There's a text tool somewhere that creates text outlines in curves. From there you just loft/extract/whatever to give it depth. I can't remember where it is, and I haven't got Maya open, but have a look in the Create menu or one of the NURBS ones as the curves are NURBS curves as far as I remember...
Liter is French for 'Gimme some ****ing cola before I break vous ****ing lips!"