" The Maine National Guard is using a unique method to help families connect to their loved ones deployed in Iraq. They're life-sized cardboard cutouts. If your father is deployed in Iraq, you can get a "Flat Daddy" to keep at home, or take to family reunions or on vacation.

Sgt. First Class Barbara Claudel is the director for the Maine National Guard Family program, and coordinator of the "Flat Daddy" project there. The idea originated in Bismark, N.D., when in 2003 Cindy Sorenson blew up a picture of her husband for their young daughter while he was serving in Iraq. "

I think this is the dumbest idea I've seen all week. And it's been a good week.