From: henry@spsystems.net   
      
   In article ,   
   Joe Strout   wrote:   
   >But "top" and "bottom" of the Earth does not refer to up and down.  It   
   >refers to a particular convention to how we draw maps and make globes.   
   >It has no basis in reality; we could just as easily have settled on a   
   >convention where the north pole is drawn to the right and the south pole   
   >to the left...   
      
   Indeed, if memory serves, there was a time when European maps normally had   
   east at the top, because the Garden Of Eden was thought to be in the east   
   somewhere.   
   --   
   MOST launched 30 June; science observations running     |   Henry Spencer   
   since Oct; first surprises seen; papers pending.        | henry@spsystems.net   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)