The code below used to open with the globe oriented as usual (north pole 
up) but lately opens with the globe rotated 90 degrees clockwise.  Adding 
setHeading(0) returns the globe to north up.  Roman suggested posting 
notice of this here (he hasn't seen the code -- maybe there is an error or 
omission in the code causing/permitting the effect).

The system I saw this on was running Vista Home Premium and IE7/FF3.

Here are code snippets:

<script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.google.com/jsapi?key=...
...
  google.load("earth", "1");
...
  google.earth.createInstance("mapCanvas", initCB, failureCB);
...

function initCB(obj) {
  ge = obj;
  ge.getWindow().setVisibility(true);
  ge.getOptions().setStatusBarVisibility(true);
  // ge.getOptions().setScaleLegendVisibility(true);  // wait until scale 
available in metric
  ge.getNavigationControl().setVisibility(ge.VISIBILITY_SHOW);
  var lat = 37;
  var lng = -100;
  var tilt = 0;
  var range = 8000000;
  flyTo(lat, lng, tilt, range);
...
}

function flyTo(lat, lng, tilt, range) {
  var lookAt = ge.getView().copyAsLookAt(ge.ALTITUDE_RELATIVE_TO_GROUND);
  lookAt.setLatitude(lat);
  lookAt.setLongitude(lng);
  lookAt.setTilt(tilt);
  lookAt.setHeading(0);   // new; without this, north pole points right
  lookAt.setRange(range);
  ge.getView().setAbstractView(lookAt);
}