..........                                          ..........
..........                                          ..........
..........                                          ..........
..........                                          ..........
.........,                                          ,.........
........,-                  --&@--                  -,........
.......,-=                --&    &--                =-,.......
......,-=†              --&  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                     -,........
.......,-=                                          =-,.......
......,-=†                                          †=-,......
.....,-=†&                                          &†=-,.....
....,-=†&&                                          &&†=-,....
...,-=†&&@                                          @&&†=-,...