It's not clear to me that it's actually useful in typical programs, unless you want to write your own ls -l implementation. Googling around shows no one explaining the purpose of it.
John Cowan
http://vrici.lojban.org/~cowan xxxxxx@ccil.orgAnd through this revolting graveyard of the universe the muffled,
maddening beating of drums, and thin, monotonous whine of blasphemous
flutes from inconceivable, unlighted chambers beyond Time; the
detestable pounding and piping whereunto dance slowly, awkwardly, and
absurdly the gigantic tenebrous ultimate gods --the blind, voiceless,
mindless gargoyles whose soul is Nyarlathotep. (Lovecraft)