Helpful to verify reports of your own downtime, or to double check a downed website you are trying to access.
One of a set of tools we are providing to everyone as a way of saying thank you for being a part of the community.
ozo's point was a good one. Usually when I read a file in like that I'm going to modify its contents, which is why I save it into a variable. I was thinking along those lines when I posted my answer, even though your need was simpler.