If you were born prior to the 1950s, you may remember a sitcom filmed in black and white about two New York cops and their exploits in the city. As they pursued criminals and responded to various neighborhood incidents, there was always the prescribed call on their radio: “Car 54, where are you?” Back in those days televisions shows were lighthearted and of course shallow, and that’s what we called entertainment.

Now wind the clock to the present, and many of us pose a similar question when we’re on the phone with representatives of various companies. For example, when I get in contact with a rep, I always ask, “Where are you located?” I’ve spoken to people in Romania, the Philippines, India, Canada, and even locations in the United States, including Rock Island, Illinois, of all places. For whatever reason, there are some people, mainly in the United States, who are reluctant or actually refuse to tell me where they are located.

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