In 2006 I visited the Yangon Zoo. Four elephants were chained behind a short barrier (designed more to keep humans out than elephants in). They begged zoo visitors for handouts, swaying side to side as much as the chains allowed. A fifth elephant, the matriarch, was swaying too but it had no chains.<p>Maybe the elephant had been there so long that it had grown chains in its mind. Or maybe it realized there is little freedom in Burma, inside or outside of its enclosure.<p>I hope this turns out to be a positive change. If there are any HNers living in Burma, I look forward to the day when the barriers are torn down and we're free to hack together :)