Picture of the Day and B'days for August 11

Posted August 10, 2008, 6:43 pm

Today is Monday, August 11, the 224th day of 2008. There are 142 days left in the year.

On August 11, 1956, Abstract artist Jackson Pollock died in an automobile accident. Driving drunk, the 44-year-old overturned his convertible, killing himself and an acquaintance and seriously injuring his other passenger.

Today's Birthdays: Actress-TV personality Arlene Dahl is 80. Bassist Jim Kale of the Guess Who is 65. Wrestler-actor Hulk Hogan is 55. Singer Joe Jackson is 54. Actor Joe Rogan ("Fear Factor," "NewsRadio") is 41.

Picture of the Day: "No. 5, 1948"
In 2006, entertainment mogul David Geffen sold the Jackson Pollock painting "No. 5, 1948" for $140 million. That price is highest sum ever known to have been paid for a painting. A classic Pollock drip painting, it's painted on fiberboard and is about 4 x 8 feet.