"to be able to partially disinvest before another equities crash, as experienced in Fall 2008. Based on a pretty broad cross-section of financial commentators and my version of common sense, this seems to be a near certainty. Only the timing is obscure,"

This is a very common issue for many out there I believe. The questions are when and how deep. There are lots of theories on this. Some notables believe we will see some typical weakness this fall in some sectors, some think it will be broad based. Some think it will be deep while others think it won't touch previous lows by a long shot. Others think that this time around commodities won't be affected as there will need to be a safe place to protect wealth, remembering that there are those that think gold is the last stop for protection. Where timing is concerned some think it will be this fall but others think it won't be until 2010. What is truly unfortunate is that so many are influenced by perception or rather perception borrowed from others. Hence, people respond as lemmings to what become the self-fulling prophesies laid out by people, some who have dubious intentions. The unfortunate truth is that, regardless of intentions, the population responds to these predictions/directions whether they are based on anything truly fundamental or not and the resultant response becomes reality. The market, which is the hub of human existence from which most everything in our daily lives arises, expresses the essence of how we humans live and function on all levels, with little of it being attached to anything of true substance. It's difficult not to lose your self in it. I think you know what I mean. Sorry folks, there I go again.