There began to be moments of hesitation, fractions of a second when the thing I was looking at refused to accept any language.

NEWYORKER: History of a Disturbance

"I found this out when my ex-husband refused to pay maintenance, " says Yulia.

BBC: Switched at birth, then meeting aged 12

When I visited him recently, Faqiryar, normally a hospitable man, refused to answer his door.

NEWYORKER: The Afghan Bank Heist

"When I hear a call coming out that we have to go rescue someone who refused to evacuate, and we are sending volunteer firefighters, that is what makes you nuts, " said First Selectman Carl Fortuna.

WSJ: Heroes Shine Amid Storm's Destruction

When I set up in his office, taking his time, my keyboard clearly missed the iPad and refused to recognize the iPad.

FORBES: Time to Update Bluetooth

When I got in touch with her back in early December for a profile in the magazine, she refused to tell her story, insisting the spotlight should shine on her customers.

FORBES: Judy Faulkner: Health Care's Low-Key Billionaire