Martial Bliss

Tip Number 82

Vladimir R., 73, of Mannheim, Germany, used an air-raid siren to quiet his wife, so police confiscated the siren. "My wife never lets me get a word in edgeways," Vladimir said. "So I crank up the siren and let it rip for a few minutes. It works every time. Afterward, it's real quiet again." A police spokesman said neighbors had complained at the noise from the rooftop device. Rosina, Vladimir's wife of 32 years, said she sometimes had to yell to get his attention.