This year the choice was between Cobbler and Gobbler (via an online social media vote), two 19 week-old, 40 pound birds. Elementary school students in Rockingham County, Virginia - the native area of the turkeys - chose the names.
While one of the turkeys is recognized as the National Thanksgiving Turkey – chosen for the first time by the American public through an online contest this year – the president traditionally pardons both turkeys, one serving as an alternate.
above: The presidentially pardoned turkey Cobbler, whose distinguishing mark from his brother, Gobbler, is a small black mark on the beak, arrives at George Washington's Mount Vernon, Nov. 21, where he and his brother will live out their days under the property's care following a pardon by President Barack Obama. (Photo: M.Scott Mahaskey/POLITICO)
"If for some reason Cobbler cannot fulfill his duties as the official White House Turkey, Gobbler will be waiting in the wings," Obama said.
With the turkey gobbling away nearby, Obama teased about new beginnings.
"They say that life is all about second chances, and this November I could not agree more," he said, joking about his re-election. "So in the spirit of the season, I have one more gift to give and it goes to a pair of turkeys."
Following the pardoning, the turkeys will be taken to George Washington's Mount Vernon Estate and Gardens, where the winning turkey will be on display for visitors during "Christmas at Mount Vernon." They'll stay on the property after the holidays. The birds grew up on a farm near Harrisonburg, Virginia under National Turkey Federation Chairman Steve Willardsen's supervision.
above: Cobbler and Gobbler arrive at George Washington's Mount Vernon, Va., where they will live out their days under the care of the property following a presidential pardon, Nov. 21, by President Barack Obama. (Photo: M.Scott Mahaskey/POLITICO)
This year marks the 65th anniversary of the turkey presentation. In his remarks, Obama also thanked the troops overseas and asked Americans to remember the victims of Superstorm Sandy, which killed dozens in the U.S. and wreaked major devastation across the Northeast last month.
Concluding his comments, the president gave one final blessing to the turkey.
"You are hereby pardoned. Congratulations, Cobbler," the president said. "You'll have a great life."
Photos and info courtesy of The White House, CNN and Reuters
Lucky Ducks... I Mean Turkeys. Meet Cobbler and Gobbler, This Year's Pardoned Thanksgiving Fowl.
Architect Craig Steely Partners With Jeepney Projects To Design A Philippine Eagle Reserve Ecolodge With Modern Ecopods.
above: the proposed Philippine Eagle Reserve Ecolodge
Mindanao, Philippines
Architect Craig Steely has partnered with Jeepney Projects Worldwide to conceive of and design an Ecolodge in Mindanao. His vision includes these beautiful prefabricated ecopods to help create respect and awareness for the world's rarest eagle, the Philippine Eagle and its natural habitat.
Each prefabricated pod is supported on a single pier foundation with supporting guy wires. This allows each pod the flexibility to be placed on any topography as well as the ability to relocate if required. The top prism has a fabric roof with screen walls while the lower prism is translucent and made with locally reclaimed corrugated wood walls. The ecopods can sleep 6 people on the 2 floors.
Presently local farmers create income by slashing forest and eagle habitat, replacing it with grazing land for livestock and pushing the already dwindling Philippine Eagle population closer to extinction. 
above: The Philippine Eagle Foundation uses nonreleasable male eagles that can’t be released for artificial insemination and public display.
Carefully managed eco-tourism will create a stronger local and international awareness for the eagle’s plight as well as the financial means to employ and subsidize the local residents. Ultimately, the goal is for the local people to see the value in stewarding the land and change their perception of the eagle from a pest to an asset.
About the architect:
Craig Steely is a San Francisco and Hawaii based architect. He opened his architecture studio in 1995 and has been a guest lecturer at UC Berkeley and at Cal Poly and at many conferences including the Monterey Design Conference. His work has been awarded recognition by the American Institute of Architects and published widely in books and periodicals, among them Dwell, Sunset,Architectural Record, California Home and Design, the Los Angeles Times, the San Francisco Chronicle, and the New York Times. In 2009 he was selected as an “Emerging Talent” by the AIA California Council. Jeepney Projects is proud to have caught his interest and support.
For more information: jeepneyprojects.org
The Bird Apartment - Collective Housing For 78 Birds and One Human.
This a an unusual treehouse designed by Japanese design firm Nendo for the Ando Momofuku Center, a facility devoted to promoting and increasing access to nature activities. The facility is located in a forest in Komoro City in Japan's mountainous Nagano Prefecture. Nendo's treehouse is designed to be collective housing for many birds and one person.
On one side, the treehouse has entrances to 78 nest spaces for birds:
The other side has an entrance for one person, who can look into the birds' nests from inside the treehouse:
photos by Masaya Yoshimura / Daici Ano
