Welcome to December! In the U.S., this week and next are about it for “real work” this year, at least for the non-holiday businesses (and worker attitudes). Work for the holidays and varying gift giving obligations are just ramping up, of course.

Let’s hope all the education-focused IoT projects worked on during the summer are up and running, because schools are now chock full of children.

Please excuse your co-workers who may be groggy if they're big tennis fans: The French Open is underway in Paris, and matches start at 5 a.m. ET (11 a.m. Paris).