This is just a guess but he's been teaching for long enough that each year he probably keeps an eye out for concepts that he can use during Halloween and then works on the ones he judges to be the best.
Some say brilliance is often a product of hard work over a long time.
Hey, it's Mr. Z! You know, all of the tools that I use every day (i.e., Python and Emacs) I first learned from one of your classes. If it weren't for you, I would never be where I am today.
Thanks for being an awesome teacher, and congrats on this new project!
I have to echo this. I learned emacs, python, scheme (and then elisp, and then lisp), linux system administration, and assembly all as direct results of either Z's classes or being on the ZTeam and being pushed to learn more. Most of what I do now on a daily basis stretches directly back to those days.
Some say brilliance is often a product of hard work over a long time.