By Steve Kabelowsky Contributing Columnist Published Mar 21, 2014 at 3:10 PM

The definition of the American dream seems to change a little for every generation. However, at its core, it is still that same pursuit for happiness and financial independence that drives most of us.

"Every parent wants their child to live the American dream. ‘Shark Tank’ reinforces (that) the American dream is alive and well," entrepreneur and business owner Mark Cuban – who is a panelist on the ABC show – said at a keynote presentation at South by Southwest last week.

Business Insider shared Cuban’s comments from the address.

"The reason I love doing the show — and it’s a lot of work — it’s the No. 1 show on television watched by families," Cuban said. "Every day I have people coming up to me saying, ‘My son ...’ ‘My daughter ...’ ‘they love the show and we watch it together on Friday nights.’"

"The show is real, it’s our money, we get along, but it does get intense."

Cuban explained that the stage call is at 8 a.m., and by 8:15, the deals start rolling in.

"Then they come in, we’re not allowed to use our phones or our tablets," he said. "You see us pick up whatever pads we have and pick up our pen and we start taking notes and they start pitching." 

Some pitches take about a half-hour, while some can go on for more than two hours, Cuban said of the process.

"We get the opportunity to do due diligence. Sixty to 70 percent of my deals close," he said.

As far as the dynamics between him and the other sharks behind the scenes, he said that for the most part, they do get along. 

"We all get along but when you’re there from 8 in the morning until whenever we finish, and there’s eight, 10, 12 deals coming through and you’re shooting eight- to nine-hour days, just like any family you get annoyed as all get-up."

TALIBAN COUNTRY: Al Jazeera presents a two-part series in March offering a different perspective on the war in Afghanistan.

As the U.S. prepares to pull out of the country, a crew from the news outlet’s "Fault Lines" traveled there and gained access to a group of self-proclaimed Taliban fighters.

In the special, "On the Front Lines with the Taliban" and "This is Taliban Country," correspondent Nagieb Khaja embedded himself with a Taliban unit to share what life is like under Taliban rule in Afghanistan’s Logar Province. The two-part series airs tonight and the following Friday, March 28, at 8 p.m.

Just one hour outside of Kabul, armed Taliban fighters walk openly in the streets and Afghan government and Western forces are entirely absent. "Fault Lines" uncovers the parallel government the Taliban has built here, including Sharia courts and schools, and follows the fighters as they prepare to take on the Afghan National Army.

According to the cable outlet, the show tracks the Taliban fighters attempting to overtake an Afghan National Army base outside Kabul. As the fighters launch their attack, they provide a glimpse of what the future of Afghanistan could look like.

NCAA GAMES: If you are taking in any of the NCAA Division 1 Men’s Basketball Tournament – especially the round two and three games in Milwaukee – you may want to visit Historic Turner Hall, across the street from the BMO Harris Bradley Center.

WOKY-AM The Big 920 is using the historic ballroom as its local headquarters and will be broadcasting a number of games though Westwood One. See the broadcast schedule here.

Steve Kabelowsky Contributing Columnist

Media is bombarding us everywhere.

Instead of sheltering his brain from the onslaught, Steve embraces the news stories, entertainment, billboards, blogs, talk shows and everything in between.

The former writer, editor and producer in TV, radio, Web and newspapers, will be talking about what media does in our community and how it shapes who we are and what we do.