Since our last egg safari, our field researchers have discovered many, many more new species of eggs. This handy guide will get you up to speed.

Dyed Eggs
Originally, Tea Eggs acquired their unique crackle pattern from being boiled in soy sauce.

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But over time, they’ve evolved far more colorful markings. Though they’re easily domesticated, should you spot these in the wild, approach delicately, pinkies up.

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These cascarones — the feistiest, most festive variety of the dyed-egg family, traditionally cracked on the forehead — can achieve their brilliant colors with natural dyes.

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Tons more after the jump.
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It’s Pi Day once again — and considering its recent triumph in the US House of Representatives, this one’s extra-special. So ZipiNotes wishes to pay tribute to this, the first totally actually official Pi Day. Last year, we commemorated it with a treatise on pastry — which, considering the circular relationship between pi and pie, is completely on-topic. (Edit: And if you like that sort of thing, this Boston Common 3.14 pie fight might be right up your alley.)

But this year, we’re focusing on the math (sort of, anyway), with a spread of funny pie charts.

Let’s start things off meta, with a pie chart about pie.

Liked that, did you? Well, how about this? (Not sure where they’re getting their figures, but I’ll bite.)

In case this discussion was getting too cerebral for you …

No humble pie — this is pity-the-fool pie.

Because we can’t really presume to be nerdy without invoking XKCD.

Wakka wakka wakka!

Clearly, this graph has not taken these science-fair projects into account.

And an insightful peek behind the curtain of music journalism!

That’s no moon …

Not graphed: “Number of good post-Part II Godfather sequels.”

Funny? No. Delicious? Possibly.

Likewise, these Economist pizza boxes are not so much laff-worthy as they are fiendishly clever. (Or perhaps depressingly desperate.)

Not sure what this ad is selling, but looks like there’s a 60% chance I’ll be charmed by its cleverness.

And mind games, courtesy Bizarro.

Should you be in the market for more graph-related humor, you will not be disappointed by:
GraphJam
Indexed

Related post: http://zipinotes.com/happy-pi-day/

In the spirit of April Fool’s Day, we’re bringing you the best trompe-l’oeil the tubes have to offer. Here are 8 jaw-dropping examples of artists transcending the limits of two dimensions.

Bored Night has three great 2-D illusions on their site (definitely check out that lurking pool mosquito), but this creepy humanoid is my favorite.

[images courtesy Bored Night]

I can’t even fathom the kind of logistics needed to execute this decorative trickery.

[image courtesy 2Loop]

With this painting (a comment on the the California Water Wars), I spent a good 15 minutes trying to figure out where the art ends and reality begins. Ceci n’est pas une pipe?

[image courtesy John Pugh]

Blue Sky’s “Tunnelvision” mural gives me chills for some reason. (It’s something about the colors — it’s like a tunnel through time.)

[image courtesy Blue Sky]

Behold: Trompe-l’oeil at its most freakout-inducing.

[image courtesy Hemmy.net]

This handpainted eagle ruffles a few feathers … IN MY BRAIN. (Click here for loads more.)

[image courtesy yoke.cc]

A bit of Banksy for you.

[image courtesy canonsnapper]

And of course, no post on modern-day trompe-l’oeil would be complete without Sidewalk Chalk Guy.

[image courtesy gprime.net]

Did we miss any of your favorites? Let us know in the comments!

Eggs are everywhere you turn this time of year, in all manner of shapes, sizes and colors. We’ve put together a handbook to help you identify and distinguish between some of the more exotic varieties of eggs. (Click the pictures to see their original sources and contexts!)

Deluxe Chocolate Egg
Description: Noted for its authentic crackable shell and chocolate center. Two known species: Ovochoccolatus naturalis and Ovochoccolatus bling.

Vegreville Pysanka Egg
Description: Descendant of the much smaller pysanka, or Ukrainian decorated egg, and the cutting-edge (by 1974 standards) computer-aided geometric models of Ron Resch. Consists of 2,208 equilateral triangles. Commissioned as a tribute to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police of Vegreville, Alberta.

Military Envoy Egg
Description: Always accompanied by a flock of symbiotic Doughboys. Although the Military Envoy Egg is nigh invulnerable around its circumference, predators can easily breach it from above.

Organically Dyed Egg
Description: Easily distinguishable by its unusual coloring, derived from various organic materials such as red cabbage, cherries, onion skins, coffee and green herbs.

Emotional Egg
Description: In contrast to its blank, stoic relatives, the Emotional Egg is capable of a vast expressive range — from sheer terror to absolute panic.

Woolly Egg
Description: Due to its soft, fuzzy exterior, the Woolly Egg is able to withstand falls from even the greatest heights. Enjoys being petted. May smell funny when wet.

Adorable Bento Egg
Description: The Adorable Bento Egg is an expert mimic, able to contort itself into a variety of forms.

Lego Egg
Description: Another master of disguise, the Lego Egg’s unusual camouflage allows it to infiltrate toy boxes and hobby shops; unfortunately, there’s not really much point to it.

Sprouting Egg
Description: A bizarre genetic anomaly, the Sprouting Egg’s shell hosts a variety of grasses and herbs.

Hope you enjoyed ZipiZen! This is the first in what is to be a regular series of theme-based posts that owe a huge inspirational debt to Web Zen. Stay tuned!

UPDATE 4.12.09: If you enjoyed this post, you’ll probably get a kick out of its sequel, A Field Guide to Recognizing Your Eggs, Part II.