Hi,
I was taking a look at the CFP page (http://www.socallinuxexpo.org/scale/15x/cfp), when I read the description of the Open Data track, which I quote here:
"Open Data - This newly introduced track will focus on topics related to Open Data in Science, Government, and other sources. This will strive to answer questions such as: Why does Open Data Matter? What are benefits of Open Data? What are the goals of the Open Data movement? What is its current status?"
As an Open Source enthusiast, I wholeheartedly agree with the importance of Open Data, and realize there is a long road ahead of those working to address this issue. However I believe that this track, as described, would be more at home as a keynote in Data focused conference. I am not saying it goes against SCALE's mission to have this kind of content, far from it. but speaking also as an attendee, I think SCALE users would be more interested in Open Source tools for working with data (big or small), since it's already obvious for most scale attendees that Open Data is just as good as Open Source software.
I also realize that Big Data is mentioned in the Cloud Track, but isn't there enough interest in this topic to deserve its own track?
Some food for thought,
Thanks,
Juan