ETrade also started recently to include that disgusting thing in their News feed for watch lists -- as if it can really predict anything, with no way to turn it off (AFAICT). It's clear that it's being pushed in many directions.
I can't understand why this company won't rebrand itself to something a bit catchier or better-sounding name than DuckDuckGo -- who the hell wants to say that ? Unless it's a self-selection filter...
One thing that I am glad to have been taught early on in my career when it comes to debugging, especially anything involving HW, is to `make no assumptions'. Bugs can be anywhere and everywhere.
I wonder if they had meetings or 'design committees' to find the most optimal shape with respect to the ease of killing prey eventually.
One possibility on origin (totally made up by me) could be that there were large stones lying around already as debris from e.g. earthquakes, celestial events and such and some groups took advantage of this and later people iterated upon it.
As a supporting point, I think it's connected not only with mental functions, but also our senses.
I have a weak memory in general, but I always remember the most mundane things in my life that I had no idea I still contained in my brain, triggered by a specific smell.
Another example is that when I moved to a new street, while crossing one road, I stumbled upon the edge of tram road and almost fell. Two years and counting, my brain always brings this memory up while passing the same point on the road..
I'd say it's first and foremost a political tool. Pseudo dictators especially love it.
Let's say you're a mayor who needs to increase the price of a public utility by 10%, what do you do? You announce that this price will be increased by 30%. People get furious, protests ensue (sometimes, it's even desirable if riots start) against such an outrageous increase! What to do? You should be as invisible as possible during this turbulent period and let others take all the heat, only to come out at the end announcing that yes, the people have spoken, and as a result the increase will be limited to 10%. Now, the people are happy; it's democracy in action, they have the power! The mayor is happy; he's got his increase happen. Happy ending.
Complete shamelessness all around.