We all have those situations where we need to tell someone something, but don't actually want to have to talk to them, lest we get into a heated discussion over it - I won't be making it to your niece's 4th birthday party, I blew the rent picking Ohio State over Penn State, I hooked up with your best friend and you and I are done - and we pray for the call to go to voicemail.

Now you don't have to leave it up to chance, or dialing at odd hours, to ensure you get a recording over a human. Slydial is a service that lets you skip the ring, and go straight to "leave a message at the beep." There's no sign up and no fees, all you do is dial 267-SLYDIAL from any phone, enter the US mobile phone number of the person whose voicemail you want to connect to, and you'll be directly connected to their voicemail. No arguments, no interrogations, no sitting through weeping and begging, just leave a message and hang up.

And since there are a bunch of situations where Slydial would come in handy, they want to know how sly you really are. They are running a nationwide YouTube contest where you can submit as many videos as you like, showing creative ways to use the service. The overall winner gets $3,000 cash money, and five $500 prizes are being given for Most Viewed, Most Creative/Unique, Best Use: Short on Time, Best Use: Avoid an Awkward Convo, and Best Use: When a Text Message Just Won't Cut It.

If you've got a video camera and think you're slyer than the next guy, you can enter the contest, and see the competition, by going here. The winners will be announced on January 9, 2009. Probably by leaving you a voicemail.

www.slydial.com