SANDY KOZEL

Central Pacific and Union Pacific Rail Roads meet in Promontory,
UT on this day in 1869. A golden spike was driven in the track at
the celebration of the first transcontinental railroad in the U.S.

            
                The identical twin of  the Last Spike.

The Nazis staged massive public book burnings in Germany on
this day in 1933.

Nelson Mandela was sworn in as South Africa’s first black president
on this day in 1994.

Bono (Paul David Hewson) is 57 years old today.

Bono is the front man of U2, known for such hits as "Sunday
Bloody Sunday" and "Beautiful Day." The band has earned
over 20 Grammy Awards and has sold over 150 million
records. He is also a well-known philanthropist who has
championed causes in his native Ireland, in Africa, and all
over the world.

He spent his childhood singing. Growing up on O’Connell
Street in a suburb of Dublin, he earned his nickname "Bono"
from the phrase "Bono Vox of O’Connell Street," which means
"good voice of O’Connell Street."  He was named the Time
Person of the Year in 2005, along with Bill and Melinda Gates.