The audit of Wake County schools' curriculum was posted to the district's Web site about 3 p.m. Tuesday. It was more than 400 pages. In the old days (the '90s), if someone wanted to read the audit, that would require a trip to the central office to ask to see a copy.

Today, all one has to do is go online to www.wcpss.net and open up the report. That's why citizens could dive into the document and immediately post what they found.

One place they did it was the N&O's WakeEd blog (http://blogs.newsobserver.com/wakeed). What I like about the people who post comments on the blog is that they are deep into the details. Many of the participants are extraordinarily knowledgeable about the most arcane aspects of Wake schools.

The majority of the posters seem to be critics of the district's leadership, but the back and forth in the threads that follow the blogging by our reporters provides an interesting window into the schools. It is also possible that the community that uses the WakeEd blog could organize itself and divide the work when big documents are released, such as budgets. This is along the lines of what some have called "the wisdom of crowds" or "crowdsourcing."

Speaking of schools

Kinea White Epps (who writes the WakeEd blog with another reporter, T. Keung Hui) wants your ideas on what to ask candidates for the Wake school board. Five seats on the board are up for election Oct. 9, though three candidates are running unopposed. What would you ask the candidates if you could? What do you want to know, for example, about their views on the year-round calendar, the space crunch, the recommendations in the audit? Contact Kinea at 836-4952 or kinea.white@newsobserver.com.

Global warming

We'll soon be running the fourth and final installment in a series on the effects of global warming on North Carolina. This story will examine the state legislature's growing inclination to pass laws that will encourage conservation and reduce North Carolina's dependence on coal. We would like to hear what you think the state should do to combat global warming and what you are willing to do.

E-mail globalwarming@newsobserver.com or call 829-4830. Please include your full name and town. We'd like to publish your comments in the newspaper and online at newsobserver.com.

Help Deb

The 2007 N.C. State Fair opens Oct. 12, and Deborah Jackson, one of our assistant metro editors, is planning our coverage. She'd like your help.

In her words: "We'd like to hear about your hopes and plans for the fair. Do you know someone whipping up a pineapple upside-down cake or grandma's chocolate cheesecake for their first, or 25th, entry in the quest for a State Fair blue ribbon? Is visiting the fair each year a tradition for your family? Tell us what you love or hate about heading down the midway. Do you have questions about this year's fair? We can get the answers."

E-mail Deborah at deborah.jackson@newsobserver.com or leave a voice mail at 829-8920. Be sure to include your name and a phone number or e-mail address in case we need to contact you for more information.