Yo:
Russian City to Erect Monument Alphabet Letter Created: 10.08.2005 15:29 MSK (GMT +3), Updated: 15:29 MSK MosNews
Monument to the Russian alphabet letter, an e with an umlaut, pronounced as “yo” is planned to be erected in the Central Russian city of Ulyanovsk.This letter called “yo”, the only Russian character with an umlaut, was introduced in 1797 by the famous Russian historian and writer Nikolai Karamzin who was born not far from Ulyanovsk, then called Simbirsk.
The monument will be made of red granite.
Linguists to this day dispute the utility of the letter. It is replaced by the simple e in official documents.
Controversy that has for years delayed permission to proceed with the monument centered mainly on the fact that to the Russian ear the “yo” sound is closely associated with a range of colorful profanities or other exclamations considered in poor taste by opponents, AFP noted.
On our way home in the wee hours of the morn, Anna spotted the contents of a purse spilled across the pavement. We rested up for a bit and then cycled over to the Park Station (did you know they sell tee shirts with a Grateful Dead logo? $15!), where I also learned that one can file a police report online.
The purse contents, by the way, included two (expired) driver's licences, three college IDs, a Social Security card, and a punch-card almost good for a free sandwich at a common sandwich chain. Certainly enough to steal this person's identity.