..:~:†&§@@                                          @@§&†:~:..
.:~:†&§@@#                                          #@@§&†:~:.
..:~:†&§@@                                          @@§&†:~:..
...:~:†&§@                                          @§&†:~:...
..:~:†&§@@                                          @@§&†:~:..
.:~:†&§@@#                  ~~&@~~                  #@@§&†:~:.
..:~:†&§@@                ~~&    &~~                @@§&†:~:..
...:~:†&§@              ~~&  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                     @§&†:~:...
..:~:†&§@@                                          @@§&†:~:..
.:~:†&§@@#                                          #@@§&†:~:.
..:~:†&§@@                                          @@§&†:~:..
...:~:†&§@                                          @§&†:~:...
..:~:†&§@@                                          @@§&†:~:..