I guess I see a lot more worthless news on TV than the passing of people that are well known for one reason or another.  We all have the freedom to watch what interests us, after all.  I totally agree that I'd certainly like to be seeing more relevant news, but I don't really see that Tim was part of the larger problem of corporate ownership and consolidation of the media.  Those are the real enemies.  If we aren't fighting this, we are part of the problem (I include myself).

One thing I noticed in the coverage of Tim's death was how almost everyone interviewed mentioned what a great father he was, no matter how famous or busy.  He also apparently touched a lot of people through his book on his dad and a followup book on fathers.   If he could be alive to say one thing, it seems like his message would be "spend time with your kids, because that is what really matters in the end."  My father (RIP) made time for me when I was a kid too, even though he was a hard-working man, and it made all the difference in the world in my life.