[megous]

No it's not a reasonable guess. The favicon code is in the git for at least 2 years (didn't bother to click Older button more times on github).

Google just has a demented communication policy.

[GravityisaHoax]

Ah well, it seemed reasonable to me because that was one of M66B's first guesses too. His first comments about this publicly mention guessing that it's favicons, but I suppose he could have eliminated several other possibilities first.

I think almost everyone would be agreement that Google can communicate better.