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Commonwealth Club San Francisco
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Professional Development: How I Grew My Brain in 1 Hour

Professional development is all about learning about yourself and the world around you.
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Professional development is all about learning about yourself and the world around you. I decided that a trip to The Commonwealth Club would definitely be fitting for my goal of growing professionally.

The nonprofit organization brings together the greatest minds for the purpose of educating the public, and there's always something for everyone. For example, upcoming speakers include people from all walks of life — from Hillary Clinton to a prison staff member who assesses whether a criminal is a psychopath to Bay Area food bloggers.

When I entered the club, I walked into a room splashed in navy blue. The off-white marble walls and oak bookshelves lent a very distinguished air to the place — perfectly suited for an intellectual forum. I felt like I was gaining privileged access to a secret society, and I was very pumped.

To find out what I learned and whether I'll be back, read on.

Amp It Up With a Mini Desktop Speaker Amplifier
speaker

Amp It Up With a Mini Desktop Speaker Amplifier

As much as I wanted to be in an all-girl garage band in middle school (and still feel the urge when I play Rock Band), I never got it together.
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As much as I wanted to be in an all-girl garage band in middle school (and still feel the urge when I play Rock Band), I never got it together. Never learned the guitar, never took much-needed voice lessons, never got to bring home an amp that would make my parents scream obscenities at me from the floor below.

But now, the joys of adulthood and USB capabilities have given me a new shot — with this desktop Mini Amplifier Speaker ($25)!

The amp runs on USB or batteries, and so far, the first review is very positive. I need to see a review that says, "Will blow your mother's bangs off," before I commit to buying though.

Cooler Keeps Drinks Cold, MP3s Pumping
wtf

Cooler Keeps Drinks Cold, MP3s Pumping

Sure, the solar powered beach bag is an August must have, but what if you'd rather cool your drinks and play music instead of just charge your gadgets?
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Sure, the solar powered beach bag is an August must have, but what if you'd rather cool your drinks and play music instead of just charge your gadgets? Uncommon Goods is selling a bag that plays tunes - it gets AM and FM and hooks up to any iPod or MP3 player - all while keeping your brews cool. While the exterior of the bag was inspired by wooden-paneling, it's supposedly lightweight and it's got a padded shoulder strap so you'll never want to put it down. It costs $45. Beer, MP3 player and sunblock not included.

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Two-In-One: Cubite USB Speaker And Hub
Geek gear

Two-In-One: Cubite USB Speaker And Hub

What combines your love of music and YouTube videos with your need for extra ports?
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What combines your love of music and YouTube videos with your need for extra ports? Boynq's
Cubite USB Speaker and Hub, $45, camouflages the often unsightly stereo speakers that draw their power from the USB socket on your desktop or laptop. All you have to do is push the volume button to turn the speaker on - and you get a bonus of four built-in USB expansion ports, where you can plug in your camera, flash drives and silly USB devices. No word on sound quality.

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Relax to the Max
Relax

Relax to the Max

OK, now this puts relaxation on a whole new, absolutely brilliant level.
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OK, now this puts relaxation on a whole new, absolutely brilliant level.


This leather couch designed by Jacob Mathew uses the vibration of music to soothe. Be enveloped by the sound waves that flow from the speakers. Sink into the supple cushions and feel the bass from the three subwoofers reverberating beneath you, soothing your muscles and mind. They range in price from $2,500 to $7,500 - a hefty price for a lovely idea. Musical massage still sounds like an amazing concept and the speakers won't clutter up your living room.