Admirers of Saruman have crafted their own Palantíri, it seems.

I recall the Unfinished Tales essay mentioning a process called "shrouding", which could enable one to hide from the surveillance. Perhaps that could be my new calling in my impending retirement....;)

One's political leanings notwithstanding, I thought this was head-scratching, and amusing at the same time.

Before becoming Gondor's first democratically elected king, Aragorn passed around voting pamphlets with the text:

Do you mind if Aragorn becomes king?

A) Yes, I don't mind
B) No, I don't mind

(Vote and you get to pick his nickname!)