i’ve always wondered how bidendum (known to many as simply “the michelin man”) got his name:

In 1898, O’Galop created according to André Michelin’s directions a poster in which one sees, at a banquet table, an imposing character composed of tires raising his glass filled with broken glass and nails, and offering a toast declaring: “Nunc est bibendum” (translated very approximately as: “To Your Health! Michelin tires drink obstacles”).

[found via metafilter]