R-D Collaboratory 2016-04-14

• Jim Stanford argues that rather than signing more free trade agreements, the solution is to produce more stuff that the world actually wants.
• The Information and Communications Technology Council’s Digital Talent: Road to 2020 lays out Canada’s digital landscape and short-term labour market needs, with some solid recommendations for government and policymakers.
• An article in the MIT Technology Review explains that despite our fixation on digital technology, apps and social media are not as big of a deal as say, the invention of the lightbulb, or steam-power. Today’s innovations do little to create the productivity gains that previous generations benefitted from. 
• The National Post ran a story about how Mitacs is supporting a project to help researchers collect fish poop from fake lakes. The project is about monitoring and protecting new ecosystems in the heart of Alberta’s oilsands.
• Finally, Youtube videos for those of you who are starting your day, on a break, or dare I say procrastinating: What goes through your mind when you’re procrastinating, and how can you deal with it?
• Is there an interesting story behind the classic Magic 8 Ball? It is certain.
• Further to the MIT Technology Review article, a recent Freakonomics podcast about the tech revolution that explores Robert Gordon’s thesis via the popular medium of edutainment:  http://freakonomics.com/podcast/american-growth/