Trendspotters and futurists will tell you that the coming century belongs to Asia, and they’re probably right in that assessment. The war is over, Yankee dog. Global trends do have a way of shifting without much warning, but if you’re inclined to bet, it probably makes sense to bet on Asia’s continued rise. The Asia Society’s certainly doing so, opening a pair of new buildings in the coming months, each of which ran about $50 million, recession be damned. (FULL ARTICLE: Robin Pogrebin, The New York Times)