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Ask mr Brain...all will be explained

How did St Bernard dogs get their name? St Bernard dogs are renowned for saving people in the mountains of Switzerland. The large brown and white dogs were named after the St Bernard Monastery which stood at the foot of the Great St Bernard Pass a mountain route between Switzerland and Italy.

Although the monastery was founded by St Bernard in the 11th century, the first dogs were probably kept there in the 1660s. With bands of brigands roaming the Great St Bernard Pass, the dogs' first role was as watchdogs rather than rescuers. It is not known when they were first used to rescue travellers, but by 1750, guides and their dogs were accompanying travellers from the monastery. The big dogs helped to clear paths through the snow and their good sense of direction ensured travellers did not stray.

Over the 200 years or so they were based at the monastery, St Bernard dogs helped to rescue about 2,000 people. Barry (1800-14), the most famous St Bernard, helped to rescue more than 40 people. For more information, go to the Berne Natural History Museum site at http//:nmbe0.unibe.ch/abtwt/ sbh100.html When did the Academy Awards begin? The Academy Awards, or Oscars fever hits the entertainment community and movie fans every February, and the golden stauettes are presented in March.

The Annual Academy Awards Presentation has been held every year since 1929. The ceremony to be held on March 26 at the Los Angeles Shrine Auditorium will be the 72nd Academy Awards Presentation.

Awards are given in more than 20 categories, with five nominations for each category. All voting for the awards is conducted by secret ballot and tabulated by Pricewaterhouse Coopers. The awards aim to recognise the achievements of and to encourage individuals and teams in the motion picture industry.

The Oscars have become the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' most famous activity. The academy is an organisation made up of more than 6,000 motion picture craftsmen. Founded in 1927 as a non-profit corporation, it started out with 36 members.

Its aims are to foster co-operation among creative artists for cultural, educational and technological progress; recognise outstanding achievements; co-operate on technical research and improvement of methods and equipment, and develop educational activities between the motion picture community and the public.

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