.~~~~/^^&&                                          &&^^/~~~~.
.~~/^&&@@#                                          #@@&&^/~~.
.~~/^&&@@@                                          @@@&&^/~~.
.~~/^&&&&@                                          @&&&&^/~~.
.~~/^&&&@@                                          @@&&&^/~~.
.~~/^&&@@@                  ~~&@~~                  @@@&&^/~~.
.~~/^&&@##                ~~&    &~~                ##@&&^/~~.
....~~^&&@              ~~&  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                     #@@&&^/~~.
.~~/&&@@##                                          ##@@&&/~~.
.......~^&                                          &^~.......
....~^^&&&                                          &&&^^~....
....~~/&&@                                          @&&/~~....
.~~/^&&&@@                                          @@&&&^/~~.