The widely expected abdication comes at a time of debate over the future of the largely ceremonial Dutch monarchy, but also as calm has descended upon the Netherlands after a decade of turmoil that saw Beatrix act as the glue that held together an increasingly divided society.

NPR: Dutch Queen Beatrix Abdicating, Son Will Be King

But the calm may also be simply because those insurgents and other groups still fighting had decided not to strike.

BBC: Peace and quiet mark Iraq polls

Amel Marguier is keenly awaiting the post-election calm, but also notes that Dar Fatma has been less affected by the instability than the larger hotels.

BBC: Tunisia��s vanguard hotels

Likewise Tim Winton's and Robert Drewe's novels -often set along the southern coast of Western Australian - vividly evoke the primal sensuality of the surf and its ability to calm and inspire, but also destroy.

BBC: Shore thing: Australia��s beach obsession

Lee Oldham thinks that after the election, "things will eventually calm down, " but he also believes it won't happen overnight.

NPR: Mormons Divided On Same-Sex Marriage Issue

But his healing hands soon also became indispensable to the Tsarina Alexandra who needed him to calm her nerves, cure her headaches, soothe her rages and echo back her own desires in the guise of the word of God.

ECONOMIST: Ra-Ra-Rasputin

He also had a surprising calm: he seemed supremely confident of his abilities, but never bragged or boasted.

CNN: Tributes paid to 'born writer' Paul Sussman