philly AIDS Thrift (PAT)?

Until the end of the month (Aug 2009), my residence is a block or so away from Philly AIDS Thrift, above the old Zipperhead. I had always walked past the store, and really dug the style of the place; love at first sight, you might say. On my initial trip inside, and upon learning about the mission of PAT, I picked up a volunteer application. My "day job" is mostly night shift after night shift, which affords me the opportunity to help out in the afternoon.

How long have you been volunteering at PAT?

A little over a year. Started at the end of June, 2008.

What do you enjoy most about volunteering at PAT?

The people! I love interacting with the staff and fellow volunteers, as well as the patrons, certainly. It's a nice, community atmosphere. I enjoy the work, itself, especially anything involving organization.

What's the most unusual item you've ever seen at the thrift store?

Off the top of my head, the penis ice cube tray comes to mind! That's only unusual because if I had a penis ice cube tray, I would never part with it. I'd probably sleep with it, in fact, and then freeze my drool into the shape of a phallus.

What would you like to see done better...this could refer to any size platform, be it World, National, State, City, Neighborhood, or even PAT level.

In a broad sense, I'd like to see everyone be cooler with one another, and I'd like to go off on animal rights, hunger, homelessness, health care, the right to marry, or any number of topics... but I won't. Because of all the things I'd like to see "done better," I'm gonna take Philadelphia to task... I DEMAND an improvement on laser tag conditions, i.e. more of it! I don't even know if they have it there, but I'm not setting foot in Dave & Buster's to find out. How much cooler would Independence Mall be as "Independence LASERDOME??" 500 points for shots reflected off the Liberty Bell. Just mind that crack (minus 200 points, fwiw)!

What word looks like fun to you when you see it written or hear it spoken? For example, mine is 'Spooky.' It just looks like fun, and it has a silly sound.

"Spooky" is pretty good! Along the same lines, I'm fond of "Skeevy." Even "Sketchy."

What actor/actress makes you go "Really...Them?" when you see them "acting" in yet another movie/TV show?

Oh man, there are so many people I want to see go away for a while. Megan Fox is currently perched at the top of the list. Ashton Kutcher has done his part by scaling back his own workload, which I applaud. For the sake of relevancy, I'll add that I'm annoyed by any reality TV star not named Jeff VanVonderen or any one of the lovely Duggar clan (except maybe Jinger. That minx is trouble!).

Have you been told you look like someone famous? Yes? Well, who then? If no, then give me your best look-a-like approximation.

Actually, yes! I've gotten Emile Hirsch in the film adaptation of "Into The Wild." Stay away from the wild potato root!!

Pick one: Facebook or Twitter. Now try to describe it to me like I'm a 90 year old man and have never heard of this thing called a "computer."

Facebook (I am annoyed by Twitter to no end.). I'd have to describe the computer first (basically, a TV with a typewriter attached). Facebook is like a TV station where you can flip through various channels, but all the channels are people you know. With the click of a mouse (not literally a mouse, but a piece of plastic that guides you through these "stations"), you can view their interests and photographs, find out what they're up to, write them a letter, or jot them a note for all to see. "All" encompasses a network of your friends... um. Okay, this is way too complicated. Lemme try another approach. It's like a party with all of your friends, only you won't get in trouble for poking them. There are also various "applications" for Facebook that are nothing more than variations on "Pin the Tail on the Donkey."

Who do you think: living or dead, fiction or non fiction, is the most widely known/popular person in the world? What makes you say that?

Oh, it has to be Harry Dean Stanton. He is simply one with the universe, and everyone is a part of the universe. A piece of him is in every one of us. Plus, he was pretty awesome in Repo Man. He should be the most popular/widely known person in the world. Craig Finn, too.