Comment of the Day:
"I’ve always believed that naysayers take that route because it requires little to no effort. It’s easier to shoot something down than it is to give it wings."–cabinguy

Do loved ones bid farewell from beyond the grave?

Some people tell of conversations with loved ones whom they didn't know were dead. John Blake's story about "crisis apparitions" had CNN.com readers sharing their own stories and arguing over their validity.

oldnewbie said, "De Santo could not have had a grief-driven hallucination or vision because she didn't know her friend had died! She thought he was just stopping by like he always did. So there goes that explanation. The problem with scientists is that if they accept the supernatural, their world no longer makes sense."

Guest said, "I am a doctor. One of my patients died suddenly about 1 pm. When the family arrived at the hospital and was told he had died, the kids freaked out. His wife just sat there silently. I thought maybe she hadn't heard me or didn't want to hear, so I went into greater detail. She looked at me calmly and said that she knew he was going to die today. She said she woke up around 5 am and he was sitting on the edge of the bed. He kissed her, smoothed the hair back from her face and told her it was time for him to leave, but he loved her and would watch over her until she could come join him where he was going. Explain that."

Bluabs said, "This happened to my grandma. Her daily routine before she became ill was to go to the local market in the morning, buy fresh produce and cook lunch and dinner for the family. She had a stroke and was confined to the hospital for a week. Hours after she died, several market vendors recalled seeing her come through the market and purchase items, greeting everyone cheerfully as usual. They were all so happy for her that she had recovered. Imagine their shock when told she had passed away the previous night."

skeptic933 said, "I always awake early before my wife. One Saturday, I woke up at my usual time (6 a.m.), and found my wife sitting alone downstairs on the sofa in the dark. When I asked what was wrong, she said she had heard her Dad's voice while she was 'asleep' saying, 'I am ready to go now. It is all right; I am not afraid' and addressing my wife by name. My wife replied, 'Are you sure, Dad?' and he said, yes. Then my wife's mother called to say Dad had died in his sleep earlier that morning. I am a skeptic, a scientist, an atheist, an all-round cynic. But ever since that day, I concluded there is something here I don't understand, but it is real."

therm said, "This has happened to me with three people in my life. I never saw an apparition of them, but things happened that can't be explained. I'm a scientist, and it was difficult to reconcile these things. But, with our knowledge that the universe is both local and non-local, I believe it's real. Call it a cosmic consciousness if you want, but it's there. I think this is where all of our delusions about god have stemmed from, but I would bet my money on the non-local universe and quantum entanglement."

forrester99 said, "There is this thing called an 'observer' in quantum physics, absolutely necessary for quantum physics to actually work, but it is never defined and there is no theory that can account for its existence. Yet we know that people are observers, because what they observe causes the collapse of the wave function of particles, not only in the future but also in the past. That is just as spooky and mystical as any paranormal event. Until we understand the nature of the observer in quantum physics, I suggest you hold off on saying what can and cannot happen in this strange and wonderful universe we live in."

Without a job, California woman forced to live a lie

Update: Sukhraj Beasla's story

California bank manager Sukhraj Beasla was about to be promoted to assistant vice president when she was laid off. A year-and-a-half after her unemployment benefits ran out - in the summer of 2010 - Beasla submitted her story to iReport, saying she was still smiling. Now, as she barely makes makes ends meet working a variety of part-time jobs with no benefits, she's not so optimistic. Many CNN.com readers sent good wishes and advice and said they had families like hers.

archanamol said, "I am Indian, I had the same problem, and yes, it is hard to look your parents and relatives in the eye in an unending critique of yourself while being honest about your situation. Move out of the expensive area. Move back home if you must (most Indian parents will let you). Roll up your sleeves and accept whatever you manage to land. Forget about what the family will say about lack of prestige; it's an honest living. I did this, and I learned more in that time than during my more successful job years. At the age of 30 she should be strong enough to be honest about herself to her family."

canadian306 said, "If she's sending 30-50 applications a day, however, I think she isn't putting much thought into them. My advice is to cut down on volume and focus your efforts into submitting a few good applications per day rather than 30-50 which I presume are fairly generic."

Many readers suggested she move to a cheaper area or take in a renter. baboons said, "At least move out of California. That's part of the problem. sandalo Move to Buffalo NY, Geico is hiring and so are the local banks M & T and First Niagara, over 500 positions between those two banks."

But squeekybrain said, "Moving costs a fortune too, and if no job is waiting for her, she could be really skeerewed." sarahH said, "She might have a lease. Breaking a lease can cost more than 3 times the rent and failing to pay that can cost you your credit rating."

The8thSeal said, "The poor and broke ... a.k.a. the U.S. middle class."

Do you feel your views align with these commenters' thoughts? Post a comment below or sound off on video.

Compiled by the CNN.com moderation staff. Some comments edited for length or clarity.