ca: Everyone just knows that from the tape. Not everyone grew up with the tape. Also, it is highly inappropriate when someone asks an honest question to make fun of them for not knowing the answer.
comlink: As far as I know, the reason you set them up away from you is so as to not be Ma’avir the Mitzvah. If you’re a righty, you should set up the one nearest your right hand, on your right. However, lighting that way isn’t practical because you might burn yourself when reaching across the candles you’ve already lit. Hence, you light them reverse.