..,~;%&&##                                          ##&&%;~,..
...,~;%&&#                                          #&&%;~,...
....,~;%&&                                          &&%;~,....
.....,~;%&                                          &%;~,.....
......,~;%                                          %;~,......
.....,~;%&                  ~~&#~~                  &%;~,.....
....,~;%&&                ~~&    &~~                &&%;~,....
...,~;%&&#              ~~&  life  &~~              #&&%;~,...
..,~;%&&##                ~~&    &~~                ##&&%;~,..
.,~;%&&###                  ~~#&~~                  ###&&%;~,.
..,~;%&&##                                          ##&&%;~,..
...,~;%&&# ~ ~  & a multitude of definitions &  ~ ~ #&&%;~,...
....,~;%&& ~   &   does   not   help.   we   &    ~ &&%;~,....
.....,~;%& &     can     say     "life     is     & &%;~,.....
......,~;% ~    &   what    we   are,   and   &   ~ %;~,......
.....,~;%& ~  ~  &  what  things  like  us  &  ~  ~ &%;~,.....
....,~;%&& ~   &   are",   but   then   we    &   ~ &&%;~,....
...,~;%&&# &    must    also    define    what    & #&&%;~,...
..,~;%&&## ~  &  "things  like  us"  actually  &  ~ ##&&%;~,..
.,~;%&&### ~ ~  & entails,  how  it  should  &  ~ ~ ###&&%;~,.
..,~;%&&## ~   &   be   measured,   who  or   &   ~ ##&&%;~,..
...,~;%&&# &    what    is    the    arbiter,     & #&&%;~,...
....,~;%&& ~   &  and   so   instead   there  &   ~ &&%;~,....
.....,~;%& ~   ~    &   is   this   internationally &%;~,.....
......,~;% sanctioned      list     &      ~      ~ %;~,......
.....,~;%& ~  ~  ~  ~ &  of  criteria  & ~  ~  ~  ~ &%;~,.....
....,~;%&&                                          &&%;~,....
...,~;%&&# - life must produce or consume milk      #&&%;~,...
..,~;%&&## - life must have a beginning and an end  ##&&%;~,..
.,~;%&&### - life can have dreams and can interact  ###&&%;~,.
..,~;%&&## - life can steal                         ##&&%;~,..
...,~;%&&# - life can be cursed                     #&&%;~,...
....,~;%&&                                          &&%;~,....
.....,~;%&                                          &%;~,.....
......,~;%                                          %;~,......
.....,~;%&                                          &%;~,.....
....,~;%&&                                          &&%;~,....