After having James Earl Ray's photo front and center on the main page of EiH, I thought the readers may want something a little less serious.  So, I was scouring the Internet and came across this article on StraightDope.com about the origins of the phrase "riding shotgun".  For the uninitiated, riding shotgun is a slang term for riding in the front passenger seat of an automobile. Well, actually, I guess it can go for any vehicle in which a person can sit next to the driver. Anyway, for those of you that have ever wondered why it's called that, I have found a website with the answer. Now, before you click through to find out the answer, why don't you post in the comments what you think the origin is, then see if you're right. The Straight Dope: What's the origin of "riding shotgun"?.