FEELING THE MUSIC

A three-day accordion and keyboard competition will begin today in the Denver Tech Center.

The contestants range from beginner to virtuoso.

400 contestants will be judged in a variety of categories.

100 keyboard players will compete against each other.

35 locals, ranging in age from 7 to 60-plus, will participate in the annual event.

• Where: Embassy Suites, 10250 E. Costilla Ave., Centennial

ALL ABOUT PLASTICS

Ever go to YourHub.com?

This headline - "Excuse me; is that sex toy toxic?" - caught the eye of an Extra! staffer as he surfed, um, researched, news items on the Internet.

A blogger, in this case at denver.yourhub.com, writes about plastics safety and the sometimes conflicting points she came across.

Here's the good stuff:

1 Baby book Baby 411 advises readers that "we do NOT recommend using polycarbonate (hard, clear plastic) baby bottles (they contain Bisphenol A)."

2 The FDA says long-term storage and repeated use of PET (polyethylene teraphthalate) plastics is OK. Most bottled water you'll find at the store comes in PET plastics.

3 A drinking-water expert at Johns Hopkins says it's the bacteria buildup in reused water bottles that will get ya.

4 A sex-toy retailer is banning phthalates. No, it's not an ancient love position; it's an alleged toxin heavily used in adult products. Some researchers say phthalates pose a risk to human health and the environment. Sources: Chicago Tribune, Northeastern News, U.S. News & World Report, plasticsinfo.org and denver.yourhub.com/denvernorth