Daily catch-up: What do you want to be when you graduate? A suicide bomber

Another insight into what attracts people to violent jihadism, and a round-up of other things that caught our commentator's eye

I have just caught up with this article by Andrew MacLeod, one of my colleagues at King's College, London, about a 19-year-old intern who worked for him in Pakistan and whose ambition after she graduated was to be a suicide bomber.

MacLeod argues that suicide bombing should not be regarded as irrational: if you believe in the afterlife and heaven, and if you are offered a short-cut to it, it makes sense to take it.

His article touches on one of the central questions of the sociology of violent jihadism, namely the role of education and career frustration in recruiting its adherents.

µ My review of Prime Minister's Questions for Independent Voices yesterday.

µ Jeremy Corbyn used to be in favour of annual Labour leadership elections.

µ Danny Webster writes to ask if the Committee could put Hilaire Belloc on the Brexit Banned List. "No one who utters 'nurse' or 'fear of worse' will ever get my vote." That one went through on the nod.

µ As a fan of Brian Bilston, the Poet Laureate of Twitter, I enjoyed this interview with the person behind the persona by my colleague Simmy Richman in The Independent on Sunday:

Brian Bilston is a fictional creation I hide behind because the idea of being a ‘poet’ still strikes me as being rather ludicrous, when we’re out of milk and there’s washing to be done. Not many people who know me know of this strange double life I lead.

Bilston's book is going to be published by Unbound, having raised 150 per cent of its pledged funding.

µ And finally, thanks to Keri for this:

"What do you call a bird of prey that will never have its own nest?

"A millennial falcon."